Tom Brady signed with the Bucs last offseason for a variety of reasons. However, head coach Bruce Arians confirmed that Brady was trying to send a message.
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Of course, throughout the offseason, as reports surfaced that Brady was looking to shift teams, debates raged on about who deserved more credit for the Patriots success, Brady or Belichick?
There’s no doubt that Brady heard all the talk and questions surrounding his legacy, and it may very well be true that Brady was fueled by this adversity. His career was put on the spot, as people labeled him a “system quarterback”, and well he had to go out and show to everyone that this was simply not the case.
That mindset translated into Brady’s seventh Super Bowl ring as the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs to the tune of a 31-9 blowout.
You can’t put most of the blame on this guy. He at least tried. I tried tellin y’all, Brady had something to prove pic.twitter.com/juGFPIeuHJ
— pŲğH ➐ (@pug0523) February 8, 2021
Tom Brady Changed the Culture In Tampa Bay
The Buccaneers had been the bottom-feeders of the NFC South and well the entire league for a long time. Their last playoff appearance had come in 2007, the same year the Patriots went 16-0 with Tom Brady at the helm.
Additionally, Tampa Bay was coming off another disappointing season in 2019-20 as former first overall pick Jameis Winston had one of the most historically confusing seasons. Winston led the league in passing with over 5,000 yards and threw for 30+ touchdowns as well, but he also threw 30 interceptions.
Things were looking bleak. However, the past offseason dramatically turned things around. Brady’s signing came at an unprecedented time in league history.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, regular offseason workouts could not proceed as planned, and thus Brady had to improvise.
He would take his teammates to Berkley Prep, a private preparatory school whose classes had become completely online, and train with them. His teammates certainly appreciated the effort and were wowed by the way Brady made them work. The Bucs’ long tenured, number one wide receiver, Mike Evans had this to say:
“I worked out the most I ever have in my career”
Brady created a winning culture in Tampa. Evans, who was used to being on losing teams, also found himself changing as did the rest of the team:
“It’s tough to be the laughingstock. Or when teams played us, not respecting us. Like, I am playing the Bucs, that’s an easy win. That s— used to make me so mad.”
