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Brady Says Good-Bye New England

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FOXBORO – Tom Brady broke up with the New England Patriots in an early morning Instagram post on Tuesday. Brady, an unrestricted free agent for the first time, posted a farewell message to New England on Tuesday but did not identify his destination in a series of messages via Instagram at 5:45 a.m. ET.

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The public goodbye was a formal farewell but not the only contact Brady had with the team. Owner Robert Kraft, who deferred to coach Bill Belichick in negotiations, said Brady called him Monday and the two met at Kraft’s residence.

Kraft had been adamant his preference was for Brady to return.

Brady was permitted to discuss contracts with other teams as of noon ET on Monday. He can officially sign with another team on Wednesday.

“Although my football journey will take place elsewhere, I appreciate everything that we have achieved and am grateful for our incredible TEAM accomplishments,” he wrote.

Brady started every game for the Patriots in 2019, including the wild-card playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans. The defeat followed the Patriots winning the AFC East division for the 17th time in Brady’s 20 seasons.

The 42-year-old Brady is being pursued by multiple teams. Among those known to have met with Brady are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins, but several other franchises were connected to Brady during the offseason.

Belichick said in a lengthy statement he has limitless examples of Brady’s greatness.

“Tom was not just a player who bought into our program. He was one of its original creators,” Belichick said in part of his statement. Tom lived and perpetuated our culture. On a daily basis, he was a tone setter and a bar raiser. He won championships in three of his first four years on the field and in three of his final six seasons with us, while competing for championships in most every season in between. This is a credit to Tom’s consistency and what separates him. He didn’t just perform. He didn’t just win. He won championships over and over again. Tom and I will always have a great relationship built on love, admiration, respect and appreciation.”

Kraft said in a statement we was eternally grateful for Brady’s contributions.

“How do I possibly sum up the depth of my gratitude to Tom Brady for what he’s given us these past 20 years, or the sadness I feel knowing it’s ending? I love Tom like a son and I always will. He has brought so much happiness to me personally and to all of our fans,” Kraft said in a statement. “I had hoped this day would never come, but rather that Tom would end his remarkable career in a Patriots uniform after yet another Super Bowl championship. Unfortunately, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement to allow that dream to become a reality. While sad today, the overwhelming feeling I have is appreciation for his countless contributions to our team and community.”

He won six Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and is a three-time NFL MVP.

Brady negotiated a restructured contract for the 2019 season which stipulated he could not be designated a franchise player and would be a free agent.

Brady played 20 seasons in New England and 13 times the Patriots posted at least 12 victories. The Patriots played in the conference championship game 13 times during Brady’s run with the team.

The Patriots reportedly had interest in Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who is an unrestricted free agent.

–Field Level Media

Kraft, Belichick React

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FOXBORO – Tom Brady is leaving the New England Patriots, and the gravity of his departure was felt quickly by owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick.

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“Sometimes in life, it takes some time to pass before truly appreciating something or someone but that has not been the case with Tom. He is a special person and the greatest quarterback of all-time,” Belichick said Tuesday in a lengthy statement reflecting on Brady’s 20 seasons with the Patriots.

Brady announced Tuesday in a series of Instagram posts he was continuing his football career elsewhere. He met with Kraft on Monday night before making his decision public.

The sixth-round pick in 2000 was a three-time NFL MVP and six-time Super Bowl champion, guiding the Patriots to 13 AFC East division titles and 17 playoff appearances.

“How do I possibly sum up the depth of my gratitude to Tom Brady for what he’s given us these past 20 years, or the sadness I feel knowing it’s ending? I love Tom like a son and I always will,” Kraft said.

“He has brought so much happiness to me personally and to all of our fans. I had hoped this day would never come, but rather that Tom would end his remarkable career in a Patriots uniform after yet another Super Bowl championship. Unfortunately, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement to allow that dream to become a reality. While sad today, the overwhelming feeling I have is appreciation for his countless contributions to our team and community.”

“When Tom arrived in New England as an unheralded, sixth-round pick, no one could have imagined the fairytale story that would be written, the records that would be broken or the joy he would bring to an entire region. He leaves 20 years later as the winningest quarterback in NFL history with six Super Bowl victories, nine AFC titles and 17 division championships. He has been an exemplary teammate and leader.

“There simply will never be another Tom Brady. I now look forward to the day we can bring him back home to New England to celebrate his Patriots career, his endless achievements and his legacy as the greatest of all time. I love him very much.”

Belichick was pressed often in 2018 about his relationship with his quarterback after Brady’s personal trainer, Alex Guerrero, was barred from Gillette Stadium and team flights. Both parties insisted things were fine, but Brady’s tone often reflected otherwise.

“Tom was not just a player who bought into our program. He was one of its original creators. Tom lived and perpetuated our culture. On a daily basis, he was a tone setter and a bar raiser. He won championships in three of his first four years on the field and in three of his final six seasons with us, while competing for championships in most every season in between. This is a credit to Tom’s consistency and what separates him. He didn’t just perform. He didn’t just win. He won championships over and over again,” Belichick said.

“Tom and I will always have a great relationship built on love, admiration, respect and appreciation. Tom’s success as a player and his character as a person are exceptional. Nothing about the end of Tom’s Patriots career changes how unfathomably spectacular it was. With his relentless competitiveness and longevity, he earned everyone’s adoration and will be celebrated forever. It has been a privilege to coach Tom Brady for 20 years.”

–Field Level Media

NFL Cap Set at $198.2 Million

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Wire Service News) – While the COVID-19 crisis puts a stranglehold on sports activity and normal life across the globe, the NFL marches on with its off-season calendar and its free agency system. The NFL salary cap will be $198.2 million in 2020, according to multiple reports Sunday.

That is lower than the previous projection of $200 million but represents a $10 million increase from 2019, when the cap was $188.2 million.

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The NFL Management Council informed teams of the cap figure Sunday morning, shortly after the announcement that players had ratified the new collective bargaining agreement, according to reports.

The increase over last year is 5.3 percent, the smallest since 2013.

With the cap numbers in place, teams now know how much money they have to spend as they pursue free agents or attempt to re-sign their own players. The new league year, when players can be signed, is scheduled to begin Wednesday but could be delayed as the NFL, like other sports, continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.

NFL Players Ratify CBA

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NEW YORK – NFL players approved the proposed collective bargaining agreement, which will give the league labor peace through the 2030 season.

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The vote was 1,019 to 959 in favor of ratification, the NFL Players Association announced.

“This result comes after a long and democratic process in accordance with our constitution,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “An independent auditor received submitted ballots through a secure electronic platform, then verified, tallied and certified the results.”

Voting closed at 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The new CBA brings major changes, including 17 games in the regular season starting in 2021, an expanded playoff field and big raises for players earning the minimum. It also includes added benefits for former players and an increased share of revenue for current players.

“We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA, which will provide substantial benefits to all current and retired players, increase jobs, ensure continued progress on player safety, and give our fans more and better football,” commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement released by the league.

“We appreciate the tireless efforts of the members of the Management Council Executive Committee and the NFLPA leadership, both of whom devoted nearly a year to detailed, good faith negotiations to reach this comprehensive, transformative agreement.”

NFL Prohibits Draft Visits

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NEW YORK – Prospect visits for NFL hopefuls are being prohibited by the league in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). A memo from the NFL to all club general managers, head coaches and personnel directors was distributed Friday.

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It states, in part, “the following is prohibited: Any draft-eligible player traveling to a club facility or other location to meet with club personnel; Club personnel(including BLESTO and NFS scouts) traveling to any location, including a college campus to visit with a draft-eligible player.”

“…We have not taken this step lightly,” the league added.

The league added new restrictions, permitting teams to schedule three telephone or video conference interviews — no longer than one hour — per week.

All 32 NFL teams are allowed 30 in-person visits with 2020 NFL Draft prospects, including some that took place Friday.

With multiple teams pulling scouts and assistant coaches off the road and a growing number of on-campus pro days canceled, it is feasible the 2020 draft in Las Vegas could also be moved.

Earlier this week, the NFL announced its March 29-April 1 league meetings in Palm Beach (Florida) were canceled. Those meetings typically involve coaches, general managers and owners with the competition committee opening the floor for rules proposals and discussion.

The NFL has not commented publicly on the draft, which is scheduled for April 23-25. Several conferences and trade shows in the next six weeks in Las Vegas have been canceled.

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