It was nearly 10 years ago when LeBron James sat across from Jim Gray on ESPN with children from the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, Conn., seated in the background.
It was trumpeted as “The Decision,” and it had the NBA on pins and needles waiting for its transcendent free agent in his prime to change the face of the league and alter the balance of power.
The Decision comes now to the NFL, as the legal tampering period arrives Monday.
Tom Brady won’t be announcing that he is taking his talents to South Beach.
Whatever he will announce will send shock waves through the league and potentially precipitate a frenzied game of quarterback musical chairs.
LeBron had yet to win a championship when he left his hometown Cavaliers after eight seasons to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, going on to win two with the Heat.
“I feel like it’s gonna give me the best opportunity to win, and to win for multiple years. … I want to be able to win championships,” he told Gray.
It is much different for Brady. For reasons known only to him, he has yearned to dip his toes in the free agent waters for the first time. GOATs have suitors, even GOATs who turn 43 in August.
His idol, Joe Montana, was 37 when he left the 49ers for the Chiefs in a futile attempt to capture a fifth Super Bowl championship. So Brady knows the grass isn’t always greener. The landscape is littered with examples, in every sport.
Brady saying goodbye after 20 seasons in New England — after six Super Bowl championships, after 541 regular-season TD passes, after 249 wins against 75 losses (.769 winning percentage) — would deflate New England in a way only Bill Russell, Larry Bird or Ted Williams leaving would have. Shame on fans who might feel compelled to burn TB12’s jersey should he decide he is taking Gisele’s talents elsewhere.
But where?
Chargers?
Brady would seamlessly replace Philip Rivers (and Tyrod Taylor) and be a box-office boon for spanking new SoFi Stadium. But former Brady teammate Willie McGinest said the following on “The Dave Dameshek Football Program” podcast in December: “Somebody really important to Tom Brady … who he spends every day with … his other half … doesn’t like it out here in California.” But Brady did launch a Hollywood production company, for what it’s worth.
There are weapons in wide receiver Keenan Allen, pass-catching running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Hunter Henry. Something for Tom Terrific to consider: Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are on the schedule twice every season.
Raiders?
If Brady is a fan of impressionist comedian Frank Caliendo, he might be intrigued by helping Jon Gruden make a splash in his new Las Vegas digs — which would precipitate a Derek Carr trade, perhaps to the Patriots.
Buccaneers?
Any quarterback would salivate over the prospect of throwing to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and playing for an offensive guru like Bruce Arians. And nearly $80 million in salary-cap space always helps. But there is a growing sense Teddy Bridgewater will be the designated successor to Jameis Winston.
Titans?
Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel won three Super Bowls with Brady and got to the 2019 AFC Championship. The Titans’ ground-and-pound attack will continue if free-agent RB bulldozer Derrick Henry stays. But there is late momentum for Comeback Player of the Year Ryan Tannehill to return.
49ers?
Next question.
Patriots?
Thought you’d never ask.
I’ve tried to identify possible reasons why Brady would want to leave the greatest NFL dynasty:
1. He’s grown tired of Bill Belichick. The growing influence of Alex Guerrero, Brady’s body coach and friend, rubbed Belichick the wrong way back in 2017. It didn’t stop Belichick and Brady from winning Super Bowl LIII together.
2. He wants to be more appreciated. Belichick hasn’t said, “There’s no quarterback I’d rather have than Tom Brady,” as often as he once did. All the offseason silence from Belichick has been deafening.
3. He wants Robert Kraft to show him the money. Brady has made a fortune, but was cheap labor compared to other franchise quarterbacks for the sake of a better supporting cast.
4. He wants to prove he can win a Super Bowl without Belichick, his GOAT counterpart.
5. He grew disillusioned because Julian Edelman was his only trustworthy receiver after Rob Gronkowski retired and Antonio Brown lasted one game.
6. He’s afraid of the Jets. (Just kidding.)
It may be that Belichick has been waiting for the new CBA to be agreed upon before he makes his move. Kraft doesn’t want Brady going anywhere. The unanswered questions are how much does Belichick still believe in Brady, and would Brady buy in if and when Belichick promises to shop for better groceries for him before they cook the meal together one more time?
If Brady wants to win a championship, or championships, The Decision should be: Once a Patriot, always a Patriot.