More Than A Quarterback – Lessons From A Legend

According to NBC’s Peter King, veteran quarterback Tom Brady has taken on the role of mentor to Buccaneers rookie receiver Jaleon Darden.

Since Brady arrived in Tampa last year, he has become more than just a veteran quarterback but has become a coach of sorts, and it worked out very well for the team. Brady knows that being a young guy coming into the NFL fresh out of college is difficult, so helping the rookie learn game speed and working to build chemistry together is very necessary.

“The first time I met him after the draft, I was star-struck,” Darden told King. “He said, ‘Hey Jaelon. Happy to have you on the team. I studied your film.’ What an honor. Then he took time to teach me how to win against coverages. Like, ‘When the corner plays you here, I’m gonna have the ball at this exact spot.’ Every day, I put my hard hat on and work and learn.”

“It’s really hard for a rookie receiver in the NFL,” Brady told Peter King. “Everything is new. You have a play, then I change the play, then I look at you and I change the route, then I see a defense that we didn’t necessarily talk about. Every play I’m like, hey this is what I’m thinking. And you gotta have someone who can take the critique.”

The main reason Brady is taking on the extra responsibility is certainly not a complex one but a very important one. It also shows the quarterback’s extensive experience, having played in the league for 22 years. Brady, in explaining the importance of him and his receivers being on the same page, Brady goes on to say,

“I’m throwing the ball. You’re catching it,” Brady told King. “We gotta literally have a bond, a connection between us. You gotta think what I’m thinking all the time. The more you talk and the more you do it, the better it is. The longer I play with guys, the better it is. The shorter you play together, you can’t cover everything in five weeks of training camp. Or in two years together. Five years together? Maybe. Seven years together, okay, that’s pretty good. You play seven years together with a receiver, you can make a lot of magic happen. But after a year or two, there’s still things. There’s so many variables that you gotta get right. We’re playing a chess game.”

Exactly how long will the Buccaneers and the NFL be blessed with Tom Bady’s guidance?

Brady recently turned 44 years of age and is still playing at a very high level. In perspective, Peter King pointed out that other greats such as Michael Jordan was 34 when he played his last great season, Peyton Manning retired at the age of 40, and NHL Legend Wayne Gretzky was in a decline at the age of 35; Tom Brady threw more touchdowns than Patrick Mahomes in 2020, and for more yards than Aaron Rodgers. Let’s not forget that he also help guide the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl Championship, which they won by 22 points.

As of now, Brady is going on a year-to-year basis in how long he will remain an NFL quarterback based on his belief that he can still contribute to a team. So there’s literally no time frame on when he will retire. It’s more of a “when he’s done playing” type of thing.

“I’ll know when the time’s right,” Brady said about retirement. “If I can’t . . . if I’m not a championship-level quarterback, then I’m not gonna play. If I’m a liability to the team, I mean, no way. But if I think I can win a championship, then I’ll play.”

Thankfully, he will spend the next year, or so, in Tampa, but whatever he decides to do after his obligations with the Buccaneers; is well… up to the G.O.A.T.!

By Andrew F.