When Tom Brady retired in February, most fans and analysts predicted that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would lose many of their prized free agents.
One of those players was Buccaneers running back, Leonard Fournette.
But when Brady decided to come back 41 days after his retirement, not every Buccaneer free agent jumped at the opportunity to come back.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning before practice, Fournette told the story of how one visit to a certain football team lead to a very candid response.
Following a visit with the New England Patriots, Fournette said “He (Brady) signed back and called me saying ‘What’s your ass doing up there, man?”
The 27-year-old running-back ended up choosing to sign with the Bucs on a three-year deal worth $21 million. The former fourth overall selection had 1,266 yards from scrimmage in 2021 and scored 10 total touchdowns in his 14 games played.
Fournette said his decision was “a no-brainer.”
Tom Brady’s latest shot at New England
The latest comment got a laugh from the reporters in Tampa but adds a new level of intrigue to both Brady and the Patriots.
Since leaving the team after 20 years, Brady has become more vocal on social media and with the press.
Tom Brady and the Bucs beat the Patriots 19-17 in his return to New England last season that saw many fans give a loud ovation to the quarterback before the game, but also recognize that Brady left them and booed him for the rest of the game.
Tom Brady has been open about some of the displeasure he has felt while with the Patriots in recent years. In fact, in his first retirement post, Brady thanked many across the NFL and his current stint with the Bucs.
The Patriots were not mentioned at all.
While the Patriots and Buccaneers are in different conferences and on two different trajectories as NFL franchises, the two will always be connected by Tom Brady and his decision to leave New England and follow that up with pushing others away from the region as well.
