12 things I loved and 12 things I hated about Tom Brady’s time in a Bucs uniform
Design by Joe Frontel
The Feb. 9, 2023 cover of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
It’s Valentine’s Day. You’re lounging around, wondering how it all went wrong, wondering how you got here.
One moment, you were watching weird, sexual-tension-filled videos of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski on the Bucs Twitter page, now you’re listening to podcasts about how Kyle Trask is going to be competing with Blaine Gabbert for the starting quarterback position next season.
Oh, how times have changed. It’s time for some classic, old-fashioned reminiscing about love lost.
But to quote Alfred, Lord Tennyson (I thought it was Shakespeare, too), “‘Tis Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
Without further ado, here are 12 things I loved and 12 things I hated about Tom Brady’s time in a Bucs uniform.
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Photo via Buccaneers
I loved how he put together such wonderful fourth quarter comebacks
Whether it was against the Rams, the Jets, or any other team in between, Tom Brady has certainly had his fair share of spectacular final quarter comebacks throughout his career, and his time in Tampa Bay was no different. For whatever else you may say about the guy, he sure as hell could run a two-minute drill.
Photo via City of Tampa
I hated how rents skyrocketed in Tampa Bay upon his arrival
OK, so maybe his arrival had no actual impact on rents in Tampa, but the fact that it’s gone up so much since he’s arrived seems like a weird coincidence. Hopefully when he leaves it’ll come back down to Earth, because I’m looking for a new apartment, and I would like to not have to sell a kidney in order to afford it.
Photo via Buccaneers
I loved how he made watching the Bucs fun again
I hate to get so sentimental, but remember when we were having to watch Jameis Winston throw 30 interceptions in a season, or having to sit through game after game of the Mike Glenons, the Josh Freemans, and the Josh McCowns of the world? It was quite a stark difference getting to watch a master of his craft like Tom Brady. OK, enough kissing his ass, moving on.
Photo via Buccaneers
I hated how immobile he could be
I know he had those fun little scrambles where he picked up a first down and would jump up all full of energy, but Brady was in his 40s, and he wasn’t exactly the most agile fellow from his youth. Not that Kyle Trask is any more of a speedster, but the departure of TB12 at least opens the door to the Bucs bringing in someone else with a bit more of an improvisational spirit.
Screengrab via Tom Brady/Twitter
I loved his post victory videos
Again, say what you will about the individual, but his social media team was on its shit. Those post-victory hype videos it posted were pretty dope, from the music selection to the aura to the overall general energy, it was all really fun. And he was doing it in a Bucs uniform!
