Patriots Buzz: A Tom Brady return to New England would be miraculous

Speculation abounds about whether the New England Patriots and the NFL’s all-time greatest quarterback ever, Tom Brady might actually return to the New England Patriots after the 2022 season. It’s a nice thought for Patriots fans, some of them anyway, but let’s take a look at this unlikely potentiality.

Brady has now played almost three seasons in Tampa Bay. His tenure in New England is in the rearview mirror. So why in the world would he want to return to the franchise that treated him like dirt and allowed him to leave in the first place?

Brady is now looked upon as a Tampa Bay Buc, why would he return to the Patriots? It’s an interesting media speculation topic, but is it anywhere near a realistic possibility? Whether it is or isn’t is what this missive will explore.

Tom Brady returning to the New England Patriots would be a miracle

For any pollyannas, out there who actually think TB12 would even consider a return to New England, let’s look at the facts. First, nothing has changed in New England at the top of the management pyramid.

Both the owner Robert Kraft and the head football honcho Bill Belichick are still there. They made the awful decision to allow Brady to leave in the first place.

The only tangible difference is that now this team is a mediocre borderline playoff outfit rather than a perennial AFC title and Super Bowl contender.

While Kraft must clearly realize his gross error in letting Brady go and would welcome him back almost certainly in a minute, what about Belichick? It says here from his vantage point probably little has changed.

He still looks at the post-Brady Patriots through rose-colored glasses. But the bloom is clearly off the rose. His current team can’t beat any good teams except the Jets for whatever reason, and his offense and its coaching are at bush-league levels.

It’s quite likely that Belichick still believes that the run to glory and six Super Bowl wins was more his doing than Brady’s though all the evidence is in and it clearly wasn’t. Yet, Bill still continues to think his way is the best way.

Want your voice heard? Join the Chowder And Champions team!

Write for us!

His bizarre drafting (even criticized by Mr. Kraft) has dogged the team forever including in 2022 and poor free-agency moves are more likely than not. For every Matt Judon signing, there are several Jonnu Smith’s, Davon Godchaux’s, and Nelson Agholor’s (and maybe Hunter Henry’s, as well) who far outweigh the positives.

The fact of the matter is that the Patriots are a mediocre team due to their jettisoning of the best quarterback ever who’s still even three years later performing at a very high level. It’s a lousy move that keeps on hurting.

Without Brady, Belichick has never gone to an AFC Championship game never mind sniffing a Super Bowl appearance. With Brady around, it was a disappointment any year they didn’t get there.

So while Belichick remains at the helm, the issue of who was more responsible for the great run remains on the table although all but the most ardent “Believe in Bill” crew know that it was TB12 all the time.

So unless there is an epiphany by Belichick and/or Kraft lays down the law and signs him himself, Belichick notwithstanding, don’t expect a Tom Brady renaissance in Foxborough. But should it actually happen, it sure would be something, wouldn’t it?