Fans React After Seeing Tom Brady Wearing a Buccaneers Jersey for the 1st Time
Tom Brady’s move to Tampa Bay has easily been the biggest on-field news story of 2020. As the sports world came to a standstill, the QB’s move from New England shocked the football world. As with everything the surefire Hall of Famer does, the move was met with many reactions. When Brady recently unveiled the first picture of himself wearing the jersey, everyone lost their collective minds.
The QB heads to Tampa Bay
An underlying story of Brady’s last season in New England was his looming free agency. Brady was candid about his desire to get paid after years of taking pay cuts with his former team, but many wrote those off as conjecture.
However, after months of teasing the possible move, Brady made good on his threats and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There was lots of speculation about why the Patriots could not retain Brady. Some saw his relationship with Bill Belichick deteriorating, while others thought the team was hesitant to sign him back at his age.
Players who become that synonymous with a single squad rarely actually move on. Add to the fact that Brady, despite being in his forties, is still one of the best players in the league, and the surprise is genuine.
While the NFL is planning to come back as scheduled, the Brady news is one of the few non-quarantine stories to dominate the headlines during this strange and confusing time. Once he got there, he had to do some angling for his classic number, too.
How did Tom Brady get his jersey?
Tom Brady has long been associated with the No. 12. It is, after all, the number he’s worn for almost 20 years. However, when he went to Tampa Bay, the number was taken by Chris Godwin. Many assumed players would bow down to a legend like Brady if he wanted to take their number. But parting with his number wasn’t easy for Godwin.
He spoke about the conundrum he was in with WEEI. “I have been [wearing No. 12] since high school, and it means a lot to me,” Godwin told the radio station. “At first it bothered me a little bit, it was kind of getting at me because it is part of my identity, but when the GOAT comes calling you kind of concede to him.
Regardless, Godwin honored Brady by changing numbers. He didn’t ask for money or perks, either. Although he did tell Brady he owed him a couple of Super Bowl wins in exchange.
“Hopefully I can get a ring or two or three out of that. I was more than happy to do it. I have a new persona for me, 1-4. We’re going to move forward and make something special with it.” With the number solely his, Brady unveiled his new look to the world.
Brady unveils his new look.
Brady showed the world how he looked in a Bucs jersey, and everyone seemed to have a visceral reaction. He was excited; his Tampa fans were excited; his new teammate, Devin White, was even more excited.
Patriots fans, on the other hand, were not at all excited to see their “franchise” in another jersey.
Brady shook up the NFL with his move to Tampa Bay. When an athlete of 42 years old makes this type of move, it is bound to ruffle feathers. However, this is one of the greatest quarterbacks in history we’re talking about. With such an unprecedented move, it was always going to get this type of reaction. Now, we just have to wait and see what happens once he takes the field.
