NFL
Tom Brady’s Presence in Tampa Has Already Prompted an Intimate Change in His Center’s Pants
Joe Kozlowski began his career as a sports journalist in 2013 and joined Sportscasting in 2019. He covers the NBA and soccer for Sportscasting, with specialties in legacy NBA players such as Michael Jordan and Premier League club Arsenal. Off the clock, he's a Kansas City Chiefs fan and a hockey goalie. Growing up loving Shaquille O'Neal and reading everything he could about the great big men throughout NBA history — likely because he was still tall enough, at least relative to his peers, to play center — he's continued to love learning about and exploring the historical and story-based sides of the basketball archives. As for Arsenal, Joe spent a year living in London and latched onto the local support of the club. He's barely missed a match since, loving Arsene Wenger, enduring the Banter Era, and following along through rebuilds. The Premier League interest developed into a passionate following of the Champions League, Europe's big five league, and international soccer as a whole when played at the highest level. Regardless of the sport, Joe is captivated by the stories of athletes beyond the box scores and how they push the envelope — both in terms of what we think a human is capable of accomplishing and how they find new competitive tactics to win.
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After 20 years of working with Bill Belichick in New England, Tom Brady decided that he wanted to try something different. That, of course, meant hitting free agency and joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the NFL season is yet to kick-off, the veteran quarterback’s mere presence in Florida is already prompting some changes.
Although center Ryan Jensen may not be a household name, he and Tom Brady have already gotten up close and personal. Once the 2020 campaign kicks off, Jenson’s pants will be a bit different, thanks to some specific instructions from his new quarterback.
Tom Brady has officially become a Tampa Bay Buccaneer
Over time, it becomes impossible to imagine certain players wearing anything other than one specific uniform. That certainly was the case with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Brady, of course, arrived in Foxborough as an unheralded sixth-round pick; Drew Bledsoe, for example, never thought the young quarterback would ever become more than a career backup. Fate, however, had other plans, and Brady went on to win six Super Bowls.
All good things, however, must come to an end and, in March, Brady confirmed that he would be leaving New England in free agency. He then agreed to a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, giving him a chance to make up for lost financial time and help a new team get over the hump.
While there have been some missteps along the way—the quarterback worked out in a park that was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and accidentally walked into the wrong house—Brady has received rave reviews during his early time in Tampa Bay. On the field, he’s also inspired some changes.
Tampa Bay’s center has to stuff a towel down his pants
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During his time in the NFL, Tom Brady has learned what it takes to play at the highest level. As a quarterback, that includes receiving a dry, sweat-free ball from the center.
As detailed by Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, that’s accomplished by a very specific technique. While the finer details aren’t known to civilians, it involves the center sticking a towel and plenty of baby powder down the back of his pants.
According to Encina’s explanation, Brady texted center Ryan Jenson about the technique before demonstrating it in person at a workout. The instruction didn’t stop there, though. During a recent practice, “Brady did his own inspection of his sweat experiment, pulling the back waistband of Jensen’s pants and looking down.”
To Jensen’s credit, though, he’s taking everything in stride. When a six-time Super Bowl champion asks you to stick a towel down the back of your pants, you don’t ask questions.
“It’s an adjustment a little bit having a towel down the rear side, but if that’s what Tom wants and that’s going to help him be a better quarterback, I’m gonna do what I have to do,” the center said. “It’s been an easy adjustment. The first couple it was a little uncomfortable, but just like anything you get used to it.”
Tom Brady will be hoping his towel technique pays dividends in Tampa Bay
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At the end of the day, though towels and baby power don’t win Super Bowl titles. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however, will be hoping that their new relationship works well for both parties.
From the quarterback’s perspective, Brady landed in a pretty sweet spot. With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rob Gronkowski in the lineup, he’ll be spoiled for choice. After a frustrating year throwing to the likes of Gunner Olszewski in New England, the NFL veteran will be looking to show that he’s still got something left in his arm.
On the Buccaneers’ side of things, they’ll presumably be hoping their new signal-caller can help take the organization to the next level. Coaches love to talk about ‘learning to be a professional’ and ‘knowing what it takes to win’; it’s hard to think of anyone with more experience under his belt than Brady. While towels and baby powder don’t win games in isolation, things like that can help foster a culture and set organizational standards. Preparing for games and avoiding stupid mistakes might not make it onto the highlight reel, but they can be the difference between success and failure.
With all of that being said, though, we’ll just have to wait and see how Tom Brady does in Tampa Bay. If nothing else, we know he won’t be receiving any sweaty snaps from Ryan Jensen.
