Antonio Brown wanted to play with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. Here’s why that won’t happen.
There was hope that Tom Brady and Antonio Brown might reunite in Tampa Bay.
It doesn’t look like that’s happening.
Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians addressed those rumors Thursday while appearing on CBS Sports’ Tiki and Tierney.
“Yeah, it’s not gonna happen,” he said. “There’s no room. And probably not enough money but it’s just not gonna happen. It’s just not a fit here.”
The Bucs, however, actually do have room. They lost Breshad Perriman, who signed with the New York Jets in the offseason. When co-host Bradon Tierney brought that up and asked if Brown wanted to come in on a veteran minimum deal, Arians took it a step further.
“No,” he said.
“I just know him, and it’s not a fit in our locker room,” Arians added.
This confirmed NFL Network’s earlier reports that Arians didn’t want to bring in the 31-year-old receiver. As the Herald previously reported, many of Brady’s potential suitors believed that the six-time Super Bowl champion and Brown were a package deal of sorts. The two had apparently been in “consistent contact” during Brady’s free agency, according to ESPN.
A Week 2 blowout win over the Dolphins serves as the only example of how dangerous a Brady-Brown connection could be. Brown finished the game with four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.
From the sexual assault allegations to more recent mischief charges, Brown’s off-the-field issues are one of the many things that’s keeping him from playing. There’s also the NFL’s investigation into these accusations that will likely result in Brown getting placed on the commissioner’s exempt list until the inquiry’s completion, per the Washington Post.
On top of that, Arians did serve as Brown’s receivers coach during his ’ first two seasons in the league. with the Steelers He knew Brown before the 1000 yard seasons, touchdown dances and irreverent live streams. If he doesn’t like him, he doesn’t like him.
Plus it’s not like the Bucs necessarily need Brown.
Only four teams had receiver tandems who snagged at least 60 balls for more than 1,000 yards. Of the four, the Buccaneers duo of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans outpaced everyone in yards and yards per reception. Still, having Brown is like an insurance plan.
