Kraft said if Brady had wanted to stay with the Patriots, the team would have put a deal togethergetty images
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft said that if Tom Brady’s desire was to stay in New England, the club "would have made that happen," according to Jim McBride of the BOSTON GLOBE. Kraft: “If he wanted to be here, we would have put a deal together. That’s what I thought was happening" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/18). Brady is expected to sign a deal with the Buccaneers, and in Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes under the header, "It's Hard To Believe, But Tom Brady Has Played His Last Game As A Patriot" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/18).
DIFFERING OPINIONS: In Boston, Tom Curran wrote Brady "didn't 'decide' to leave the Patriots. That's for sure." The Patriots made "very clear to Brady over the past few years that they weren't in it with him for the long haul anymore." There were "philosophical differences" between the two parties. But the timing of Brady's announcement "is telling." He "waited to make sure an offer would crystallize -- and it did" with the Bucs and Chargers. And then -- with "no offer and no effort from the Patriots -- he could tell them that enough was enough." The Patriots "had their time," and their "silence spoke volumes" (NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com, 3/17). BOSTON SPORTS JOURNAL's Greg Bedard noted the "record will show Brady ended it," but Patriots coach Bill Belichick "equally, if not moreso, had a hand in this dissolution with his detachment and unbending football beliefs." In the end, Brady and Belichick each "bet on themselves and stuck with their well-worn beliefs." In the end, and "given some time and distance from all this, Patriots fans will realize this wasn't a terrible ending." It was "far from the belief Brady's tenure in New England would end terribly." Bedard: "I've seen terrible up close, and this was far from it" (BOSTONSPORTSJOURNAL.com, 3/17). Also in Boston, Christopher Gasper writes, "Brady is leaving because Belichick pushed him to his breaking point and pushed him out." This serves as the "ultimate test of the 'In Bill We Trust.'" This was a situation that "cried out for an ownership intervention." Kraft "recused himself from the most important decision in franchise history." That "was the death knell" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/18). ESPN's Ian O'Connor said Brady "decided he needs a new and fresh challenge, and so Kraft had really little choice but to let that happen" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/17).
BRADY'S LEGACY: In N.Y., Bill Pennington writes the Patriots under Brady "grew into one of the NFL's most profitable teams." A "new Patriots stadium, enveloped by a shopping mall, commercial district and hotels, made tiny Foxborough a household word synonymous with recurring championships" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/18). In DC, Jerry Brewer writes the "phenomenal career" of Brady is "left to die alone now." Brewer: "So is the era of Belichick’s incessant genius. Brady and the Patriots had to say goodbye this way, their way, not a forced way." They "weren’t afraid of their dynasty’s death." They just "didn’t want to be there when it happened" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/18).
WHO'S THE GOAT? ESPN.com's O'Connor wrote, "Now the greatest quarterback ever gets to see how easy it is to contend for titles without Belichick. Now the greatest coach ever gets to see how easy it is to do the same without Brady." Brady's "defining rival used to be Peyton Manning." O'Connor: "Today it is William Stephen Belichick, once and for all. May the best GOAT win" (ESPN.com, 3/17). In Boston, Tom Keegan writes, "Brady's gone, but the championship culture he helped Belichick to establish isn't going anywhere." That "stays as long as the coach does" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/18). In Boston, Chad Finn writes of Brady's Patriots tenure, "We'll never see anything like it again. And even if the parting was expected, it's still shocking, and a little sad too, when the moment comes" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/18).
END OF THE DYNASTY: In N.Y., Ryan Dunleavy writes even with Belichick's "genius" staying in New England, it is "easy to see this as the end of a dynasty" (N.Y. POST, 3/18). USA TODAY's Nate Davis writes, "The New England juggernaut is dead." It "may be another century or more before another organization approaches such football dominance again" (USA TODAY, 3/18). In Pittsburgh, Paul Zeise writes the Patriots' run was "impressive, but it is over now," and it is "over for all the wrong reasons" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/18).
BRADY'S BRANDS: Under Armour yesterday said its relationship with Brady "remains unchanged," while Swiss watch maker IWC also said it is "still a partner of Tom's." Another of Brady's former endorsers, Uggs, said while he is "no longer a spokesmodel for our men's line, he is still and will always be a member of the Ugg family" (WWD.com, 3/17).
