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Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots, in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 15, 2019. /VCG
Even COVID-19 can't stop the excitement on the NFL free agent market. First, Tom Brady announced is departure from the New England Patriots on Twitter to be come a free agent. This came alongside reports about him joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, plenty of other teams got busy and began looking for what they need on the market.
Biggest news: NFL G·O·A·T Brady leaves Patriots, reportedly for Buccaneers
Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots, reacts in the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, December 12, 2016. /VCG
"To all my teammates, coaches, executives and staff, coach Belichick, RKK (Robert Kraft) and the Kraft Family and the entire organization. I want to say thank you for the past twenty years of my life and the daily commitment to winning and creating a winning culture built on great values… Although my football journey will take place elsewhere, I appreciate everything that we have achieved and am grateful for out incredible TEAM achievements," wrote Brady on Twitter as his goodbye to the New England Patriots on Tuesday.
Since getting picked apart in his scouting report and selected as the 199th pick by the Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady has achieved a 219-64 record in the regular season, gone 30-11 in the playoffs, won three NFL MVP awards and, of course, a record six Super Bowl championships.
Tom Brady (C), quarterback of the New England Patriots, speaks to the media in front of the Vince Lombardi trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, February 3, 2019. /VCG
That's why there's hardly an argument against him being the greatest player in NFL history. And now he is leaving the team he has worked with for 20 years.
In less than 12 hours, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington reported that the 42-year-old quarterback is joining the Buccaneers. "There's no signing date or announcement officially set up, but Brady is expected to be a Buccaneer," posted Schefter.
By the way, Super Bowl LV will happen at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on February 7, 2021. No team ever in league history have played at home in the Super Bowl. Perhaps that's what Brady's after.
Titans keep Ryan Tannehill instead of chasing Brady
Ryan Tannehill, quarterbac of the Tennessee Titans, holds the ball in the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, January 19, 2020. /AP
For weeks, the Tennessee Titans have been considered as the next stop for Brady. The six-time Super Bowl champion facetiming Titans' head coach Mike Vrabel only made more people believe that Brady would join his former teammate at Nissan Stadium.
However, the Titans' agreeing to a four-year, 118-million-U.S.-dollar contract extension with Ryan Tannehill on Sunday put an end to the rumor. The deal contains 91 million of guaranteed money and makes Tannehill the seventh-best paid QB in today's league.
As Tannehill stays on a big contract, Tennessee's former starting QB Marcus Mariota had to leave. According to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Las Vegas Raiders signed a contract with Mariota on Monday.
Cowboys manage to keep Prescott-Cooper pair
Dak Prescott, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, runs with the ball in the game against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, December 15, 2019. /AP
The Dallas Cowboys again made quite a noise in the offseason. Though the team failed to make the playoffs last season, the growth of quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper convinced their front office that the young pair is the team's hope for the future.
Nonetheless, keeping them would not be easy. The Cowboys discussed with Prescott about contract extension last year but could not reach an agreement over salary number. The signing of the new NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) took away the Cowboys chance of using use both the franchise and transition tags in the offseason.
Therefore, the team made their move. On Monday, the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Prescott, making sure that the 26-year-old QB is not going anywhere next season. It also guaranteed that Prescott will receive a top five average salary of around 33 million U.S. dollars, according to NFL Network.
Amari Cooper (C), wide receiver of the Dallas Cowboys, receives the ball in the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, December 5, 2019. /AP
Then the Cowboys turned to Cooper. Schefter reported on Monday night the team and the WR agreed over a five-year, 100-million new deal before the Cowboys made the official announcement on Tuesday. The new contract made Cooper the second-best paid guy in his position, only next to Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons.
There were also many other signings. For example, the Carolina Panthers first gave Cam Newton permission to seek a trade and then introduced QB Teddy Bridgewater from the New Orleans Saints with a three-year, 63-million-U.S.-dollar deal. Furthermore, on Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts gave Philip Rivers a one-year, 25-million contract. The 38-year-old won't be part of the team's future, but landing him on a short term sounds like a good deal.