Antonio Brown, Tom Brady, New England Patriots. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
There’s a lot working against it, but the buzz attaching Antonio Brown to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers isn’t ready to go away.
Antonio Brown’s NFL future is at best up in the air. If a team did sign him, he’s surely facing a suspension for off-field indiscretions. But the buzz attaching Brown to one particular team never seems too far away, and it’s back again.
During an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday, Michael Lombardi of The Athletic passed along that he’s heard rumblings the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be interested in Brown.
Tom Brady spent one game with Brown in New England last year, before Brown was let go. A reunion in Tampa Bay has seemed possible, as much as Brady’s preferences have a significant say in matters. And based on even signing him, Brady’s preferences are at the forefront in “Tompa Bay”.
Head coach Bruce Arians is also a significant voice in the Buccaneers’ room. A move to add the unretired Rob Gronkowski is one thing to appease Brady. As Greg Auman of The Athletic reminds us though, Arians drew a line at Brown back in March.
Money aside, as much as Brown could have any real demands at this point, Arians hinted at the deeper idea of it not being a fit. Brown would be combustible material in every NFL locker room, and the clearest evidence of that (albeit with other things in play off the field) is his short stint with the Patriots last year.
ESPN’s Dianna Russini has followed with a report the Buccaneers are not interested in Brown. Lombardi’s comments were hardly concrete, but now we have a concrete dismissal that there’s any interest from Tampa Bay’s end.
Brown to the Buccaneers is a fancy idea, and there may be players (Brady) lobbying for his addition. But if he does return to the NFL, the odds it’s in Tampa Bay are remarkably low.