Buccaneers' General Manager Jason Licht reveals Teddy Bridgewater and Tom Brady information
In the event that Tom Brady had not signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, the team had a backup plan in place - to pursue veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater as their potential starter or key quarterback option[1][2][3].
General Manager Jason Licht revealed that Bridgewater was Tampa Bay's Plan B quarterback if the Brady deal had fallen through. Bridgewater had been evaluated by the Buccaneers multiple times over the years, including visits before the 2014 draft, and he was considered the second option behind Brady in 2020[2][3][5].
Bridgewater, a former Pro Bowler with nine years of NFL experience, might not have reached the levels of success that Brady has demonstrated throughout his career. While Bridgewater played solidly during his career, there are many reasons why Brady is considered the Greatest of All Time[5].
Brady's signing with the Bucs led the team to a Super Bowl LV victory in his first season with them, a level of success Bridgewater had not demonstrated with other teams[5]. Thus, without Brady, the Buccaneers likely would have relied on Bridgewater, who was competent but not considered on Brady's elite level.
The odds of the Bucs having as much success as they did under Brady without Bridgewater would have been lower. If Bridgewater had helped Tampa Bay win games in the potential absence of Mayfield, he would have been worth the price tag[2][5]. However, his success might not have been as high as the Bucs' success under Brady[1][2][5].
The final play designed to secure a score is commonly referred to as a clutch play, and it was Brady's clutch plays that led the Bucs to their Super Bowl victory in 2020. With Bridgewater, while the Bucs might have still won games, the level of success and the dramatic moments might not have been the same.
In conclusion, the Bucs' decision to sign Tom Brady in 2020 proved to be a game-changer for the team, leading them to a Super Bowl victory in his first season. Without Brady, the team would have likely relied on Teddy Bridgewater, who, while competent, was not considered on Brady's elite level.
[1] https://www.espn.com/nfl/story//id/31245031/tom-brady-tampa-bay-buccaneers-sign-two-year-deal-report [2] https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/03/20/teddy-bridgewater-free-agent-tampa-bay-buccaneers [3] https://www.nfl.com/news/teddy-bridgewater-says-he-would-love-to-play-for-tampa-bay-buccaneers [4] https://www.nfl.com/news/buccaneers-sign-tom-brady-to-two-year-deal [5] https://www.espn.com/nfl/story//id/31245031/tom-brady-tampa-bay-buccaneers-sign-two-year-deal-report
In the hypothetical scenario where Tom Brady hadn't signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team's draft plans or odds of success in the NFL playoffs might have significantly changed, with Teddy Bridgewater potentially taking on a key role as their quarterback. Although Bridgewater, a former Pro Bowler, had been evaluated by the Buccaneers multiple times and was their Plan B option in 2020, his success could not be compared to Brady's elite level demonstrated throughout his career. Even if Bridgewater had helped Tampa Bay win games, the dramatic moments and level of success might not have been as notable without Brady.
