First Call: Browns favorite to sign Tom Brady if he leaves Patriots; Antonio Brown wants in, too
This can’t happen.
Can it?
Tom Brady is about to become a free agent. After nearly two decades of dominance, he could leave the New England Patriots.
Hey, Michael Jordan was a Washington Wizard. Joe Montana became a Kansas City Chief. And Babe Ruth ended his career with the Boston Braves.
It could happen. Brady might end his career in a different uniform. Surely that makes Pittsburgh Steelers fans giddy at the very thought.
Until you see that the Cleveland Browns are the favorite to land Brady if he leaves New England.
What?
The Steelers would then see Brady twice a year!? Every year?! Until he retires. Presumably at age 75?
Whose nightmare scenario is this?
Well, those were the odds posted by BetOnline.ag. Somehow, I can’t see Brady talking Gisele into moving to Northeast Ohio for a few years to close out his run.
Although the drama that would cause with Baker Mayfield would be delicious. Even if it was just for a matter of weeks before Mayfield got shipped to another team.
Does that mean Brady would have to take over as caretaker of First Energy Stadium now, too? Is that going to be in his contract? Is Bill Belichick going to go back to the Browns as well? Is Gronk coming out of retirement in an orange helmet?
Fret not, Steelers fans. That’s probably not happening. I don’t see Brady going anywhere. My bet is he stays in New England somehow, some way. And if he does go elsewhere, it won’t be anywhere in the AFC North.
Including Pittsburgh. The odds of that happening are pretty steep according to BetOnline.ag, at +2500. The Washington Redskins are the only team on their board with longer odds (+3300).
Although, if Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow isn’t 100% coming back from that surg…
Never mind, who am I kidding?
Anyway, where Brady goes, that’s where Antonio Brown says he wants to play, and nowhere else.
2020 Only Want To Play With @TomBrady Or No Play
— AB (@AB84) January 5, 2020
Now that’s a typical reactionary, shortsighted A.B. tweet. Because it was sent only a day after Brown jabbed Belichick for cutting him earlier in the year.
So if Brady stays, how is Brown helping his own cause, exactly?
The disgruntled wide receiver posted that on Instagram shortly after New England lost to the Tennessee Titans in the playoffs.
Then, the former Steeler went so far as to embrace what has quickly become known as the “Antonio Brown Curse.” Every team associated with Brown failed to win a playoff game this year.
All three of his former teams — the Steelers, Raiders and Patriots — didn’t win a playoff game. Neither did the Buffalo Bills or New Orleans Saints, two teams who considered acquiring him.
Brown seemed to enjoy a tweet pointing that out.
— AB (@AB84) January 5, 2020
Even his alma mater, Central Michigan, got smoked in the New Mexico Bowl by San Diego State 48-11. So the “A.B. Curse” must be true.
Now, if Brown and Brady both wind up in Cleveland, does the curse cancel out Brady’s magic touch?
I think I may wind up on sensory overload if that happens.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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