Tom Brady looks on from the bench in the fourth quarter of the Patriots' loss to the Titans in the AFC Wild Card game Saturday. (Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — For the first time in a decade, the NFL divisional round won't include the Patriots after their crushing loss to the Titans in the Wild Card round Saturday.
WBZ NewsRadio's Adam Kaufman caught up with The Boston Globe's Ben Volin for one last Red Zone Report to discuss all of the questions facing the Pats in the offseason—including Tom Brady's uncertain future.
When it comes to the big topics the team needs to consider, Volin said there's one that stands out.
"Obviously, number one, the future of Tom Brady—that might even be stories one, two, and three for the Patriots. Kind of a big question. They need to figure out, are they bringing back Brady? Or are they going to go with a youth movement at quarterback? It kind of, I think, affects their free agency planning and draft planning. If you bring back Brady, I think you have less of a need for draft picks and more of a need for free agents. Other way around if Brady doesn't come."
Tom Brady has all but confirmed he will not retire and intends to return for his 21st NFL season—but if that's the case, we don't know if that will be in Foxborough or elsewhere. What is Volin's expectation?
"I don't completely take retirement off the table," Volin said. "I think there's a scenario where the Patriots have decided we're gonna move on, and Tom Brady gets out there and gets interest from a few teams, but then when he gets down to it, he thinks, 'Do I really want to go play for the Chargers? Do I really want to go play for the Raiders?' and then he potentially retires and moves on. That said, I still think he comes back for one more season in Foxborough."
Kaufman and Volin also cover:
- Does Bill Belichick want Brady back?
- What kind of money is Tom Brady looking for?
- How many other teams would realistically be a good fit for Brady, if he doesn't come back to the Pats?
- Will Josh McDaniels stay in New England, or head to Cleveland?
- Among key Patriots starters who are free agents, who will stay and who will go?
- Who does Volin think will win the Super Bowl?
Listen to the full interview below!
Listen to this week's Red Zone Report with Adam Kaufman (@adammkaufman) and Ben Volin (@BenVolin):
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