BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — It appears Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have begun discussing the quarterback's upcoming free agency, as the new NFL league year rapidly approaches.
According to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald and Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston, the iconic duo had a phone call Tuesday regarding the topic.
Unfortunately for Patriots fans, both reporters say their sources close to the subject told them it "didn't go well."
Guregian notes that this is the first time the Patriots head coach has reached out to the six-time Super Bowl champ to discuss the team's future plans, and that even though things didn't get off to the best start, that shouldn't dash hopes of the Pats re-signing him.
Curran wrote in his report that Belichick treated Brady during the phone conversation like he was still under contract (technically he is, for two more weeks), and re-iterated the point that the call wasn't very productive. He also says that this shouldn't come as a total surprise, because Belichick is not "the warmest guy."
NFL Network Insider Mike Giardi also confirmed the call, but said the list of suitors for the soon-to-be-43-year-old quarterback may not be as strong as the media is making it sound. He specifically mentioned the "Brady to San Francisco" rumors that quickly spread nationally Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.
We've mentioned the 49ers rumors on "Brady Watch" before. Shortly after the Super Bowl, FS1's Skip Bayless laid out the plan, which is possible because San Francisco can tear up Jimmy Garoppolo's contract with little penalty against the cap ($4 million) and sign Brady to be their new quarterback.
That rumor resurfaced in a big way this week because Curran went on Sirius XM's "Schein on Sports" program Tuesday and told the show's host Adam Schein that, while he believes Brady will either stay in New England or leave for Tennessee, we should keep an eye on San Francisco—because in horse-racing terms, he says, they are "closing in hard on the outside."
Curran also said both Belichick and Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels would absolutely try to get Jimmy G back to Foxborough if this scenario was to play out in two weeks.
This has caused most beat writers and insiders to attempt to dig up what they can about whether or not there is mutual interest between the 49ers and Brady. One notable insider, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, said on Wednesday that, while it would be a fantastic storyline and great for gossip talk, he really couldn't confirm anything about the San Francisco rumors.
We don't know how or where these rumors started, but it is becoming apparent around the league that Tom Brady likes to be talked about. According to Mike Sando of the Athletic, one NFL executive told him at the combine last week: "I think he likes the attention, so it is not going to be something that happens quickly," meaning that this process is going to be drawn out as long as possible.
But, it all could be part of a plan by the quarterback himself to get the Patriots to make some big-time personnel changes on offense this offseason. Another executive told Sando that the 20 year veteran is "is putting pressure on New England to get him some players."
Brady officially becomes an unrestricted free agent at 4 p.m. on March 18.
WBZ NewsRadio's Dan Watkins (@DanWatkinsRadio) reports
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