TAMPA, Fla. – If there were any further speculation about a possible split between Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bruce Arians – speculation largely driven from outside of Tampa Bay – Brady looked like it would end on Thursday.
He and Arians were scheduled to play golf together during their farewell week, but were unable to do so because the NFL believed it would violate COVID-19 protocols, which do not allow for team personnel to rally outside the facility.
When asked about their plans and what it was like to get to know Arians on a more personal level, Brady said, “I feel like we have a great relationship. From the moment I got here we just had a great dialogue and I definitely appreciate all the insight he gives me and the way he coaches and leads. “
Brady recognized the obstacles of trying to build authentic relationships in Tampa during the COVID-19 era. He was allowed to spend time with teammates during private practice sessions at Berkeley Prep this summer, but coaches were not allowed in those practices and were not allowed to meet players in person until they signed up for training camp, thus banning their interaction. mostly for video chats.
“It’s been a different year for all of us who have had to deal with those kinds of circumstances where you would normally have the opportunity to get to know each other in a different way,” said Brady. “One thing that’s difficult for all of us in the facility is you don’t have one-on-one time with anyone [and] you don’t get personal time where you would sit and talk and eat together There is no close contact, so every conversation is just very different from the past. We make the most of it. “
As for Arians specifically, Brady stressed that the two communicate well and that he is happy with their arrangement, which he believes is based on fairness.
“It is very open [and] honest dialogue about how we think [and] sure how I can be most effective, ”said Brady. If he has questions, we always have a great, open line of communication. I really enjoy my time getting to know him and I really admire him as a coach, as a man, for what he is off the field and how he runs and leads the team. “