Tom Brady returned from his brief retirement for another chance at leading the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl. Instead, the Bucs narrowly won the NFC South with a losing record and lost in the wild card round to the Cowboys.
But really, all you needed to see was Week 14’s mic’d-up Brady footage to realize how doomed the Bucs’ season was.
For his homecoming to the Bay Area, Brady agreed to wear the microphone for the Bucs’ social team. And we were treated to Brady urging on a lifeless offense that only managed to score one touchdown in the loss.
#Bucs recently released footage from their Week 14 game against the #49ers
Tom Brady was mic'd up for a big homecoming-type of game for him in front of his friends and family.
You can see him desperately trying to fire up a life-less team all game long. The end is just.. 😔 pic.twitter.com/ffzWR8kos2
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 23, 2023
Brady was so over the whole experience that he asked Blaine Gabbert to reach into his shoulder pads and remove the microphone — or, as Brady called it, “This stupid thing.” To add insult to injury, Gabbert seemed to have trouble with removing the mic because it was taped in there. It was honestly surprising that the Bucs included it in the video, but we’re glad they did.
Fans also had thoughts on seeing this miserable side of Brady.
This was how Twitter reacted
They don’t deserve the 🐐 https://t.co/ykUAWaHbKn
— ALVIN JONES (@My_Tyme10) January 23, 2023
How else should you react to a guy that’s played horrible trying to fire you up https://t.co/AHBKFNnUUA
— 𝙅𝙤𝙚𝙡 (@Breesoverrated) January 23, 2023
It's giving pic.twitter.com/YgJcAV28kB https://t.co/g6AdMtH1ox
— The new Chris Paul (@Nevers_Failures) January 23, 2023
Personally seeing the OL being that quiet and non-emotional during any of the clips was a little disturbing. Nothing to overreact about, but concerning considering the situation at the time https://t.co/sfPf9v7j9g
— Ken Barrett (@Bucs_Barrett) January 23, 2023
Bucs not gonna know what hit them when they got Kyle trask throwin 30 ints next year https://t.co/EQWLrDlcQT
— Taz (@TazR5_) January 23, 2023
I’m not a Brady guy but that whole team looked lifeless in many games and not many players seemed checked in https://t.co/SaJI0072La
— ya boy (@ScooterMcgilli1) January 23, 2023
he just said generic “pump up” NPC football player things with a monotone voice LMAO https://t.co/RHRP6IHHUd
— Michael 🧀 8-9 (@MichaelAllenNFL) January 23, 2023
He’s so done with Tampa lmao https://t.co/JW9HidOCHV
— ATL Will (@ATLWill_) January 23, 2023
This is embarrassing to watch, no fight in that team at all aside from Brady https://t.co/DOtaRgyB25
— Jeremy Hogue (@jhogue60) January 23, 2023
This is so sad lmao https://t.co/Nh7ea7elUk
— 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙮 𝙎𝙯𝙣 🥶 (@BryceInHisVeins) January 23, 2023
Yeah he’s gone https://t.co/5C4Hzh2CT3
— audiblesportscast (@audibleSC) January 23, 2023
TB12 may not be a Patriot anymore but man it hurts to see this. https://t.co/9P8eufhvzA
— B (@brandopamine) January 23, 2023
It really was almost sad to watch.
