What if the Cleveland Browns decided to take a stab at Tom Brady for the 2020 NFL season? Sounds a bit far-fetched, but what if it wasn’t?
Yes, they have Baker Mayfield, but who in that locker room or front office is totally sold on the erratic and cocky kid? In time, Mayfield could be something great, but he still needs time to develop. So, why not have him sit for a season behind Brady and see what he can learn?
Still not convinced? Well, try this one on. Imagine Brady zipping passes to Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry. In 2019, despite the distractions, the Patriots were still a team that many feared all season and going into the playoffs. That’s what he could bring to the Browns in 2020.
Brady has a swagger about him that other quarterbacks couldn’t buy. With rumors swirling that Brady may sign with the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, or possibly head back to the Patriots, the Browns have not been mentioned.
Tom Brady under center would give the team a much-needed boost of confidence. Not only that, but think of what his presence could mean for the free agent market. The Browns are pretty solid on the offensive side of the ball, but one thing they could use is a reliable tight end. If Brady comes back, maybe, just maybe he can convince Rob Gronkowski to play another year.
A receiving core of Landry, Beckham, and Gronkowski would place the Browns as the top offense in the league. But wait, there’s more. How can we forget the ground attack that features Nick Chubb? All Chubb did last season was rush for 1,494 yards and eight touchdowns. Man, that’s scary.
But there’s still more.
A Brady presence would not only make things easier on the offensive side, but the defense as well. Players want to win. The older they are, the more they start to think about their legacy. If Brady is at the helm, a defensive stud on his last leg may be on the prowl for a going out party of his own. One last ride with Tom Brady has a nice ring to it.
Possibly the most important factor of Brady joining the Browns is leadership. He’s like most greats. He wants everyone to be on their A-Level every game. That is what the team has been lacking for some time now.
Take a player like Myles Garrett. As good as he is, he’s still young and will make mistakes. With Brady at the helm, there will be no more incidents like the helmet swing. There will be no more of Beckham’s cryptic messages through the media. It’s all business. How can I know this for sure? Well, I don’t. But what I can tell you is that losing brings out the worst in players.
The AFC North is not a one-team division as some may think. Yes, the Baltimore Ravens ran through it last year and have the NFL MVP under center in Lamar Jackson, but the Browns were just a solid quarterback away from giving them a run. Add Brady and everything changes.
While the Kansas City Chiefs just won the Super Bowl, Brady did not have the type of weapons he would have with the Browns. His numbers were not as bad as people would have you think. In 2019, he passed for 4,057 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 60.8 percent of his passes and he did that at 42 years old. Does it look like he’s ready to call it a career?
Brady has been labeled a system quarterback. Well, what if that’s true? How many players have joined that same system and gotten rings for that? All this man does is win and what team in the NFL needs that more than the Browns? Imagine what Brady could do for that organization and its fan base. Granted, some egos will be hurt, but they will have to get over it. Mayfield learning from Brady can only make him better.
Here’s how all this will play out.
The Cleveland Browns begin the year with Brady as their leader. He leads them to a 13-3 record, a division title, and a first-round bye. They maneuver their way through the playoffs and make it to the Super Bowl. They win and at the podium, Brady takes it all in, grabs the mic, and says he’s done. He walks off the same way John Elway, Peyton Manning, and Ray Lewis did, as champions.
Brady did the impossible and for that, he’s without a shadow of a doubt labeled the greatest quarterback to ever play the game.
