Buccaneers' Tom Brady: 'Guys choose this team because of the team, not because of me'

Whether or not Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will actually call "best friend" and retired tight end Rob Gronkowski about potentially returning to the organization at some point during the 2022 NFL season has yet to be determined. 

Months before Gronkowski publicly announced he was riding off into the sunset for the second time as a player, a story emerged claiming Brady called wide receiver Russell Gage about featuring for Tampa Bay. Gage later came to terms on a three-year deal with the Buccaneers that reportedly could be worth up to $30 million and included $20 million guaranteed.

Since Gronkowski's latest retirement, former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph and seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones have signed with Tampa Bay. Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion who is widely viewed as the G.O.A.T., insisted in recent comments that free agents haven't signed with the Buccaneers over the past couple of years just because he's been attached to the organization. 

"Naturally, I’m an older player, and I’ve been very fortunate to know a lot of guys," Brady said shortly ahead of his 45th birthday that he'll celebrate on Wednesday, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "Guys choose this team because of the team, not because of me. We have a great organization, great teammates, and I think people are excited to come join a great group of people, a great group of men. It’s never about one person. That isn’t ever what this sport is about. It’s the ultimate team sport. I love playing with players that are professional, players that want to work hard, and players that put the team first." 

For all anyone knows, Brady could be working for Fox Sports as a lead NFL analyst at this time next year. That could prove to be a harsh dose of reality for some players who committed their futures to the Buccaneers beyond the upcoming season largely because of Brady's presence in the locker room.