Confetti falls as Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady Sr. expects Buccaneers 'to beat Patriots rather handily' in Week 4

One of the most exciting storylines found in early leaks of Wednesday's NFL schedule release involved Tampa Bay Buccaneers stars and reigning champions Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski making their returns to Foxborough to face coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots in Week 4 of the regular season. 

Per Jenna Laine of ESPN, Tom Brady Sr., father of the seven-time Super Bowl champion signal-caller, pulled no punches when speaking about that epic showdown on the "Zolak and Bertrand" radio show on Boston's 98.5 The Sports Hub.

"I saw the schedule come out last night and I started salivating when I saw that we play the Patriots in the fourth game of the season, and that we're coming up here to make our record 4-0 after the fourth game," Brady Sr. explained. 

He added: "We expect to beat the Patriots rather handily, frankly." 

Brady was more diplomatic about the matchup on Twitter.

Earlier this week, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht raised eyes when he admitted he's told Brady he believes the QB "can still play until he’s 50." Brady Sr. didn't sound so sure when discussing his son, who turns 44 in August. 

"While he's happy now, I think he's starting to realize that the end of the career is coming to an end and he's just savoring every moment as he walks down the final stretches -- whether it's next one year, two years, or 12 years," Brady Sr. said. 

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