WR Russell Gage talks being recruited by Tom Brady to join Buccaneers

It was reported last March that quarterback Tom Brady actively recruited wide receiver Russell Gage to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gage has offered some information about that conversation. 

According to a story shared by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN on Thursday, Gage was "taking out the trash at 8:30 p.m. on" March 14 when he answered a call from an unknown number. Brady, who had just announced the previous evening that he was ending his retirement to return to the Buccaneers, was on the other end of the line. 

"I was quiet for a good part of the conversation, trying to figure out what's real," Gage explained. "He took the floor about what they had going on there, things he wanted me to be a part of, [said they had] something special going on."

Gage responded by informing Brady he'd relay the signal-caller's message to Athletes First, the receiver's agency. TB12's words clearly left an impression, as it was reported on March 15 that Gage was signing a three-year deal with the Buccaneers that could be worth up to $30 million and included $20 million guaranteed.

Fowler's overall story was about player-to-player recruitment that officially begins during the "legal tampering" portions of offseasons. 

"If it's somebody a player knows, then they will have those conversations casually anyway," veteran NFL agent Joby Branion told Fowler. "If it's not someone they know, it needs to be someone of prominence, like the quarterback, or it doesn't have much of an impact."

In the end, Brady's call did little to prevent the Buccaneers from suffering a humiliating playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys in January. Per ESPN stats, Gage ended the regular season fourth on the team with 51 catches, 70 targets and 426 receiving yards. He was second behind only Mike Evans (six) with five receiving touchdowns. 

Gage could soon be traded if the Buccaneers embrace a true rebuild following Brady's retirement/departure. Even if the 27-year-old never catches another pass while wearing a Tampa Bay jersey, he'll always be able to brag about being asked to join a club by none other than the G.O.A.T.