Pats were willing to pay Brady as much as Bucs for one year?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Patriots were willing to pay Tom Brady as much as Buccaneers but only guaranteed one season

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 10/3/21

Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is making his highly anticipated return to New England Sunday as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With the hype leading up to the marquee matchup, we continue to hear more about the split between Brady and the Patriots after the 2019 season.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Patriots were willing to offer Brady more than $30 million on a one-year deal. They wouldn't commit to him beyond one season, while the Bucs were willing to sign him to a two-year deal which, of course, was more intriguing to Brady.

From @NFLGameDay: A look back at two key factors that led to Tom Brady's departure from the #Patriots. Story (https://t.co/us5GkBnZP3) and video pic.twitter.com/9iVKW7bfRI
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 3, 2021

Brady has always insisted he wants to play until he's 45, and he essentially wanted that guarantee on his new deal. The Bucs were willing to put his interests first, while the Patriots were ready to move into the future.

Brady went on to win his seventh Super Bowl title in his first season with the Bucs, while the Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

New England has since moved on to rookie quarterback Mac Jones, who is 1-2 on the season, after releasing Cam Newton before the 2021 season began.

Sunday night's game will be the biggest of Jones' career thus far. It will determine whether the Patriots enter Week 5 1-3 or 2-2. It's equally important for Brady and the Bucs, who lost last weekend's game to the Los Angeles Rams.

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