Virus Doesn’t Stop NFL Free Agents

 

The NFL free agency period began officially at 4pm last week. The Coronavirus pandemic which has crippled the nation was only a speed bump when it came for teams to make a splash in the free agent market. The biggest name on the market, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, broke the hearts of Patriots fans when he announced he would not re-sign with the team he spent the last 20 years, winning 6 Super Bowl titles. Speculation then began what city TB12 would be throwing his next pass. Would he stay in the AFC? Would he go home to the west coast? When the guessing game was over, Brady selected a team he felt was on the cusp of going to the next level and making a run at the Super Bowl. That team turned out to be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady signed a 2-year deal for $50 million which could earn him as much as $10 million more based on incentives. “Excited and humble,” Brady posted on his instagram page. “If there’s one thing l have learned, is that no cares what you did last year or the year before that. You earn the trust and respect of those around you through your commitment every single day.” Brady will be coached by second year head coach Bruce Arians as the team finished with a 7-9 record. The organization decided not to go forward with Jameis Winston who was their #1 draft pick in the 2015 draft. Winston was coming off a year in which he threw 33 touchdown passes but also threw 30 interceptions. He led the league throwing for 5,109 yards leading many to think he did enough to return. When Brady declared himself a free agent, that door closed. So Tom Brady takes his talent to Florida to a team that has not won a playoff game since 1992. Tampa host the 2021 Super Bowl. No team has ever played in the Super Bowl in their own city.

 

Another quarterback who spent his entire career, is moving on as well. Phillip rivers who threw for more than 59,000 yards and 397 touchdowns for the Chargers signed a 1 year deal with the Indianapolis Colts for $25 million. Rivers could not overcome a Chargers shaky defense as they gave up 30 or more points in 4 of their last 5 games. The ever durable Rivers played in all 16 games For the 14th straight season. 

 

The Carolina Panthers parted ways with quarterback Cam Newton as they signed Teddy Bridgewater from the New Orleans Saints. Newton was the league MVP in 2015 leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl but injuries have been a big part of his career. He only played in 2 games last year after suffering a ankle injury. Bridgewater gets $63 million for 3 years as the Saints decided to sign veteran Drew Brees to a 2-year deal for close to $25 million each year.

 

Perhaps the biggest surprise coming out of the league had nothing to do with free agency. The Jacksonville Jaguars, two years removed from the AFC championship game, traded quarterback Nick Foles to the Chicago Bears for a 4th round compensatory pick. Foles was named Super Bowl MVP (Lll) when he led the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl taking out the New England Patriots. Foles has 3 years left at $21 per year.

 

The NFL draft is scheduled to take place beginning April 23rd in Las Vegas. For precautionary measures due to the virus, it will not be open to the public. Players like Winston, Newton and Jadeveon Clowney, who still have plenty to offer, are hoping to sign a deal before then. The virus has shut down games across the world but for the National Football league it’s business as usual.