According to a new report by NBC Sports’ Chris Simms, the Dolphins were ready to risk just about everything to bring a 44-year-old player to the team to possibly lead them to the promised land.
Brady is set to play the 2022 season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but there is still chatter about him possibly going to the Dolphins.
Simms reports that the Dolphins were going to trade a second-round pick to the Buccaneers for Brady, who would be joined by Sean Payton in Miami.
“I was led to believe that it already had been talked about that (the Dolphins) were going to trade a second-round pick to Tampa Bay to get Brady. (The Bucs) weren’t going to hold him hostage,” Simms said. “Sean Payton and the Saints, that was going to be a first-round pick to get that deal done. And yes, the way I was told (it was going to be) Sean Payton head coach, Brady-Bruce Beal part-owner, going to give (Brady) a little time: ‘Oh yeah, I’m retired, but oh wait, I changed my mind, this Dolphins thing’s so good,’ and then come back and play with the Dolphins. That was what the plan was. That’s where the stars were trying to be aligned by Brady and Sean Payton. And of course it got upset by that (lawsuit).”
Mike McDaniel was actually asked about the Brady rumors at the NFL’s annual league meeting and he shot them down.
“Tom Brady? On the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? That has not been in the conversation [about him coming to Miami],” McDaniel told reporters at the NFL’s annual league meetings. “I think that’s what you call fake news.”
Based on PFT’s timeline, the Dolphins’ push for Brady happened before McDaniel was hired, so he clearly was not in the know about the situation.
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Payton and Brady both left the sport this offseason before Brady famously returned to the Buccaneers. Payton is expected to land a significant broadcasting role.
“I have no clue about the Tampa Bay/Miami Dolphins/Tom Brady rumor… I’m getting ready for TV,” Payton said before he went on to win the Zurich Classic Celebrity Shootout.
Ultimately, the Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel as their head coach, following the firing of Brian Flores, who moved on with the Steelers as an assistant.
