The aura of retired quarterback Tom Brady continues to hover over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers heading into training camp.
As shared by the JoeBucsFan website, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales acknowledged during a recent appearance on the “2 B’s in a Pod” podcast that none other than Brady is his “favorite player of all time.”
Brady, of course, served as Tampa Bay’s QB1 from 2020 through last season and shared a roster with 2021 second-round draft pick Kyle Trask across the past two campaigns. Trask will compete with free-agency signing Baker Mayfield this summer for the right to at least temporarily replace Brady atop the depth chart.
By most accounts, Mayfield has the upper hand in that upcoming battle. “Knowing that Kyle got to spend some time just sitting there watching and seeing what (Brady) did, you know, I would have killed to be a fly on the wall in that room,” Canales continued during the podcast episode.
What exactly Trask did and/or didn’t learn from Brady remains unclear considering the 25-year-old spent the majority of his first two pro seasons sitting as the club’s third-choice option.
Thus far, Trask has attempted just nine regular-season passes at the highest level. Canales’ comments could raise eyebrows for reasons that go beyond him gushing over who many people view as the greatest QB in NFL history.
Earlier this month, Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. generated headlines when he said he was “sure we’re still reaching out to (Brady) trying to see if he’s trying to come back to the team.” Canales seemingly would happily embrace the opportunity to coach TB12 for even a handful of months.
Of course, there’s no indication Brady is even considering a second comeback from retirement. It was reported this week he’s actively preparing to work as Fox’s lead NFL analyst in 2024.
The 45-year-old is also set to become a limited partner of the Las Vegas Raiders this fall. If, however, the events of 2022 taught the football world anything, it’s that things regarding Brady’s professional and personal lives can change in a hurry.
