Tom Brady’s future with the New England Patriots hangs in the balance, with many, including Damon Amendolara, believing Brady will play elsewhere in 2020.
“I waver every day, and I try not to think about it because I’m so tired of it,” Shaughnessy said on The DA Show. “At this point, I write columns there, and it’s more interesting if he goes at this point. I’ve kind of come around to, ‘Hey, this has been great.’ I wish he had retired after they won the Super Bowl two years ago. I’d like to see the team try to win without him. I’d like to see Belichick try to win without him. I’d like to see [Brady] go to another place. As just a sports fan, I just want to see what’ll happen.”
Brady’s tenure in New England, which includes nine Super Bowl appearances and six championships, is unmatched. Are the Patriots actually ready to turn the page on this historic NFL chapter?
Maybe.
“I think they can beat the bozos in the AFC East with any quarterback,” Shaughnessy said. “It’s not like you’re going to get a challenge from the Dolphins or the Jets. Their defense is a little old and they are sort of built to win now, and I’m not sure a 43-year-old quarterback is a necessity to that. I’d love to see each side do without the other and see how it goes.”
If Brady leaves, Jarrett Stidham, as of now, would be his replacement. But a lot could happen in free agency.
What would Bill Belichick do if Brady leaves?
“Well, he’s thought of it and we haven’t,” Shaughnessy said. “Whether Stidham is his guy, whether he goes out and gets Teddy Bridgewater, Andy Dalton – we’ve kicked around all the usual suspects. Bill took pride in identifying Jimmy Garoppolo. This is really nobody’s fault. Bill had the succession plan, and Tom outlived it. That’s good for Tom, and it was good for the Patriots. More Super Bowls. But that’s the charge for Bill to do that again now.”