Chargers: What if Tom Brady really is interested in joining the team?
By Travis Wakeman
The idea of Tom Brady playing quarterback for any other team aside from the New England Patriots has always seemed a little far fetched. However, there are rumblings that it could indeed happen.
All of this started when ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that there is a good chance that Brady will not be in New England next season due to three things. The fact that he is voiding his contract, he has put his house up for sale and his personal trainer has also put his house up for sale.
That leads to plenty of speculation, but it is still incredibly hard to imagine Brady in a different jersey. Of course, the same was true with Peyton Manning, who did end up wearing another jersey, though those circumstances were much different.
It may not be that hard to imagine, however, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS. Should Brady leave the Patriots, he could have his eyes on Los Angeles, specifically on the Chargers, says La Canfora.
So what if it actually happened? What if Brady actually came to the Chargers?
Well, it would be pandemonium. Suddenly, the Chargers would become must-see television. When the Denver Broncos obtained Manning, the team saw its national exposure go way up. And the Chargers would see the same.
Take a look at this very interesting study. It ranks NFL fanbases based on several different factors, and it ranks the Chargers’ fanbase at No. 26. Interestingly, the Los Angeles Rams are at the very bottom of the list.
While the Chargers would become a team many, many more people wanted to watch, what would Brady do for the team on the field? He will turn 43 years old next August.
Brady was born in San Mateo, California, so it does make sense that he might want to finish his career near home. There are just as good of odds that he just wants to retire and move back to California, however.
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Even if this wild scenario did end up coming to fruition, it would be short-lived. Though Brady has stated he wishes to play until he’s 45, that doesn’t seem all that likely. Bringing Brady in to be the quarterback, while many people wouldn’t complain about getting arguably the best quarterback in NFL history, would be a pretty unceremonious way to end the career of Philip Rivers.
If Brady came to Los Angeles, it would likely be for one season. He would get to play in a shiny, brand new stadium and throw to Keenan Allen. But it’s still just so hard to imagine Brady in a powder blue jersey or even harder to imagine why he would actually want to wear that jersey.
Just some more food for thought: Johnny Unitas, widely considered the greatest quarterback of his generation, also finished his career by playing one season for the Chargers. He was 40 years old that season. It didn’t end well.
Maybe it’s best to leave well enough alone?