The Tampa Bay Buccaneers mortgaged the future for Tom Brady.
Per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, general manager Jason Licht acknowledged that he borrowed about $100 million in future cap hits to sign and keep Brady under contract for three seasons. In hindsight, he has no regrets.
“If I go back in time I would do it all again,” Licht said.
After all, the gambit worked. Brady led the Bucs to a Super Bowl win when joining them in 2020.
“If anybody wants to criticize what they did, they can come to any of our three homes and look at our rings,” Licht added.
Per Spotrac, Brady’s contract officially voided Wednesday. Tampa Bay will absorb a $35.1 million dead cap hit for the retired quarterback in 2023.
Tampa Bay kicked the can down the road when structuring his contracts. That will make it difficult for Licht to field a roster capable of returning to the playoffs without Brady next season.
But flags fly forever. Most fans will gladly accept a rough patch after watching an all-time great lead the organization to a championship.