Speculation has stirred around factors in Tom Brady’s retirement.
The 44-year-old could clearly play at least another season, and his family was the primary reason for putting football behind him. But, there were rumors that Brady’s relationship with Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians played a role in his decision.
Former New England Patriots lineman Rich Ohrnberger reported that the “honeymoon was over” and that the relationship was souring. Ohrnberger went on to tell a story that Arians would rehab his achilles in the mornings while Brady and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich would work on the week’s game plan. Ohrnberger said Arians would later come and change the plan up — making Brady and Leftwich feel undermined.
Apparently, while Arians was rehabbing the achilles in the early mornings, offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and Brady would work on the week's game plan. Arians would later come in and take the red pen to work they'd done. The QB and OC felt undermined, there was tension.
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) February 18, 2022
Arians responded in the Tampa Bay Times and said the report was “bulls–t.”
“First of all, I don’t rehab my Achilles in the morning,” Arians said. “I will go over the game plans and add things, but I don’t delete anything. I don’t have to because they do such a good job. … I’ll see some things. Add some things. It’s an awesome collaboration, one of the best I’ve ever been around.”
Arians honed in on the Ohrnberger’s “red pen” comment with a colorful response.
“I never heard of that one,” Arians said. “That was the best one ever. That’s pretty graphic to not know what the f— you’re talking about.”
Arians remained strong in his stance that Ohrnberger’s reports were misleading and untrue.
