The New England Patriots made a very unorthodox decision on 2023 NFL roster cutdown day to only carry one quarterback in Mac Jones.
The team waived 2022 fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe and 2023 undrafted free agent Malik Cunningham, which probably paves the way for the team to add a veteran backup like Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz, Nick Foles or Colt McCoy.
However, what if … what if … he returns?
Yes, NFL fans immediately noticed that a certain former Patriots quarterback who won multiple Super Bowls in New England is hypothetically a free agent after retiring in the offseason and could hypothetically return on a one-year deal to possibly lead the Patriots back to the promised land.
Can you guess who we’re talking about? No, not Brian Hoyer.
While Tom Brady is an active minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, will be celebrated at Gillette Field during New England’s home owner and has indicated that he is really not coming out of retirement, it really does not sound like Bill Belichick has the greatest ace up his sleeve with these moves.
However, the Patriots’ quarterback situation had NFL fans wondering … what if the Patriots did the funniest thing of all time (for New England fans)?
Oh yeah, everyone had the same idea.
Tom Brady seeing the Patriots only have 1 QB on the roster now pic.twitter.com/12CYY9qNmJ
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) August 29, 2023
BY GAWD, THAT'S TOM BRADY'S MUSIC!!! pic.twitter.com/J3xR2g7s13 https://t.co/ikTxUBIJyB
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) August 29, 2023
Tom Brady to Bill Belichick after finding out Mac Jones is the only QB on the Patriots roster…
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) August 29, 2023
Got it: Pats release Zappe and Cunningham, sign one or both back to practice squad. Pats then sign Tom Brady Sept 9th. He comes out for a ceremonial final fistpump to the endzone in uniform before Eagles game. Gillette goes beyond bananas.
— FitzyGFY 🍺 (brew checkmark) (@FitzyGFY) August 29, 2023
Mac jones watching tom brady walk into the locker room next sunday pic.twitter.com/MYsFmH75Oq
— CelticsWRLD (@CelticsWRLD17) August 29, 2023
Patriots only have one qb on the roster and Tom Brady is already scheduled to be there week 1. Must be a coincidence
— Carl Regolino (@Carl_Regolino) August 29, 2023
Maybe they’ll ask Tom Brady to be QB2, heard good things about that guy
— Boston Diehards (@Boston_Diehards) August 29, 2023
1) this is weird.
2) Tom Brady isn't just coming back to be "honored" week 1 🙃 https://t.co/Wl5rugMFaW
— Mike 🏈 footballiance.com (@DraftMaverick) August 29, 2023
Don’t play with my heart Tom https://t.co/QaUS4K9e7S
— Paddington Strokely (@TheTruest_Won) August 29, 2023
I’ll take anything at this point https://t.co/0dw7Qgv02P
— Pedro Huerta (@H28peter) August 29, 2023
https://t.co/1CQwAKl5NN pic.twitter.com/tW3lN765x9
— PkDrizzFly (@DrizzPk) August 29, 2023
@TomBrady’s comeback is on https://t.co/9I7xsumAZv
— (mh)² (@hafizvdin) August 30, 2023
BREAKING: Tom Brady is coming out of retirement and will be taking over as QB for the @Patriots https://t.co/98VRs4jUEX
— RISO (@KUKCSGF) August 29, 2023
Ian… they're adding Tom Brady. https://t.co/eqxkZBNyNe
— Joseph Buque (@JosephBuqueNFL) August 29, 2023
Hello @TomBrady https://t.co/bHbzGmiJ4k
— Matt DuMont (@Matt_DuMont_) August 29, 2023
Crossing everything that can be crossed https://t.co/pNlXloYEcU
— Tyler Watts (@_TylerWatts) August 29, 2023