AFC East Notes: Tom Brady, Dolphins, Patriots

Tom Brady

The future of Patriots QB Tom Brady will be one of the hottest topics of the 2020 offseason. For the first time in his career, Brady is set to be an unrestricted free agent, making it a real possibility he’ll play in a different uniform than New England’s next year. Everyone wants to know how this will play out, but for his part, Brady’s not in a rush. 

“The contract things I think a week after the season, I would say these things haven’t even started to pick up,” Brady said via Ryan Hannable of WEEI. “That is not my concern at this point. It has been about decompressing and lessen my mind a little bit and resting my body and spending time with the people who have supported me over the last six months.”

Brady added not to expect a decision anytime soon. His contract isn’t set to expire until the start of the new league year in March, so there’s quite a bit of time. Not only do the Patriots have to decide how much they want to pay to bring Brady back, if they want him back at all, but Brady likely wants to wait and see if New England will make strides to improve his supporting cast in 2020. 

“Like I said, I’ve loved playing football and I have loved playing for this organization, so I really don’t know what it is going to look like moving forward and I am just taking things day-by-day,” Brady said. “We’re a week removed from the end of our season. There’s a lot of time to figure these things out. I don’t think any player or team is ready to make any commitments at this point and I am sure as the offseason progresses those things will take care of themselves.”

One thing is certain — even if it’s not with the Patriots, Brady will be playing somewhere in 2020. He offered a window into his thought process as the 42-year-old continues to try to push the boundaries of what is thought possible in the NFL. 

“It’s always been proving it to myself and being motivated internally to push myself to the limits,” Brady said. “Sometimes the limits push back. I have experienced that. But I also think I am been inspired by so many people who have pushed the limits…”

“I am at a certain point in my career where people think that what I am doing is to a degree impossible. For me, it is about continuing to prove to myself that I can lay it all on the line and we can still still try and achieve the ultimate goal, which is winning Super Bowls.”

Dolphins

• Barry Jackson reports that the Dolphins will name Robby Brown their new quarterbacks coach.
• The Dolphins are also promoting Josh Boyer to defensive coordinator. (NFLTR)

Patriots

• ESPN’s Mike Reiss lists special teams captain Matthew Slater as the only pending Patriots free agent more likely to return than QB Tom Brady.
• Reiss mentions S Devin McCourty, DT Danny Shelton and OL Ted Karras as free agents more likely to return than not. 
• Per Reiss, New England is in position to lose LB Kyle Van Noy, G Joe Thuney and LB Jamie Collins in free agency due to cap constraints. 
• Reiss says the Patriots are also likely to move on from WR Phillip Dorsett, S Nate Ebner and LB Elandon Roberts.