Sports

Tom Brady Dropped Clues About His Future Long Before He Left the Patriots – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Published

5 years ago

March 20, 2020

Tom Brady’s decision to leave the New England Patriots and tentatively sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continues to shock the sports world. Brady spent his entire career with the Patriots, helping the club win six Super Bowls. While fans were surprised by Brady’s decision, the quarterback has been dropping clues about his future long before he made the announcement on social media.

Patriots fail to keep Brady

Although Brady has been the driving force behind his team’s success, the Patriots failed to give him a long-term contract that would last until his retirement. When the team drafted Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014, many took it as a sign that they were preparing for Brady’s exit.

“We know what Tom’s age and contract situation is,”
head coach Bill Belichick said at the time.

Even though Tom Brady continued to take the Patriots to the Super
Bowl, his contract status made it clear that he would have a major decision
ahead of him. According to NFL,
Brady forced the Patriots to structure his last contract so that it would make
him a free agent in 2020.

The loss to the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the playoffs a few months back was likely the last nail in the coffin. But some experts believe that Brady had been dropping subtle clues about his future long before his decision became public knowledge.

Tom Brady opens up about his future

Following the heartbreaking loss to the Titans at the beginning
of the year, Brady was asked if he was planning on staying with the Patriots or
retiring from football altogether. The 42-year-old assured fans that retirement
was “unlikely,” but he also admitted that the future was uncertain.

“I love the Patriots…” Brady shared. “I don’t want
to get too much into the future and stuff. I mean, this team has fought hard.
We battled every day, we tried to get better, we worked hard to improve and I
was proud to be a part of this team.”

New #Bucs QB Tom Brady may want to bring Antonio Brown with him to Tampa Bay, but it doesn’t sound like coach Bruce Arians enjoyed his previous time with AB. pic.twitter.com/HivirRnQAV

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2020

Tom Brady added that he refused to predict what would happen next. He then stated that he has loved playing for the Patriots and that he was going to take things “day-by-day.”

A few days later, Brady posted a reflection piece on Instagram
about his successes and failures last season. At the end, he noted that he has
“more to prove,” which suggested that Brady wanted to be with a team
that could compete for a championship.

Up to that point, most fans thought that Brady would stay with
the Patriots, but behind-the-scenes, he was making moves that told a completely
different story.

The biggest clues that Brady was going to leave the Patriots

Brady may have been tight-lipped about his future with the
Patriots, but there were plenty of signs about what was to come.

Over the course of his career, Tom Brady’s family had a special suite inside Gillette Stadium where they watched his games. Following the team’s quick playoff exit, reports surfaced that the suite had been cleaned out like never before.

Brady had also given up his long-time post on the board of a
local charity called Best Buddies. He then put his house in Boston up for sale,
a move that was a clear signal that change was afoot.

Although Brady was very vague about his future plans, he was not
shy about criticizing the team’s offense throughout the regular season. He did
not admit it in public, but it seemed like the only way Brady was staying is if
the Patriots made big moves.

All of these moves came to a head when Brady announced his departure on social media. Brady thanked the Patriots for all the good years they enjoyed and seemed optimistic about what the future holds.

Tom Brady to sign with the Bucs

By all accounts, Brady is going to be the starting quarterback of
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at
the start of the 2020 season.

According to TMZ,
Colin Cowherd, who hosts a sports talk show called The Herd on FS1,
broke the news about Tom Brady’s decision. Cowherd claims to have received the
information from a source close to Brady.

“He has made a decision,” Cowherd shared. “I am
told Tampa is the choice and he will sign tomorrow.”

Prior to the announcement, there were a handful of teams in the
running to sign Brady. Although the Bucs emerged as a late contender, it is not
a huge shocker that they were the ones to land Brady.

Not only do the Bucs have a great offensive coach in Bruce
Arians, but they have plenty of weapons at their disposal, including Mike
Evans, Chris Godwin, and O.J. Howard.

Tom Brady is expected to officially be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer by the end of the week.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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