Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians has emphatically denied that he butted heads with Tom Brady this past season, but there is apparently some truth to the talk that Brady was frustrated at times in 2021.
Former NFL offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger, who was teammates with Brady in New England from 2009-2011, sent some tweets last week claiming Brady’s strained relationship with Arians was a factor in the quarterback’s decision to retire. Arians bashed the rumor on Saturday and called it “so far-fetched.” You can read the coach’s full comments here.
Albert Breer of The MMQB briefly commented on the rumors during his weekly column on Monday. He said he is unsure if Brady had any direct issue with Arians but that there were “things about the Bucs’ program that frustrated (Brady).” Breer said those issues may have been “natural” given how strict of an environment Brady was accustomed to with the Patriots.
Ohrnberger doubled down on his claims after Arians denied them. The radio host said he heard from “impregnable sources” that Brady became annoyed with Arians this past season. He reiterated that Brady and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich would work on the game plan without Arians and that Arians would show up and take a figurative red pen to everything.
One longtime Bucs reporter slammed the talk of a rift between Brady and Arians, so it doesn’t sound like there was much to it.
A lot of people get frustrated at work. That was probably the case for Brady at times in 2021. That does not mean he was so disgusted with Arians and/or the Buccaneers that he decided to call it quits. Ohrnberger has already apologized for another crazy rumor he started, so we’re not taking his word for anything just yet.
Photo: Dec 26, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
