Buccaneers: Bruce Arians criticizes how Patriots used Tom Brady

After a 20 year career in Foxborough, Tom Brady is proving to work once again in Tampa Bay

Somehow and some way, Tom Brady defies the age barrier. Even at 43, there’s no telling when the veteran signal-caller will hang up the pads and call it a career.

For the 14th time in his career, Brady will be playing in a conference championship game. Following a 30-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will travel to Lambeau Field with a shot to head back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2003.

What makes it even more special is the Buccaneers would become the first team in NFL history to play the Super Bowl in front of their home fans should they return to Raymond James Stadium.

Brady threw 18-of-33 for 199 yards and two touchdowns, doing his part to make Tampa Bay effective. After 20 years with the New England Patriots, one would think the plan would still work in his favor with Bill Belichick.

Instead, things went south fast after the 2019 season. New England’s loss is now Tampa Bay’s gain.

Bruce Arians fires back at the Patriots

“Consummate leader,” Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said, via NBC Sports’ Peter King. “Has been all year. Got the air of confidence that permeates through our team every day. I allow him to be himself. Like, New England didn’t allow him to coach. I allow him to coach. I just sit back sometimes and watch.”

The age-old question following his departure from Gillette Stadium was if Brady’s success came from Belichick and Josh McDaniels. So far, that’s far from being the case for Brady in a different location.

That isn’t to say that Brady’s success has come from the outside. Plays in Tampa Bay are designed to work in his favor after the team elected to build around their aging quarterback. It also helps to have a plethora of weapons to make the job easier each snap.

Regardless of how Brady feels towards a sour ending in New England, the path chosen for his final years is definitely paying off thus far. The Patriots finished 6-10 with Cam Newton, missing the postseason for the first time since 2008.

The Bucs are one win away from Super Bowl LV. Round 1 of the Brady-Belichick divorce goes in favor of the quarterback.