NFL insider sets record straight on Tom Brady to Dolphins rumor

One NFL insider destroyed the Tom Brady to the Miami Dolphins rumor on Friday afternoon.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network laid to rest any notion that Tom Brady would be traded to the Miami Dolphins from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his weekly segment on The Pat McAfee Show.

McAfee brought up the rumor to Rapoport since it has begun to circulate once again. Rapoport went on to kill the rumor, citing that it does not make any sense right now for it to happen for several reasons. Brady is under contract with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers do not want to trade him. Plus, Brady has recruited several players in their free agencies to come play in Tampa Bay.

If Brady were going to the Dolphins, Ryan Jensen and Leonard Fournette would not have re-signed, Chris Godwin would not have accepted the franchise tag willingly and the Buccaneers would not have traded for his former New England Patriots teammate Shaq Mason to offset losing Ali Marpet to retirement and Alex Cappa to the Cincinnati Bengals along the offensive line.

Stranger things have happened before in the NFL, but Brady to the Dolphins right now is so odd.

Ian Rapoport kills the Tom Brady to Dolphins rumors on The Pat McAfee Show

Another thing Rapoport added was potential tampering ties involving Brady stemming from the Brian Flores lawsuit. Though it has not been proven, would the Dolphins really end up with Brady just to rip open that can of worms again? The other important thing is why would Brady want to go back to the AFC East when he is clearly the best quarterback in the NFC South going forward?

With Matt Ryan being traded to the Indianapolis Colts, the projected starting quarterbacks of the three other NFC South teams for next season are Marcus Mariota (Atlanta Falcons), Sam Darnold (Carolina Panthers) and Jameis Winston (New Orleans Saints). They may have all been top-three picks at one point in their careers, but there are reasons why they did not get second contracts.

Ultimately, Brady is too smart to jump ship and go play in a much more difficult AFC at this stage of his career. Tampa Bay is the overwhelming favorite to win the NFC South. Miami may finish third in the AFC East behind the Buffalo Bills and the Patriots. If Brady wants to win an eighth Lombardi Trophy, the clearest pathway for him to do that is stay in the NFC with the Buccaneers.

Brady to the Dolphins may have happen a few years ago, but it does not make sense anymore.