On November 29, the Chicago Bears beat the New England Patriots in a game that was up for grabs until an unforgettable final play.
The win sent shockwaves through both teams and fans as it proved to be one of the most dramatic games ever played – but with this victory comes controversy.
In a postgame interview, head coach Matt Nagy said what many thought: he should have had his team spike the ball before they ran out onto field goal range during overtime. The NFL shared some pretty questionable footage from their sideline cams that show us “what really happened” at midfield because cameras never lie!
The “fingers crossed” is a phrase that has been around for quite some time. It’s used to indicate hope, or luck. This week the Boston Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918, which was when they last won the World Series.
Highlights of the article:
- Arians, Bruce, the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, says he never lost up hope that Tom Brady would return.
- In recent weeks, the seasoned offensive strategist admitted he had his fingers crossed.
- Given Brady’s repeated hints about not retiring, Arians would have been foolish to write him out.
Tom Brady is back, and Arians, Bruce, the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is delighted and unsurprised.
The delighted portion should come as no surprise. In 2021, Brady was MVP-caliber and battled to the last end in a heartbreaking NFC Divisional Round defeat to Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. Despite the fact that he will play the full 2022 season at 45 years old, the seven-time Super Bowl winner has showed no symptoms of slowing down so far.
When it comes to being unsurprised, Arians followed his instincts, which proved to be the right decision.
Arians, Bruce said that he never lost faith that Tom Brady will return in 2022.
Coach Arians, Bruce of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers says he never questioned Tom Brady’s comeback | Getty Images/Rob Carr
ESPN originally announced Brady’s retirement less than a week after the Buccaneers’ NFC Divisional Round defeat. Three days later, the three-time NFL MVP verified the claim, and at 44 years old, he was preparing to retire from the sport he’d spent his entire life playing.
That’s all for that one.
Brady declared on March 13 that he had “unfinished business” with the Buccaneers and will return in 2022. Suddenly, Arians had his starting quarterback for next season, and the Super Bowl 55 victors were the clear favorites to win the NFC South for the second year in a row.
NBC Sports’ Peter King claimed he texted Arians after Brady’s declaration on the March 14 episode of Football Morning in America. The renowned quarterback’s retirement was cut short after 40 days, according to the 69-year-old head coach.
“I’ve always believed there was a possibility. Slim, but I’ve been crossing my fingers for the last several weeks.”
Arians, Bruce
Brady and the Buccaneers have not reached an agreement for the 2022 season as of publishing. Despite the fact that he has a contract worth more than $10 million, he is anticipated to get a salary hike in the coming weeks.
Given Brady’s persistent wavering, Arians would have been foolish to give up hope.
Brady’s unretirement would have been considerably more shocking if he had remained mostly silent for the previous six weeks. If football fans compare his tweet to Michael Jordan’s iconic fax, they will be mistaken.
Brady spent a good portion of those 40 days hinting at his desire to return to the NFL. On Tuesday, March 1, he told golf icon Fred Couples that he hoped he “had a clear view of what the future holds” and that he was never committed to retirement. On Saturday, March 12, a viral video showing soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo telling Brady, “You’re done, right?” went viral.
Brady winced and looked to mouth, “Probably,” rather than utter, “I’m done,” or anything along those lines.
Brady could have put a huge sign to his TB12 hat with the words “I’m coming back” inscribed in neon lights, which raises the issue of why he retired in the first place. It would have been considerably more acceptable if he had changed his mind in October or even August rather than after a 40-day hiatus.
Could anybody blame Brady if he became weary of being asked to assist clean around the home or hearing Gisele Bündchen complain about his parking his vehicle too near to the grass?
The Buccaneers’ expectations for 2022 were instantly heightened by Brady’s return, as they should have been.
If Brady hadn’t come out of retirement, the Buccaneers would very surely have needed to find a quarterback. Blaine Gabbert, a senior journeyman, and Kyle Trask, a 2021 second-round selection, aren’t exactly exciting alternatives right now.
Brady, on the other hand, is back, and the sports world has taken note. On Monday, Feb. 14, the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl odds were +2200, according to the official Twitter account of Barstool Sportsbook. The odds had risen to +800 at the time of publishing.
In the NFC South, there is no reason to think the Buccaneers’ three opponents have a credible chance of defeating them. The Atlanta Falcons look to be a club in flux as they attempt to figure out how to replace Matt Ryan. Despite reports that the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are interested in signing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, his presence alone is unlikely to be enough to help either club beat the Buccaneers.
The football gods heard Arians’ pleas when he crossed his fingers. If the Buccaneers meet Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers in the playoffs next season, we’ll see how compassionate they are.
To obtain assistance, call the National Council on Problem Gambling’s hotline at 1-800-522-4700 in the United States. The free Crisis Text Line connects you with a certified crisis counselor by texting HOME to 741-741.
What Returning Tom Brady Means for the Buccaneers’ Offseason Plans
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use Fingers Crossed in a sentence?
A: I would use it in a sentence like I hope you dont get punished for your crimes or Hes so bored, he just wants to leave.
What cross fingers mean?
What can I say instead of Fingers Crossed?
A: You can give a thumbs up sign with both hands.
Related Tags
- what does fingers crossed mean
- fingers crossed gif
