For the first time in two decades, Tom Brady is the one playing catch-up.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ $50 million man, signed to a two-year contract this offseason after 20 years in New England, has begun informal workouts with his new teammates in Florida. Tasked with helping the 42-year-old learn a new offense are wide receiver Mike Evans, tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate, running back Dare Ogunbowale and center Ryan Jensen.
The learning curve is noticeable.
“It’s a little weird working out with him at the beginning of his Bucs tenure,” Brate told SiriusXM NFL. “We’re teaching him our verbiage — its kind of a backwards way of how it’s probably going to progress during the season with him teaching us a lot about the game and how he sees things. Right now it’s only a couple weeks with the Bucs and he’s trying to figure out what we call stuff and we’re kind of teaching him the offense.”
Brate will also be among those showing Rob Gronkowski the ropes when he gets to town. The former Patriots tight end came out of retirement to join Brady in Tampa, adding to an already exciting spring for the franchise.
A Harvard alum, Brate will team with Howard and Gronkowski for what the Bucs hope is a lot of fun on the field — and potentially everywhere else.
“I just got a chance to talk to him a couple of times,” Brate said. “It seems like what you see is what you get with him. The Gronk that’s in the media, that’s just who Gronk is. Which is great — I love to have a good time, I love to joke around. I think we’re gonna get along really well. We’re super-talented in the tight end room and really excited with our group there.”
The ante has already been upped significantly coming off a 7-9 finish in the NFC South last season. The Bucs saw their Super Bowl odds swing after landing Brady, and are scheduled to play on national TV a franchise-record five times during the 2020 season.
“Definitely a different kind of attention and spotlight and scrutiny we’re under in Tampa with our new acquisition,” Brate said.