How Should Patriots Fans Feel After NFL Confirms Tom Brady Tampering?

Before officially filing for divorce, Tom Brady was flirting with an NFL franchise that was not his own. Some might go so far as to label what Brady did as cheating — the more verbal kind than physical — on the New England Patriots.

Whatever one wants to call it, though, the reality is Brady was conversating with who he likely deemed to be a potential future partner. That partner just happened to be lounging in South Beach.

The NFL on Tuesday revealed the former Patriots quarterback of more than two decades had “impermissible communications” with the Miami Dolphins throughout the 2019 season. Brady himself — it’s important to note it was not his agent, Don Yee — was chatting with Bruce Beal, the Dolphins’ vice president, during his final campaign at One Patriot Place. Beal then relayed those conversations to Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.

“Those communications began as early as August 2019 and continued through the 2019 season and post-season,” the NFL wrote in a statement, referring to the conversations as “numerous and detailed.”

Brady will not be punished for the tampering, while Ross and the Dolphins received harsh discipline.

Brady then went on to play the 2019 season for the Patriots with the fan base showering their beloved signal-caller in praise. Brady, “the most miserable 8-0 quarterback,” as he referred to himself during the season, concluded his run in New England when the Patriots lost at home to the Tennessee Titans in an AFC Wild Card Game. It followed a downward spiral to conclude the season, with New England losing three of its final five games.

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Well, how should Patriots fans feel about the Brady-Dolphins tampering?

After all, the NFL’s new revelation indicates a much more extensive timeline than what was previously known. The Patriots had not been tied to the Brady tampering as much as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were. The Dolphins talked to Brady when he was under contract with both.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft probably is feeling a bit disrespected. And who could blame him?

It certainly seems like Brady had his sights on warmer weather before the leaves even started to change in New England. While Kraft and the Patriots were hoping for another Super Bowl run, Brady seemingly was checked out.

The reality is there already was a massive divide in New England with regards to the post-Brady era.

Many Patriots fans were hoping Brady would have little to no success when he departed for Tampa Bay. Others walked the line between rooting for the Patriots while still supporting Brady. And then there was a surprising contingent of Brady above all, celebrating when the GOAT took the Bucs to the Super Bowl while simultaneously blasting Bill Belichick and the Patriots for not respecting Brady enough.

Might this development change those feelings? It’s fair to think the conversations between Brady and the Dolphins might just result in a New England fallout.