Tom Brady likes the idea of playing football with Antonio Brown. He's kept in touch with the one-time (a very brief time) Patriot since Brown was released by New England last season. The two connected with each other as recently as Super Bowl week, according to our Tom E. Curran.
But Brady and Brown will not be making any on-the-field connections any time soon. Bucs coach Bruce Arians told the Tiki and Tierney Show in no uncertain terms that Brown will not be joining his team.
"Yeah, it's not gonna happen," Arians said. "It's not gonna happen. There's no room. And probably not enough money. It's just not gonna happen. It's not a fit here."
Show host Brandon Tierney pressed Arians on the subject, asking him whether he'd have the same opinion of Brown if the wideout was willing to take a league-minimum salary.
"No," Arians said, flatly. "I just know him, and it's not a fit in our locker room."
Arians and Brown crossed paths in Pittsburgh during the 2010 and 2011 seasons -- Brown's first two in the NFL -- when Arians was the Steelers offensive coordinator.
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Brady, of course, will have plenty of talent at his disposal in 2020. Even if Brown has no shot of reuniting with the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have an argument as the game's most dynamic receiving duo, and tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate are more than capable options at that position.
The Bucs own the No. 14 pick in the draft and could have their choice of one of the top receivers in the draft class if they were insistent upon surrounding Brady with as much pass-catching talent as possible this year.
Brown, though, it's clear, is not going to be part of that plan.
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