Oddsmakers have taken notice of the noteworthy speculation
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe caught the attention of many football fans Wednesday when the longtime Patriots reporter speculated about a return to New England for current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
Oddsmakers clearly caught wind of it, too.
Howe acknowledged four potential landing spots should Brady opt to return for his age-46 season in 2023-24, and in doing so included the San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Patriots. Brady is set to become a free agent after the 2022-23 campaign, and his recent divorce has caused some to believe he could return for a 24th NFL season.
“Don’t ever write off the Patriots,” Howe wrote for The Athletic. “Brady and Bill Belichick still have an abundance of respect for one another. They’ve made points to say it publicly on multiple occasions since the QB departed for Tampa. … The issues? Not the egos. Not the pride.”
It’s caused oddsmakers at Bookies.com to create hypothetical betting odds for Brady’s next team. The Patriots are behind only the Buccaneers when it comes to prices and probability listed by oddsmakers at Bookies.com, though it is not a wager that can be placed at any sportsbook.
Nevertheless, here are the prices listed by Bookies.com’s Bill Speros:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +200
New England Patriots +300
Retirement +500
Miami Dolphins +600
San Francisco 49ers +1500
Las Vegas Raiders +2000
The Field +1250
Is it a long shot for Brady to return to New England especially given Belichick’s reported confidence in Mac Jones? Sure, it feels like it. And Howe noted much of the same while adding how better situations for Brady could play a role, too, should he want to return to the gridiron.
But the conversation nevertheless has taken a step further with oddsmakers offering their review and analysis of the Brady-Patriots situation.