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Jan 20, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime of the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Home » Blog » Stephon Gilmore “Not Surprised” Tom Brady Joined Tampa Bay

Stephon Gilmore “Not Surprised” Tom Brady Joined Tampa Bay

Connor Lynch News NFL

New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore said that he wasn’t surprised to see Tom Brady join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

By the time it was confirmed, it wasn’t exactly a surprise. However it was still shocking to see Brady and New England, intertwined for so long, parted after twenty years.

Stephon Gilmore said that the cutthroat nature of the NFL means even a move as seismic as that can happen. Players are used to high turnover, and when Brady moved to the Bucs it was no different. 

The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year also said that everybody has a clean slate ahead of the new season.

 

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“Not surprised,”  Stephon Gilmore said. 

“A player like him, playing somewhere that long, you never can see it, but it shows you that in the National Football League it can be anyone going somewhere. It’s a business, and that’s how you have to look at it.”

After Brady, the Patriot’s depth at quarterback leaves a lot to be desired. New England has 2019 draftee Jarrett Stidham, 11th-year Brian Hoyer and 4th-year Cody Kessler before the draft.

Gilmore is familiar with Stidham from practice, and thinks that he got better as the 2019 season went on. 

“He came in and worked hard and got better and better as the year went on. He has a strong arm,” Gilmore said. 

 

Read: Cardinals Have Done Impressive Job This Offseason

 

“He makes some tough throws. Definitely made it hard on me in practice each and every week, going against whoever I was covering, making some great throws. It allowed me to get better in practice to prepare for the games.”

As well as being an all-time great quarterback, Tom Brady was the leader in New England. It remains to be seen which Patriots player will step up in his absence.

“You have to earn that leadership and earn that trust every year — leading by example, leading by making plays,” Gilmore said. 

“That’s the type of thing once you come together, and see what type of team you have, you can see who can be that guy.”

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