New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels yelled at each other after a first half failure against the Buffalo Bills. Brady missed a few open targets in Rob Gronkowski and Phillip Dorsett and misfired in the direction of Brandin Cooks, forcing New England to settle for a field goal.
McDaniels made sure that Brady was aware of the quarterback’s poor decision on the play and the two erupted at each other on the sideline.
Tom Brady getting into sorts with Josh McDaniels. pic.twitter.com/HCZuhKevTC
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) December 3, 2017
“Just football,” Brady shrugged when asked about the incident after the game. “We've been around each other a lot so I love Josh [...] I mean it's nothing, it's just football. Just football. Bring two competitive people and it's just the way it goes.”
McDaniels and Brady have known each other for almost two decades and they’re like brothers. Of course they’re going to get into heated arguments, especially when they’re both competitors. This sort of event probably doesn’t even need a resolution between the two, but they’ve clearly moved on and are still close.
But don’t let little things like context get in the way of some hot takes, because we’ve found the best/worst opinion on this topic.
“Tom Brady cussing out Josh McDaniels yesterday on sideline will hurt McDaniels bid for a [head coaching] job,” former Chicago Bears scouting director Greg Gabriel tweeted. “Following Brady’s tirade one veteran NFL front office person told me ‘we saw who the real OC is in New England’ [...] If you can read lips, Brady screamed FU to him. Josh turned around and walked away with his tail between his legs. Says a lot.”
Woof. When asked why this specific event should impact McDaniels’ head coaching prospects, Gabriel replied,
“First off [McDaniels] was a disaster in Denver. No [Bill Belichick] assistant has ever done well on his own. Last, would want total control and he won’t get that [...] Failed as a [offensive coordinator] w/Rams. Has only had success with Belichick and [Tom] Brady. He’d have neither anywhere else. If you want him, go hire him for your sandlot team.”
In other words, Gabriel didn’t have a reason for why this specific incident should affect McDaniels, other than by pointing at his previous failures. When asked why the much-publicized spat between Brady and Bill O’Brien didn’t affect O’Brien’s ascent to being an NFL head coach, Gabriel seems to think that O’Brien had to run away to the college ranks to get a head coaching job.
This is a #BadTake because 1) it’s not going to affect McDaniels’ prospects of getting a head coaching job; 2) anyone that takes two seconds of time to analyze the situation will realize that Brady and McDaniels respect the heck out of each other and that this isn’t a negative moment; and 3) McDaniels is still the most desirable head coaching option in the entire sport.
But that’s okay. I’m going to try and one-up this take by blaming it all on Brian Hoyer.
Guess who was the back-up quarterback for both times Tom Brady flipped out at his OC?
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) December 4, 2017
Should investigate Brian Hoyer imo pic.twitter.com/ESnyieXA5p
I don’t know if I’ll succeed.