NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Tom Brady had a master plan to join the Miami Dolphins after announcing his retirement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and bringing in coach Sean Payton, but Brian Flores’ lawsuit messed up the scheme, according to multiple reports.
Brady initially announced his decision to retire from the NFL on the morning of February 1. Brady was set to be named the Dolphins’ minority owner in the week leading up to the Super Bowl, Pro Football Talk reported Thursday. Miami reportedly would have contacted the New Orleans Saints for contractual rights to sign Payton as their head coach.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS REPORTS AT FOXNEWS.COM
FILE – In this February 4, 2019 file photo, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross speaks during a press conference in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
According to Friday’s Boston Globe, making Brady a senior team manager would have been the quarterback’s way out of Tampa Bay. Reportedly, the Dolphins could have approached the Bucs about trading his contractual rights to come back and play quarterback during the 2022 season.
According to the Globe, Flores’ lawsuit has thwarted plans.
The Dolphins and team owner Stephen Ross have been named in the former head coach’s racial discrimination lawsuit. In the lawsuit, Flores said he was fired for refusing to “tank” to get a high draft pick. He also claimed Ross told him he would be compensated for any Dolphins losses, and general manager Chris Grier said Ross was “pissed” at the team’s wins.
In addition, the lawsuit alleged that Ross pressured Flores to recruit a “celebrity quarterback” for the 2020 season and that he was in the process of attending a meeting with one such quarterback before saying goodbye last season. Flores has since claimed that the relationship with the organization has gone downhill.
Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores speaks to the media prior to practice at the Baptist Health Training Complex at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Fla. in preparation for their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday 24 October. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Flores was fired from the Dolphins after the 2021 season.
NFL LEGEND MICHAEL IRVIN EXPLAINES WHY TOM BRADY’S QUICK RETURN WAS NOT SO SURPRISE
“We are aware of the lawsuit from the media reports that came out this afternoon,” the Dolphins said in February. “We vehemently deny any allegations of racial discrimination and pride ourselves on the diversity and inclusion throughout our organization. The implication that we acted in a manner inconsistent with the integrity of the game is false. We will hold off further comment on the lawsuit at this time.”
Brady would eventually decide to come back and play for the Buccaneers after all.
Boston Globe reporter Ben Volin, who covered the program, noted Tuesday on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz podcast that Brady never actually used the word “retirement” in his initial statement about his retirement from the Buccaneers have. Brady also initially only mentioned Tampa Bay in his statement and later thanked the New England Patriots.
He announced his decision to return to the Buccaneers on March 13, a day after watching Manchester United play across the pond. Manchester United and the Buccaneers are owned by the Glazer family.
In late March, coach Bruce Arians announced that he was leaving his post as head coach to take on a front-office role, with Todd Bowles taking on head coaching duties.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks for an open receiver during the regular season game between the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 10, 2021 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Brady is under contract with the Buccaneers through the 2022 season.