Brady is excited about challenges he faces with Bucs

Tom Brady isn’t content with making the Tampa Bay Buccaneers relevant again. The sixtime Super Bowl champion is hungry to win another title.

And the Bucs, who’ve missed the playoffs 12 consecutive seasons, feel they have a supporting cast talented enough to help the 43-yearold quarterback accomplish that mission.

“Everybody sees football a little bit different. It’s about how we all see it together and how we can all be on the same page as we move forward,” Brady said Tuesday, speaking for the first time since reporting to training camp with his new team.

The three-time NFL MVP talked among other things about the challenge of learning a new playbook for the first time in 19 years, as well as doing it without the benefit of a normal offseason routine due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Ultimately, my goal is to go out there and do what I’ve always done, (which) is to be the best I can possibly be for the team,” Brady added during a video conference call. “I’ve tried to catch passes in my career, I’ve tried to make blocks, I’ve had a few runs, but I’m not very good at any of those. I think my best ability is reading defenses and throwing the football.”

Brady, who turned 43 this week, signed a two-year, $50 million deal in free agency after leading the New England Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances, 13 AFC championship games and 17 division titles over the past 20 seasons.

He’s not the only high-profile addition to an offense that led the NFL in passing last year with talented but mistake-prone Jameis Winston at quarterback.

At Brady’s urging, coach Bruce Arians and general manager Jason Licht also traded for tight end Rob Gronkowski, who ended a yearlong retirement from the Patriots.

Six-time Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy is onboard, too, agreeing to a one-year contract after winning a Super Bowl as a backup with Kansas City last season.

66 PLAYERS OPT OUT OF SEASON DUE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC >> A total of 66 players have opted out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, nearly half of them linemen.

Twenty offensive linemen and 11 on defense opted out before Thursday’s deadline. Players with a medical opt out will receive a $350,000 stipend, whole those voluntarily opting out receive $150,000 as an advance against future salaries.

No team has come close to New England in losing players for the upcoming season. The Patriots saw eight opt outs.