There was one New York Jets employee who really “loved” Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft Mike Tannenbaum provides confirmation.
Why now? Perhaps, just maybe it’s due to the fact Tom Brady has officially left the AFC East.
Former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum has confirmed something that has long been rumored. One of the Jets scouts did “love” Tom Brady leading up to and during the 2000 NFL Draft, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.
Recently spoke w/ ex #Jets exec Mike Tannenbaum, who was in war room that day. He confirmed what had been rumored for years: Scout Jesse Kaye lobbied for Brady (probably in 5th round). MT: Kaye "loved" Brady, said he was "treated unfairly" at UM and would be "great player." https://t.co/8mADaJh6Ls
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) April 16, 2020
Brady, 42, is entering his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 years in New England with the Patriots, the team that drafted him in the sixth round in 2000.
Tannenbaum confirmed that Jets scout (at the time) Jessee Kaye was in “love” with Brady and thought he was being “treated unfairly” during his time at Michigan. In fact, he lobbied for Brady so much that he told then-general manager Dick Haley to snag him in the fifth round.
Of course, that didn’t happen. Instead, New York selected wide receiver Windrell Hayes in the fifth and defensive back Tony Scott in the sixth, the same round Bill Belichick swiped Brady.
Twenty years later, Brady’s Pats are six-time Super Bowl champs and the Jets—after a more-than-respectable first decade—are still looking for their first playoff appearance in nine seasons. How the Pats will shake out in 2020 without Tom Brady will be a fascinating topic to monitor all season long.
Sure, Mike Tannenbaum just confirmed more pain, but at least No. 12 is as far away as possible, down south and in the other conference.
