'Excited, humble and hungry' — Brady officially announces his deal with the Bucs

A fait accompli all week, Tom Brady took to Instagram on Friday morning to officially announce his new deal with the Bucs.

Excited, humble and hungry ...if there is one thing I have learned about football, it’s that nobody cares what you did last year or the year before that...you earn the trust and respect of those around through your commitment every single day. I’m starting a new football journey and thankful for the @buccaneers for giving me an opportunity to do what I love to do. I look forward to meeting all my new teammates and coaches and proving to them that they can believe and trust in me...I have always believed that well done is better than well said, so I’m not gonna say much more - I’m just gonna get to work! #Year1 p.s. Jack Brady with the photocred --

A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady) on Mar 20, 2020 at 5:33am PDT

On Tuesday, mere hours after Brady went on social media to share the news of his New England exit, Colin Cowherd offered the scoop on QB's next destination.

Brady to the Buccaneers. That's what Cowherd said on The Herd. Then on Tuesday afternoon, Adam Schefter threw his considerable credibility, and that of ESPN colleague  Jeff Darlington, behind the TB to TB report:

Tampa is the expected landing spot for Tom Brady barring anything unforeseen, sources tell me and @JeffDarlington.There's no signing date or announcement officially set up, but Brady is expected to be a Buccaneer.

Here's how Cowherd laid it out on his show, via Fox Sports Radio.

"I was told 35 minutes ago that Tom Brady signs tomorrow with Tampa Bay. He had made a decision and talked to Tampa Bay yesterday. He was willing to re-sign with New England but he watched Stefon Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins go to other franchises and then called Robert Kraft an hour and a half later and says ‘I’M OUT’… I am told Tampa is the choice and he will sign tomorrow... This is not a 'football source', it is a ‘Icon’ source, and somebody in Tom’s stratosphere that knows Tom and who is a famous person. He says Tampa."

Brady to Tampa Bay. Wow. Brady a Buc. That would be something. It would seem odd. It would beg a very legitimate question: why the hell would Brady join the Bucs?

Tampa Bay, reportedly, made a significant offer.

The #Bucs made a strong offer to QB Tom Brady believed to be $30M or more. The #Chargers did, as well. And now, he’s leaving New England.

Cowherd went into great detail about how he sourced his report:

"I was told that Tom Brady signs tomorrow with Tampa Bay."--️@ColinCowherdLISTEN LIVE: https://t.co/iAQa8hPEJC pic.twitter.com/IFCFnzIdB6

Before his show, Cowherd forshadowed the news, kinda.

Breaking. Just got text. Tom Brady has made his decision.

Here are the original posts, announcing his departure, posted to be Twitter and Instagram.

FOREVER A PATRIOT pic.twitter.com/QSBOJBs4uy

LOVE YOU PATS NATION pic.twitter.com/lxSQZmnjPL