This Sunday’s matchup between the Bears and Bucs (and, more specifically, Tom Brady and Justin Fields) is going to be a little something extra. In addition to featuring the largest age gap between starting QBs in league history, Brady is throwing some heat Fields’ way:
Tom Brady will face Justin Fields, the first Ohio State QB to start against the former Michigan star. His response is worth the time. pic.twitter.com/N4O5Emd3h4
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) October 21, 2021
Buccaneers reporter Rick Stroud shares this 22-second clip, in which Brady, a University of Michigan product, is told Fields will be the first Ohio State product to start against him. And in realizing this information, Brady asks a pertinent question: “Why are there not a lot of Ohio State quarterbacks in the pros?”
Zing! He knew exactly what he was doing.
For those who are unfamiliar with Brady’s sideswipe, it’s in reference to the Buckeyes failing to turn college standouts into stud pros. The likes of Dwayne Haskins, Terrelle Pryor, and Troy Smith were unable to live up to the hype for one reason or another. Bears fans are familiar with the OSU quarterback tree, having rostered Mike Tomczack and Craig Krenzel long ago. So we know that pain that comes with watching Buckeye QBs falter all too well.
And while Michigan can boast Brady, Jim Harbaugh, and Brian Griese, Bears fans can’t erase memories of Todd Collins throwing four interceptions. So … call it a wash?
Brady was smart to be careful in not poking the bear (or their quarterback) too much when it came to the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. After all, Brady’s Wolverines have lost eight straight and 17 of 20 since the turn of the century. Perhaps this is the weekend Fields gets revenge on behalf of his fellow Buckeyes. If so, it wouldn’t surprise me. It’s not as if a Michigan QB losing to an Ohio State counterpart wouldn’t be keeping with recent trends.