Ex-Bucs OT details how Tom Brady used to brilliantly bribe his offensive line

Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was one of the best during his 23-year NFL career at getting the most out of his teammates.

And after a recent interview with ex-Bucs offensive lineman Ali Marpet on the “Wam Bam” podcast, we may know why. Marpet revealed that during his time in Tampa, Brady implemented a unique incentive plan for his pass protectors.

“[Brady] took our starting offensive line to the side and he's like, ‘Hey, if you guys can get a screen to go for more than 15 yards, I will give you $1,000 cash each. That is for you guys; so every time that we get that, I will be happy to make that payment,’” Marpet said.

The Bucs were one of the worst screen teams in the NFL before Brady got to town. In the five years before Brady’s arrival, Tampa used screen passes approximately 9.2% of the time, averaging 55 pass attempts and 401.6 yards from screens per season.

During Brady’s three-year tenure, they used screens 12.9% of the time, averaging 105 pass attempts and 562 yards from screens per season, , per pro Football Focus, showing that Brady’s bribery seemed to work.

“There were definitely multiple 15 [yard screens]” Marpet added. “So those kinds of things, again, Tom just knowing how guys are wired and what goes a long way and inspiring and getting the most out of his guys.”

Marpet and Brady were teammates during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. It’s not known if Brady continued his incentive program during his final year in 2022 after Marpet retired.

The exact number of 15-yard or longer screen plays the Bucs executed during Brady’s tenure isn’t known, and neither is a final tally on how much his pay-for-blocking arrangement cost him, but Brady made $87.29 million during his run with the Bucs, per Over the Cap, so it’s safe to assume the dent made in his check book was minimal.