Image courtesy of New England Patriots & NEFJ

The big news around this area on schedule day was that Tom Brady is coming back for the home opener.

When the Patriots host the defending NFC Champion Eagles at 4:25 on September 10, the GOAT will be recognized on what is sure to be an emotional day in Foxborough.

To me, it feels way too early.

Think about when the Red Sox retired No. 34 at Fenway for David Ortiz seemingly immediately after he retired. There was no true buzz leading up to the event. It was on a random weeknight, thrown into the season with no true build up for what should have been a massive night. Does anyone REALLY remember his number going up in right field? If you were there, maybe, but it was never the big event it should have been. This too, feels rushed. What’s the old saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder? Even his most loyal fans were getting a bit tired of him towards the end of his stint in Tampa Bay.

But, after thinking about it for a while. I think I’ve cracked the code. Aside from the Patriots needing buzz (and a possible reason for fans to forget about the result against Philly), Brady needs this too. The TB12 shop in Boston has shut down. His clothing is being sold at every day retail outlets instead of the high end ones. He clearly still wanted to play somewhere but either didn’t have a team, needed to deal with family stuff first, or, all of the above. He’s probably not going into broadcasting. He needs to feel the love again and what better way to get it than coming back home to a fan base desperate to cheer for anything at this point.

However, I ultimately believe this is a double-dip by RKK to appease Belichick and also try to help boost Mac Jones’ confidence.

Hear me out.

First of all, we all know how much Bill Belichick hates anything that takes away from his team’s focus during a game week. So, instead of having this loom over the team with like, a random date in October or November, it’s out of the way after the season opener and that’s it. Not only that, but clearly the two have buried (most? all?) any resentment they had for each other after Belichick went on Brady’s podcast following the retirement announcement. Bill’s probably fine with having the day (do we really think he cares all that much either way?), but the quicker it’s over, the better.

Now, I’ve got to believe Brady will speak at least once, probably several times leading up to that first week. Can’t you already hear him praising Mac Jones and “what he’s doing for the franchise,” in a sign of good will towards the young QB during a press conference? It’s a softball quote for Brady to give to the kid and it helps take Jones’ critics off his back for the first few weeks of the season while adjusting to life with Bill O’Brien as a play caller.  If the TB12 is telling the fan base the team it’s is in good hands with Jones, it’s hard for even the biggest Mac hater to say much for a little while at least.

Putting 65,000 people inside Gillette Stadium for a Brady Night in August similar to Larry Bird Night at the Garden seemed like the best way to honor him and give fans a chance to say thank you properly. The team could’ve brought Peyton Manning out in a 12 jersey just like Magic discretely wore the C’s jersey. Instead, the organization and Brady are choosing to take the stage front and center Week 1.

It takes some pressure off Mac and the team since all eyes will be on Brady and who knows, maybe it sparks Jones to kick off the season. Either way, the timing sure is interesting.