PTFO - The Pick Who Became Tom Brady: An NFL Secret, Finally Revealed

Update: 2024-09-12

Digest

This podcast delves into the mystery surrounding Tom Brady's 199th pick in the 2000 NFL draft, specifically how the New England Patriots acquired the pick. The podcast explores the concept of compensatory picks, a system shrouded in secrecy and complexity, where teams are awarded draft picks based on the value of lost free agents. The investigation focuses on the "compensatory selection" aspect, explaining how these picks are assigned to teams based on confidential calculations and a complex formula. The podcast narrows down the potential players who might have led to the Patriots receiving the 199th pick, identifying three candidates: Todd Collins, Tom Tupa, and Mark Wheeler. The podcast reveals that the NFL office maintains a confidential list ranking all players in the league from most valuable to least valuable, which is used to determine compensatory picks. The podcast eliminates Tom Tupa as a potential father of the 199th pick, as the Patriots signed a replacement punter, Lee Johnson, in 1999. The podcast narrows down the potential fathers to Todd Collins or Mark Wheeler, both of whom had limited playing time and were not on notable contracts. The podcast explores the secrecy surrounding the NFL's player value list, revealing that only one person in the league office has access to it. The podcast highlights the frustration experienced by teams and the league office due to the lack of transparency and potential errors in the compensatory pick system. The podcast reveals that Steve Vail, a former NFL executive, was responsible for calculating the compensatory picks. His retirement leaves the system's future uncertain. The podcast describes the journalist's struggle to uncover the truth, feeling haunted by Tom Brady's voice and the complexity of the compensatory pick system. The podcast reveals a crucial piece of information from Lee Johnson, a former punter who was cut from the Cincinnati Bengals in 1998. This revelation leads to a significant breakthrough in the investigation. The podcast recounts the events leading to Lee Johnson's firing from the Bengals in 1998, highlighting the significance of his contract termination in the context of compensatory picks. The podcast reveals that Tom Tupa, one of the potential fathers, signed a record-breaking contract with the New York Jets in 1999, making him a highly valuable player. The podcast concludes that Tom Tupa, based on his contract, playing time, and honors, is the most likely player responsible for the Patriots receiving the 199th pick. The podcast highlights the eerie connection between Tom Tupa and Tom Brady, both being tall quarterbacks who played for rival schools and shared a similar trajectory. The podcast recounts how Bill Belichick, the future Patriots coach, gave Tom Tupa a chance to play as a punter in 1994 and introduced the two-point conversion in NFL history. The podcast emphasizes Tom Tupa's role as a starting punter for the Patriots and his record-breaking contract, which ultimately led to the Patriots receiving the 199th pick. The podcast explains how Tom Tupa reunited with Bill Belichick on the New York Jets in 1999, marking their third time working together. The podcast recounts the 1999 season opener between the Jets and Patriots, where Tom Tupa was forced to play quarterback due to an injury to Vinny Testavirti. The podcast explains the Jets' decision to list Tom Tupa as their second-string quarterback, which ultimately led to him playing in the game against the Patriots. The podcast highlights Tom Tupa's impressive performance as quarterback in the 1999 season opener, where he threw two touchdowns and led the Jets to a near victory. The podcast describes Bill Parcells' decision to replace Tom Tupa with Rick Myrer in the fourth quarter of the 1999 season opener, a move that ultimately led to the Jets' loss. The podcast explains how the Jets' loss, Bill Parcells' retirement, and Bill Belichick's subsequent hiring by the Patriots all contributed to the events that led to Tom Brady's draft pick. The podcast recounts the moment in April 2000 when Bill Belichick, as the Patriots' head coach and general manager, used the 199th pick to draft Tom Brady. The podcast concludes that the Jets' decision to pay Tom Tupa a record-breaking contract and their subsequent roster decisions ultimately led to the Patriots drafting Tom Brady. The podcast proposes renaming the butterfly effect after Tom Tupa, highlighting his significant impact on the NFL's history. The podcast addresses skepticism about the investigation's conclusion, emphasizing the journalist's efforts to obtain confirmation from the NFL office. The podcast reveals that the NFL office finally responded to the journalist's inquiries, providing confirmation that Tom Tupa was the player responsible for the Patriots receiving the 199th pick. The podcast officially declares Tom Tupa as the "father" of Tom Brady's 199th pick, concluding the investigation and highlighting the significance of the compensatory pick system.

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