SPORTS

D WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020:: LATIMES.COM/SPORTS

D

TB, say hello to TB.
Tom Brady, the only NFL
quarterback with six Super Bowl
rings, is headed to Tampa Bay.
The New England Patriots super-
star has agreed in principle to a deal
with the Buccaneers, ending months
of speculation Tuesday with a final
flurry of activity.
In the morning, he posted state-
ments on social media saying it was
time to start a new career chapter,
that his time in New England was
over, and thanking the organization
and its fans.
By the afternoon, amid chatter
the Chargers still might be in play, it
was clear he was headed for Tampa.
Multiple sources confirmed to The
Times that’s where he will sign to-
day, when the free-agency period
begins at 1 p.m. PDT.

In an Instagram post, Brady, 42,

thanked his teammates, coach Bill

Belichick and assistants, and Patri-

ots owner Robert Kraft and family.

“I want to say thank you for the

past 20 years of my life and the daily

commitment to winning and cre-

ating a winning culture built on great

values,” wrote Brady. “I am grateful

for all you have taught me.”

A sixth-round selection in the

2000 draft, Brady is the first quarter-

back and fourth player overall to

play 20 seasons with one franchise.

An 18-year captain, he led the Patri-

ots to the playoffs 17 times, including

a record nine Super Bowl appear-

ances. In addition to his six rings, he

was named Super Bowl MVP four

times.

Brady is heading to Tampa to

play for coach Bruce Arians, who has

quarterbacks coach Clyde Chris-

tensen and offensive consultant Tom

Moore on his staff. All three have

TOM BRADY, WHO MIGHT be the No. 1 quarterback of all time, is expected to sign with the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers today after an amazing nine Super Bowl appearances in 20 seasons with the Patriots.

Jim RogashGetty Images

Brady going for

Tampa-proof cap

The future Hall of Famer leaves the Patriots and

their Super Bowl ring machine for the Buccaneers

SAM FARMER
ON THE NFL

[SeeFarmer, D4]

tices or meetings and pro-

hibited players from leaving

their home markets until

Monday. Leaders across the

country asked citizens to

distance themselves from

one another to slow the

spread of the worldwide

pandemic.

The issue became more

visibly connected to the Lak-

ers on Tuesday when the

Brooklyn Nets, whom the

Lakers played March 10 at

Staples Center, announced

four of their players tested

positive for the coronavirus,

three without symptoms.

Kevin Durant told the Ath-

letic he was one of the three

asymptomatic players. Sev-

en NBA players have tested

positive.

In response to the Nets’

news, the Lakers will give

those players who remain in

town the opportunity to be

tested Wednesday and have

asked all of their players to

self-quarantine for 14 days,

according to people familiar

with the situation but not

authorized to speak publi-

cly.

The information was re-

layed to players during a

conference call Tuesday, one

of several the team has had

with players since the league

This past weekend, Le-

Bron James took sons

Bronny and Bryce to the

Lakers’ team facility to

share something they often

enjoy together — basketball.

It was Saturday, when

James was supposed to be

preparing for a game against

the Denver Nuggets that

was scheduled for Sunday

amid the best season the

Lakers have had in at least a

decade. Bronny and his

Chatsworth Sierra Canyon

High teammates were sup-

posed to play in a state

championship basketball

game that day.

But all of that changed

because the NBA had to sus-

pend the season last

Wednesday after Utah Jazz

center Rudy Gobert tested

positive for the coronavirus,

leading sports at every level

to do the same. The next day,

the league forbade teams

from holding group prac- [SeeLakers,D3]

Lakers under

coronavirus

quarantine

Players can be tested

after four on Nets,

whom L.A. faced last

week, are positive.

By Tania Ganguli

and Broderick Turner

LeBRON JAMESand the Lakers played the Nets on

March 10 at Staples Center in both teams’ last game

before the NBA suspended the season the next night.

Harry HowGetty Images

Rivers to join the Colts

Quarterback is headed for

Indianapolis after 16 seasons

with the Chargers. D5

PHILIP RIVERSgets one-year,

$25-million deal from the Colts.

Gail BurtonAssociated Press

PGA Championship is postponed

Like the Masters, golf’s second major of the year

will be rescheduled for an undetermined date. D2

MLB clubs step up with donations

Each is contributing $1 million to assist ballpark

workers during the shutdown of the season. D6

------------------------------------------------------------------

Kentucky Derby moves to September

The Preakness and Belmont Stakes are expected

to follow suit in a late Triple Crown season. D2

THE RUNfor the Roses at Churchill Downs has

been pushed back from the first Saturday in May.

Andy LyonsGetty Images

Hitting closer to home every day

With Lakers affected, it’s clear that the coronavirus

doesn’t discriminate, Dylan Hernández writes. D3

This was their
chance, yet they
never really had a
chance.
This was their
moment, yet it was
over before it started.
After dreaming
big all spring, the
Chargers awoke to a
familiarly harsh reality Tuesday
when the greatest quarterback in
NFL history followed the lead of
countless Los Angeles fans.

Tom Brady decided to cheer for

somebody else.

Shortly after Brady stunningly

announced he was leaving the New

England Patriots, amid news that

the Chargers had freed up money

and courted him seriously, it was

learned that Brady would be joining

the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

There are no legitimate reports

that the Chargers finished second.

There are no legitimate reports that

the Chargers were even anywhere

near the finish line.

Give them credit for taking a big

swing, and give them even more

credit for having the savvy to spread

the word that they were contenders.

Yet Brady wasn’t a fit here partly

because the challenges that faced

the Chargers when they came to Los

Angeles three years ago remain the

same — challenges that don’t come

from the Buccaneers or any other

NFL team.

Even as they move into SoFi

Stadium this fall, even with all the

great work they’ve done in the com-

munity, the Chargers feel like a team

without a real home, and that’s a

hard sell for any star seeking new

BILL PLASCHKE

Chargers need Plan B, for bolt

[SeePlaschke, D4]

OK, they weren’t going to get Brady, but they must get something