Bucs GM Licht: No discussions with Brady about Dolphins rumors, future plans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said Tuesday that he hasn't talked to Tom Brady about the recent reports linking the quarterback to the Miami Dolphins.

Licht hasn't addressed Brady's future with the franchise after the 2022 season, either.

"No, we haven't had those discussions," Licht said, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "The only discussions we've had with Tom (were) when he came back. We're excited about this year, and we're excited to get going."

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk recently reported that Brady retired this offseason with plans to become a minority owner of the Dolphins. Miami also wanted to add Brady as the starting quarterback and former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton as head coach. However, Brian Flores' civil lawsuit filed against the NFL and the Dolphins put those plans on hold, Florio adds.

Payton stepped down as head coach of the Saints in January, though the 58-year-old didn't rule out a potential return to the sidelines in the future. Brady officially announced his retirement on Feb. 1 but quickly changed course, returning to the Bucs on March 13.

Licht described the reports as "chatter."

"We're focused on putting our team together here with the draft. ... We're all in lockstep here - Tom, (coach) Todd (Bowles), myself, (offensive coordinator) Byron (Leftwich), the entire coaching staff - on this season," Licht said Tuesday.

Tampa Bay named Bowles, its defensive coordinator from 2019-21, as head coach in March to replace Bruce Arians, who retired from coaching. Arians moved to the Bucs' front office as a senior football consultant.

Arians has been a part of Tampa Bay's draft meetings this offseason and will be present in the team's draft war room this year, Licht said.