Tom Brady did not leave New England for the money.

Together with his super-model wife Giselle Bundchen, Brady’s net worth is more than a half a billion dollars. So, you think he left the New England Patriots because they wouldn’t pay him what he wanted? No, not even close.

Brady took the gamble of leaving the franchise he led to nine Super Bowls, winning six, in 20 seasons. Over the years, Brady had sacrificed his own salary so the team could sign receivers and blockers on the way to another Super Bowl.

The Pats finally let him down in 2019 when they failed to surround him with another championship-potential roster. TB12 decided to try it with a new team that does have the weapons — and a coach who will basically let him call all the shots.

Facing the last season or two of his hall of fame career, Brady is taking a chance with Tampa Bay and another 67-year-old head man, Bruce Arians, who will let the brilliant Brady build and run his own offense, football’s version of a player-coach.

It wasn’t worth a 21st go-‘round with Bill Belichick, who answers to no one in New England, and Brady also figured that all dynasties end sometime, so why not try to win another Super Bowl with a fresh scenario, new city and far more forgiving media.

What else could he do in an AFC East the Patriots had won for 11 straight seasons? The anticipation of playing with the Buccaneers will be huge but the expectations will be far more underwhelming for a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2007. Whatever Brady does will be an improvement, and he has an opportunity to prove he can win a title without Belichick.

Tampa Bay finished last season with one of the most improved defenses in the league, and the NFC South had only the New Orleans Saints with winning record.

So, with Brady and Drew Brees, the 84-old quarterbacks will have classic home-and-home series that will be appointment TV this fall — as long as football is played again.

Let’s all pray that it will be.

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