Few outside the Patriots' organization saw it coming. Jamie Collins was traded to the Browns on Monday, and only after the fact did those in and around New England express displeasure with the linebacker.
That won't happen to Tom Brady — the smear campaign, that is. But the future Hall of Fame quarterback knows he too (eventually) might suffer the same trade fate.
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"Yeah, absolutely," Brady said Wednesday when asked whether he thinks he might someday be traded from the Patriots, via the Boston Herald. "You can't be around this long and not realize that the world will keep spinning and the sun will come up tomorrow without you. That's just the way it goes.
"I think you enjoy the experiences that you have and also understand it just keeps going on. It could happen to anybody. You just have to show up to work, do the best you can do every day and let your performance just try to speak for itself."
And Brady should know. He's seen a bunch of Patriots, including star players, sent away via trade or release before the ends of their contracts during his 17-year NFL career. NFL.com's Marc Sessler pointed out those names Monday, after Collins was traded.
Belichick's history with released/traded Patriots players, per @NFLResearch: pic.twitter.com/DSuBB6C7kR
— Marc Sessler (@MarcSesslerNFL) October 31, 2016
Of course, we think Brady is safe in New England as long as he's putting up career-best numbers in an age-defying manner ... and as long as the Patriots are the Super Bowl favorites with the 39-year-old at quarterback.
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For what it's worth, though, the Patriots have a contract decision to make soon on backup Jimmy Garoppolo, as the third-year quarterback enters the fourth and final year of his rookie contract in 2017. Other teams will want him, if they don't already. Brady's future will have to be considered when New England makes that decision.
Brady signed a two year, $41 million contract extension ($28 million guaranteed at signing) in March.