Tom Brady expected to sign with Buccaneers, officially ending weeks of speculation

The Niner Faithful won't have to listen to the endless speculation surrounding the fate of Tom Brady. It was speculation that, for a long while, involved the San Francisco 49ers. The future Hall of Fame quarterback reportedly plans to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Brady-to-49ers rumors ceased over the weekend when Chris Simms of NBC Sports reported that San Francisco was out as a potential landing spot for Brady. He also noted that the 49ers were the top destination choice for the quarterback.

"The 49ers are out on Tom Brady," Simms said on Sunday. "That is not going to happen. In my understanding, Tom Brady's number one choice was to go to San Francisco and be the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers."

A scenario where Brady ends up with San Francisco never made much sense. It would have been a good fit for the 42-year-old quarterback, who could have ended his illustrious career with a good organization and the team the Bay Area native grew up cheering. For the 49ers, it would have meant adding a quarterback at the end of his career, whose best seasons are likely behind him.

San Francisco moves forward with 28-year-old Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers quarterback helped guide the team to the Super Bowl in his first full NFL season as a starter.

Garoppolo completed 69.1 percent of his passes this past season for 3,978 yards with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions on the way to a 13-3 regular-season record. His passing yards total ranks fourth all-time in franchise history with only Steve Young and Jeff Garcia throwing for more in a single season.

San Francisco won two playoff games before finally losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

Brady finished the 2019 season having completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 4,057 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions before losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Tennessee Titans. His illustrious career, which includes six Super Bowl championships, will likely continue in Tampa, Florida.

Sorry, the Buccaneers aren't on the 49ers' list of opponents for the 2020 season. Maybe in the playoffs.