Former LSU star Leonard Fournette mulling critical decision on NFL future
Leonard Fournette made a drastic move on his official Instagram page a post that seemed to bid farewell to the Buccaneers just last week. But shortly after the news broke that Tom Brady was coming out of retirement to re-join Tampa for 2022 to make yet another run to add to his collection of Super Bowl rings, the former LSU Tigers star deleted the cryptic message which leads to new speculation about his future NFL plans.
Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud pointed out that Fournette’s message sounds like an indication that the running back is “moving on.”
“Bucs RB Leonard Fournette gets reflective about his two years in Tampa Bay on IG a week before free agency. Sounds like he anticipates moving on,” Stroud tweeted on March 8.
“The word everything says a lot here in my opinion and could very likely mean Fournette is moving on,” Mike Florio of Pro Football talk noted.
Jenna Laine — who covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers exclusively for ESPN and is plugged in as anyone chimed in on the former LSU Tigers running back since the Brady news broke.
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“The Bucs have been happy with Fournette, but the feeling from some inside the organization is they also need some game-breaking speed, and that position does have one of the shortest shelf lives in the NFL,” Laine wrote.
“Still, he’s coming off a season in which he averaged 4.5 yards per carry — fourth among backs in this free-agent class, while his 1,266 scrimmage yards in 14 regular-season games was the most among all free-agent running backs. The Bucs would also like him to keep his weight down, as he played at 240 last year, about 10 pounds over his goal weight.”
Tom Brady major part of Leonard Fournette resurgence
Tom Brady has been lauded for his leadership since he first stepped on to the field for training camp after joining the Bucs. Like NFL fans have become accustomed to — and even though he had massive doubters considering his age, the difficulty changing teams late in a quarterback’s career, lack of chemistry and the list goes on and on — the Michigan Wolverines prevailed.
Just ahead of the start of the 2020 regular season, the former No. 4 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars was released in a somewhat sudden move. Brady had just finished training camp and with days until his first season in Tampa officially kicked off, the Buccaneers’ signal caller played a significant part in recruiting Leonard Fournette.
“The first guy that hit me when it happened was Tom [Brady],” Fournette said. “I’ve [known] Tom and Tom hit me like, ‘Man, I would love for you to come help us out.’ We have a brotherhood. It’s going fine right now. We’re working our tails off each and every day to make each other better and that’s what we’re doing. That’s the best thing about football, is the unity.”
Before Sunday, PointsBet had Leonard Fournette as a +200 favorite to return to the Buccaneers, with the Texans and Falcons both at +300, the Cardinals at +350, and the Bills at +600.
Now, it’s no surprise that Fournette returned to the Bucs in free agency — especially after hearing constant examples of how the running back leaned on Brady and credits him for helping resurge his career, while picking up the now well-known Playoff Lenny nickname due to his outstanding performance in the Bucs postseason run and Super Bowl victory.
Fournette displayed sheer dominance in the magical run through the playoffs, 64 carries for 300 yards and three touchdowns — plus 18 catches and a receiving touchdown.
The LSU legend continued his momentum in 31–9 Super Bowl victory over the Chiefs. rushing for 89 yards and a touchdown and recorded four catches for 46 yards. Fournette’s fourth in four games during the 2020 postseason. He now joins Terrell Davis and Larry Fitzgerald as the only players to score touchdowns in four games during the postseason.
“He displays the true definition of a leader,” Fournette told Jalen & Jacoby,” after deciding to come back in 2021. Like I always tell everyone that I know, when it was playoff games, he was up at 5:30 going over film. He was telling the team what to expect; ‘This is what’s going to happen in the game. ‘ Because he’s pretty much played against every defensive coordinator in the league. … Like I said, appreciate everything he does. It’s just excellent to see greatness in my eyes every day. You know, I play next to the greatest player who is playing football every day. So just taking bit by bit from him, learning from him each and every day. It’s incredible to see what that man does.”
It’s obvious Brady’s return could completely reverse Leonard Fournette’s decision who was absolutely expected to test free agency before the stunning return of the G.O.A.T.