Tom Brady, Byron Leftwich have little to offer about questionable late-game clock management

In the Browns’ overtime loss late in regulation, the Buccaneers had the ball at their 25. The clock showed 32 seconds. Tampa Bay had three timeouts.

After the first play, a pass play that gained just one yard, coach Todd Bowles did not call a timeout. The next play, which started with 15 seconds left, gained 26. At that point, a timeout was called. At that point, there were only eight seconds left.

Bowles defended not using a timeout after the first play, saying it was the team playing in overtime. The next play, of course, suggests otherwise.

On Friday, offensive coordinator and quarterback Byron Leftwich Tom Brady he met with journalists. They do not clarify the situation.

Brady said, via Joey Knight Tampa Bay Times“I’m going to the saints. I’m not thinking about last week.” (Brady also had nothing to say about the situation recently Let’s go! podcast, at a time when it wasn’t “To the Saints” yet.

Leftwich also addressed the clock management inquiry.

“Ultimately, why, I think that’s more of a coaching question,” Leftwich said. “That’s what Todd would answer.”

Leftwich was also asked if Brady lobbied for a timeout.

“The communication between the three, I’ll leave it between the three,” Leftwich said. (In other words, “Yes, he did”).

Bowles worried that something could go wrong when the Buccaneers had the ball deep. But the quarterback is Tom Brady. If the GOAT drops a peg in that spot, so be it.