Giants legend Eli Manning, who knows a thing or two about beating Tom Brady in big games, recently reacted to the 42-year-old future Hall-of-Famer's decision to bolt the Patriots for the Buccaneers.

"I was surprised, how it all worked out," Manning told Steve Serby of the New York Post. "I just did not imagine him leaving, them letting him go and him going somewhere else, just from my experience. But for him to have had all the success, do everything he'd done in New England and did it with one organization, I guess you just kind of wonder what was the reasoning? I don't know if he felt unappreciated, or just wanted to try something different, but was surprised that this went down."

But while Brady is gone from New England and the team currently has only quarterbacks who profile as backups on its roster, Manning doesn't think Bill Belichick and the Pats' reign of Kings of the AFC East is necessarily over.

"No, I don't necessarily think that (it's over)," Manning told The Post. "I think they still have a very good team, a great defense, great coaches. Obviously Tom was a very important part on their success over the years, but I think they have kind of a way and they have a system that [Bill] Belichick has implemented there that I think will continue to find ways to have success, but it will be different. If they go out and get a new quarterback, or stay with the guys they have, it might not be as it's been in the past."

Regarding how far the Bucs can go now that they have Brady at the helm, Manning -- who said he hasn't thrown a football since his farewell game last season -- wasn't ready to make his prediction.

"I never believed you can win the Super Bowl in March and April," he said.

Video: What are grades for the Giants in free agency so far?

Popular in the Community