Tom Brady fires shots at De'Vondre Campbell for walking out on 49ers teammates while praising Ravens' Kyle Van Noy
De'Vondre Campbell caught strays from Tom Brady as the broadcaster contrasted Kyle Van Noy for his ability to carry on playing for the Ravens when the 49ers player quit on his teammates last week against the Rams. The Baltimore linebacker suffered an orbital fracture in the first week of the season but kept taking to the field and making plays. He played so well that he was named AFC's Defensive Player of the Month in September.
Tom Brady played with Kyle Van Noy during their time together at the New England Patriots and won Super Bowls together. The former quarterback recollected his former teammate's greatness as a professional while commentating on FOX's broadcast of Ravens versus Steelers. In that context, he mentioned how it differs from the approach taken by De'Vondre Campbell, who refused to come on against the Rams last week despite suiting up.
The legendary quarterback said:
"Don't know if anybody knows this, but he [Van Noy] broke his eye socket earlier in the season. Basically, played with a broken face. And I see other guys [like Campbell] walking out on their teammates because they don't want to play."
Tom Brady has Super Bowl history with Kyle Van Noy and De'Vondre Campbell
Before Tom Brady eviscerated De'Vondre Campbell while praising Kyle Van Noy, the Ravens player and the former quarterback have together tormented the currently suspended 49ers player. Most NFL fans remember Super Bowl LI when the Patriots erased the largest deficit in championship history to defeat the Falcons 34-28.
It was the conclusion of Kyle Van Noy's first season in New England. Tom Brady was the quarterback. It was also De'Vondre Campbell's rookie year in Atlanta and he started that game and recorded four tackles.
The San Francisco player could have won a ring as a rookie but it was the current Baltimore veteran who collected his first title. And as it looks now, Kyle Van Noy is still more likely to pick up another Super Bowl than De'Vondre Campbell. The Ravens are expected to make the playoffs and are considered one of the favorites to win it all this year.
Meanwhile, the 49ers will most likely not play in the postseason and they are entering a rebuild. Even if they had, it is almost certain that they would not have reinstated the linebacker for walking out on his teammates. It is now uncertain if any other team will bet on him either. We know it probably won't be the Raiders, though, if minority shareholder Tom Brady has his way.