Tom Brady Flag Football Olympics
iStockphoto / © George Walker IV / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Darrell Doucette first made headlines near the end of last summer when he spoke out against the potential for NFL players to compete in flag football at the Olympics. The 5-foot-7 quarterback is back in the news approximately nine months later as Tom Brady reportedly eyes his spot on Team USA.
I don’t think he has any reason to worry about the seven-time Super Bowl champion but his plea for a chance also applies to all 32 signal-callers in the National Football League.
Flag football is going to be an Olympic sport for the first time when the Summer Games descend upon Los Angeles in 2028. NFL clubs officially voted to permit the participation of their players at the Spring League Meeting last week. Most people, especially fans, were thrilled with the decision. Active players on Team USA’s flag football roster are not quite as excited.
Doucette is. the current starting quarterback for the United States. He spoke out against the participation of NFL players when the idea was first announced. He saw their inclusion as a threat to his livelihood and boldly claimed that he is better than Patrick Mahomes at flag football even though his highlight tape went viral for all of the wrong reasons.
Now that the ruling is confirmed by the NFL, Doucette hopes to not be forgotten.
The flag guys deserve their opportunity. That’s all we want. We felt like we worked hard to get the sport to where it’s at, and then when the NFL guys spoke about it, it was like we were getting kicked to the side. I felt like I was the guy who could speak out for my peers, for my brothers that’s been working hard to get to this level, for us not to be forgotten.
— Darrell Doucette
The 35-year-old told the Washington Post that all he asks is a chance.
This is a sport that we’ve played for a long time, and we feel like we are the best at it and we don’t need other guys. But we all have one goal in mind, and that’s to represent our country. We’re definitely open to all competition. If those guys come in and ball out and they’re better than us, hats off to them. Go win that gold medal for our country.
— Darrell Doucette
He genuinely believes there will be a learning curve for NFL players to get acclimated to flag football. They may not be the best athletes to represent their country in a sport they do not fully understand.
It’s entirely two different games. You can’t really compare flag football and tackle football. These are things that we practice and we work on to become great. Those guys, they don’t understand it yet.
— Darrell Doucette
Although I find it hard to believe that NFL players could not very quickly get up to speed and excel in the flag game, I completely understand where Darrell Doucette is coming from. This is his thing. He wants the opportunity to compete on the highest level. He does not want to be overlooked.
Meanwhile, his spot is supposedly in jeopardy because of a legendary quarterback who is not currently on an NFL roster. The Daily Mail claims Tom Brady has his eyes on a gold medal.
He wants a gold medal. And what better way to remain the GOAT and return to the sport he loves, by helping his country win gold […]
Since the NFL wants to make a splash in the Olympics, they can have their own Dream Team, and who better to lead them than the Greatest of All-Time!
— An insider told Daily Mail
I’m not buying it. I could see Tom Brady wanting to play for gold but I don’t think he would consider playing flag football. And I find it even harder to believe that Team USA would want an almost 50-year-old at quarterback anyway. There are 32 other better-suited guys from which to choose. There is no need to roster the Greatest of All-Time just because he is the GOAT. Doucette’s spot should be safe until an active NFL quarterback steps up to challenge him. And that’s all he wants— a challenge!