Just days away from Super Bowl LV, we finally know the real reason Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Okay… that’s not exactly true. But, we did get a funny, made-up explanation in a new T-Mobile commercial. The catch? You won’t see it during the Super Bowl.
The new commercial tells the story of how a bad cell phone connection led the former New England Patriots to team back up in Florida. In the commercial, Brady Calls Gronk to discuss retirement and the tight end is, actually, very supportive.
“If you retire now, you’ll be walking on soft sand in a week,” Gronkowski says. “Just come to Florida and feel the wind in your hair.”
However, due to a choppy connection, Brady receives a very different message:
“You retire now, you’re soft and weak. Just come to Florida and win another one.”
…and just like that, Brady is heading south and Gronk is “retiring from retirement.”
Although you can view the commercial now, don’t expect to see it during the big game. A spokesperson for T-Mobile told Boston.com that “all we know is — even after editing — we got an email saying it was banned, referring to the ‘protected telco rights deal.'” The company did not, however, say whether it was CBS or the NFL that made the decision to ban the commercial.
Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile, posted the following message to Twitter Friday:
“Here it is! Our spot that was BANNED from the big game. Good, right?? I mean why would their “telco sponsor” not want you to see this!!? #TheGOATin5G”
Although T-Mobile did not name the company outright, Verzion signed a two-year deal to become the “Official 5G Innovation Partner of the NFL” in 2019.
(PHOTO: Getty Images)