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Bucs GM won't 'close the door' on potential Brady return (0:43)

The possible return of Tom Brady is discussed by the general manager of the Buccaneers. It was 0: 43.

5:14 PM ET

While they will leave the door open for a return for Tom Brady, who will remain under contract despite retiring, they are preparing to move on without him.

That door is always open. Tom is back whenever he wants to. "If Tom wants to come back, we will have plenty of money for him, as do Brady and Licht, and they continue to stay in touch."

I don't know if Tom Brady is going to come back, but I don't want to completely close the door. I am very good friends with him. We talk, but we haven't talked about that. Don't apply any pressure right now. He is Tom Brady. We would welcome Tom Brady back if he wanted to.

Even though Brady hasn't closed the door on a return, even though he retired, and even though he discussed it on his radio show, there was less optimism than Licht.

When I talked to him, he slammed the door shut.

Brady announced his retirement, despite reports suggesting it might happen.

He felt great every time I met with him. He said it was the best he had felt in a decade. I understood everything when we talked.

Did the assistant director of player personnel, who met Brady in 2002, see it coming?

When we signed Tom, we didn't know how long it would be. I was hoping he was 50. No one really knew. He is the type that evaluates everything, so not really a shock. He is continuing to evaluate everything. If he did retire, he went out on top. We never took him for granted.

Despite reports that the relationship with Brady was starting to get rocky, Arians described his relationship with Brady as fantastic. He joked that he would challenge Brady to a game of golf.

Hey, let's play golf. If I beat you, you will come back! If Brady comes out of retirement, they will not accommodate other teams in acquiring him.

When Rob Gronkowski came out of retirement to join the New England patriots, they held his rights because Brady is still under contract with the Buccaneers. In order to acquire him, the Bucs traded a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick.

It would require significant draft capital. Maybe, according to Arians.

Don't expect other teams to help the Buccaneers. Although the team indicated previously that they would look to add a quarterback via free agency or the draft, the options are slim. There are only two quarterbacks in free agency that the Bucs would consider signing, whereas there are eight under contract with other teams, and he doesn't see more than one or two of them being traded because most teams don't have viable backup options.

I don't think trades are an issue. "You have to have a partner, because these guys aren't just willing to go," he said. I don't think a lot of these guys will be traded. There could be one or two guys that could take us to the Super Bowl.

Kyle Trask, a second-round draft pick last year, will get an opportunity to compete for the starting job despite not playing in a regular-season game last year.

Kyle is going to get a great shot. He's earned his shot, I mean, he improved the things he needed to when he was running the scout team. Does he turn it over if it is Blaine or not?

Mac Jones surprised people last year when he was a rookies with the Pats.

I definitely think he has a chance. He has shown that it is pointing that way with his intelligence, his ability to pick up the offense, his work ethic, and the way he throws the ball. He has changed his body a bit. Coming off his senior year at Florida, he is surprisingly athletic.

The organization would not be opposed to bringing back Jameis Winston, who was selected first overall in the 2015 draft before he signed with the New Orleans Saints. He is set to become a free agent again. I don't think it's the best thing for him to return to the bay.

Deshaun is facing accusations of sexual assault by 22 different women, but he is still being linked to the Bucs. The policy of Licht's is not to discuss players under contract with other teams.

It would be strictly an organizational signoff. I am shocked that he is in this situation. That would be a strict signoff.