Arians denies creating tension with Brady: 'Tom and I are fine'

Bruce Arians isn't concerned with critics saying the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach could create a rift between him and quarterback Tom Brady due to his post-game callouts.

"Tom and I are fine," Arians said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "I don't really care what other people think. So it's just what he and I think. We left the stadium fine. We showed up today fine. There ain't nothin' to talk about."

After Arians said he expects "a little more grit" from Brady in Week 2 following Tampa Bay's season-opening loss to New Orleans, Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre claimed that calling Brady out publicly could lead to tension.

"Getting to Bruce Arians' comments, true or not, I think the last person you want to call out after the first game of the year is Tom Brady," Favre said on the "The SiriusXM Blitz" on Tuesday. "Now, maybe they had a mutual truce going into the game, going into the season, 'Hey, I'm going to be hard on you. I want the guys to know we're going to treat you the same even though technically I'm not, so are you OK with it?' If they have that truce, great. If not, I think you are barking up the wrong tree."

After Sunday's loss, Arians said Brady's first of two interceptions was a miscommunication between the quarterback and receiver Mike Evans, and that Brady also overthrew the pass. The coach corrected himself the following day, saying Evans was actually at fault for the pick.

The Buccaneers will look for their first win of the season Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

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