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Bucs fan has personal ask of Tom Brady after parting with valuable 600th-TD ball

A day after willingly parting with a small fortune, the man who returned Tom Brady's 600th-touchdown ball has a simple ask for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback.

Will Brady play a round of golf with him?

Byron Kennedy, the Bucs fan who briefly claimed possession of the valuable piece of sports memorabilia, made the request while speaking with NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano, who asked on Monday if he'd like to renegotiate his return of the football

"Renegotiate, no," Kennedy said. "But maybe play a round of golf with Tom as a repayment. I think that'd be pretty cool."

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks out over the field before the regular season game between the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 24, 2021 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Will Tom Brady grant Byron Kennedy's wish? (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Ball's eye-popping estimated value

A round of golf is a small ask considering the ball's estimated value on the memorabilia market. Goldin Auctions executive Ken Goldin told Yahoo Sports' Jeff Eisenberg on Sunday that it would fetch a "minimum $500,000." Collectible CEO Ezra Levine predicted its value at "closer to $750,000."

We might never know. Kennedy gave the ball back to the Bucs, who gave it to Brady, who along with supermodel wife Gisele Bündchen is on the very short list of people whose finances wouldn't benefit dramatically from a significant six-figure payday.

Brady's more likely to value the ball itself which commemorates his status as the only member of the NFL's 600-touchdown club — rather than what it would fetch on the auction market. We're not sure of Kennedy's finances, but he could surely benefit from the estimated payday more than Brady.

Does Kennedy regret his decision?

Kennedy told Siciliano that he didn't recognize the ball's significance when he had it. But that knowledge of the ball's value likely wouldn't have changed his decision to return it.

"You can't say no to Tom Brady," Kennedy said.

In case you missed it, Brady tossed his 600th career touchdown to Mike Evans during Sunday's win over the Chicago Bears. Evans, clearly not realizing the significance of the ball, found Kennedy decked out in an Evans jersey in the end zone stands and handed it to him.

A Bucs staffer then approached Kennedy to negotiate its return. Kennedy didn't appear to require much coaxing.

What did Kennedy get in return?

Instead of the six-figure collectible, Kennedy walked away with a different ball from Sunday's game.

Per the Athletic's Greg Auman, he also took home a $1,000 gift card to the Bucs team store. Brady promised more swag heading Kennedy's way in his postgame news conference.

On Monday, Auman reported that the Bucs also agreed to give Kennedy two signed Brady jerseys and a Brady helmet, a signed Evans jersey and his game cleats and two season tickets for the remainder of this season and next.

And now Kennedy wants a round of golf with Brady.

That proverbial ball is now firmly in Brady's court. Kennedy's already relinquished the actual ball and any negotiating leverage that came with it. For Brady, granting Kennedy's request would add up to an act of appreciation. And a reasonable one, at that.