The Tom Brady sweepstakes are on — with perhaps a leader heading into Wednesday.

After announcing that he’d be continuing his football career somewhere other than New England on Tuesday, Brady accelerated the NFL free agency rumor mill. Fox Sports Radio host Colin Cowherd was the first to come out with a bold report that the six-time Super Bowl champ is headed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I have somebody telling me this morning — in fact this is very interesting, this is not a football source, it’s an icon source,” Cowherd said on his show “The Herd.”

“It is somebody in Tom’s stratosphere that knows Tom, that is a famous person. And he says Tampa. That’s what he’s telling me.”

WEEI’s Dale Arnold had a similar report, saying that a deal between Brady and the Buccaneers “is done.” Arnold added that the Chargers made a late “charge” and hinted that Antonio Brown could be joining Brady in Tampa.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht revealed there were conversations with Brady on Monday, but had yet to speak since. As of Tuesday afternoon, Licht said, there was no deal in place.

“We’re waiting to see what Tom decides,” Licht said. “Just like everybody else.”

The market for Brady, according to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, is “quietly very competitive,” but “far more about finding a fit he likes rather than chasing $.”

Darlington also believes Brady will make his decision sometime this week.