Reading comprehension being among the many deficits experienced by some members of this board, perhaps this sysopsis will make it easier for you to grasp what Gasper was saying...
Know this: Brady plans to be in Foxborough at some point during the offseason conditioning program, and it could be as soon as next week.
Locker room unrest was a problem last season -- for the Patriots defense. It's something Wilfork and linebacker Jerod Mayo can fix, not Brady. A quarterback, no matter how good, can't be expected to be the leader of a defense. That was never the case for Brady's Patriots career, during which the defensive leaders were Bobby Hamilton, Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, and Rodney Harrison.
Belichick understands the important of being a visible parent -- and when one of your children lives 3,000 miles away from where you work, which is the case with Brady, the offseason is the only time you can do that for an extended stretch.
Taking time out to be a parent doesn't mean you've lost your edge. If that's the case, then Belichick lost his a long time ago.
Lots of players never train with the team. A very few remain here year round, and their kids grow up living here. Many commute to the off season program from off season homes where their wives and children prefer to live, flying in on Monday and out on Friday. Some guys are leaders, others are followers. Seymour never trained here. Just didn't want to. Neither did Law. Apparently Vrabel didn't either. Rodney split his time between training at home and Foxboro. Tedy lived here but never won the parking spot... Brady won it when he could. Now he can't because he has a situation that requires he be in LA for a specified amount of time each off season if he wants to have extended visitation with his oldest child. Ty Warren chose to go back to school this off season. In Texas. He will only be here for mandatory OTA's. Tom has made no such pronouncement.
Tom is building a home in LA. He is also looking for a larger, kid friendly home in the Boston area - which is why the condo is for sale. He and his wife also sold all their properties in NY over the last several months because they now intend to live in Boston except when they are vacationing or in LA to spend time with Jack in the offseason. Honestly, some of you are such drama queens...
Would it be best if he were here from day one this off season...possibly, but as Gasper said the unrest in the locker room didn't emanate from the offense last season. Would it be best if Ty was here from day one this off season...you betcha, unless he doesn't see himself as a team leader on this defense that was sorely lacking any last season.
FYI I can't think of a player who had the means who hasn't had an off season home down south or out west or wherever they came from since this team of the decade first set foot on a field in 2000 other than Tedy and while he was here Rosie. The money these days allows for it. Troy's wife and kids lived in SC year round because she worked as a chemist. Willie Mac had his home and a business in LA. Drew used to spend his entire offseason fishing in Montana...
It's not a coincidence that the first time Brady wasn't a Patriots' offseason award winner was 2008. That was the off-season following the birth of his first son, Jack, who lives in the Los Angeles-area with his mother, actress Bridget Moynahan.
And while it may not be a coincidence, that wasn't the only reason that year either. Because after the undefeated season and loss in the superbowl, Belichick told Brady to get away from the game and take time to recharge his batteries because he didn't want him to burn out under the mental as well as physical pressure he put on himself to lead this team...He told that to several other veteran leaders after that season as well. Stupid BB, what does he know...
