OTAs - TB absence thread

[TennisBallHead]

Now that he drove the successor out of town, and that scrub Hoyer is the backup, Brady can coast.

 

[bormio]

Does absence make the heart grow fonder?

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Brady knows what goes on. Here's a quote of his from 2013 on OTAs...

"He (Bill Belichick) talks about, you think it's just an OTA in the spring time and it's not that important and all those things that probably could enter your mind. The truth is, this lays the foundation for the start of training camp and if you have a good training camp, it usually means a good start to the season. A good start to the season leads to good position entering the second half of the season. Everything ends up having some significance to it. You're not just out here running plays and going through different things that aren't going to mean anything. We're out here trying to get a lot of things accomplished. I think we have done that, but there's still a lot of work to be done. It's really never ending, especially when you play for Coach Belichick. Especially in practices when the offense goes against the defense, because if the offense makes a play then the defense sucked and if the defense makes a play then the offense sucked so someone is really going to get yelled at on every play. There's always lowlights when we come in on the next day. Even if it was a great offensive play, he's going to yell at someone on the defense. We've become a bit used to that now and that's part of the learning process and also learning how to play for the Patriots and understand the criticism that you're getting and hopefully use it constructively so you can improve as a player."

Belichick also knows a little something about OTAs and in 2015 he said...

""Everything we do out here is important," Belichick said. "Otherwise, we wouldn’t do it, or we should be doing something else. We try to take the things that we feel are most beneficial and put together a practice schedule so that we can get the best utilization of the limited amount of time we have out here. We have a lot of people and we’re just trying to make the most out of it. Everything we do is important, or we should be doing something else.""

So I dunno guys, maybe Brady and Belichick are wrong and random internet posters are right. Maybe this is meaningless and OTAs really aren't that important. Or maybe, just maybe, Belichick and Brady were on to something when they said these things.

Ok, but do any of us know whether Bill and Tom have an understanding about this or whether Tom is trying to heal up from some injury? The point is some of you are jumping to conclusions.

 

[ivanvamp]

Ok, but do any of us know whether Bill and Tom have an understanding about this or whether Tom is trying to heal up from some injury? The point is some of you are jumping to conclusions.

I haven't drawn any conclusion as to WHY Brady is skipping OTAs. No clue.

But regardless of the reason, it hurts the team that he's not there. I guess if he had a significant injury that could be made worse by participating, that could basically be the one scenario where it would be better for him to not be there.

But come on. We've seen him on social media. He doesn't give ANY indication at all - not have there been any hints in the media at all - that this is the situation.

 

[Deus Irae]

Because they actually, you know, work on important things during these sessions.

What is being worked on that:

1. MUST be worked on with Brady, in May, for the sake of others and/or
   
2. Brady needs to have down pat before the month of June

???

This isn't even remotely in the same category. Obviously.

It's in precisely the same category. Obviously.

Oh brother. That's the argument?

It's an obvious rebuttal to a very silly argument. With his OCD approach to all things football, of course Belichick's going to insist that everything's important.

I cannot fathom your "logic" here.

Sure you can. It's basic. Lack of ability to be quantified neither makes something inherently unimportant nor makes it inherently important.

Nobody is saying it's "doomsday". That's a straw man and you know it. But it is significant that he's missing these sessions, during which time these guys gain better rapport and timing and understanding.

Claiming it's significant does not make it so. Are you ignorant of the fact that players have skipped these things throughout history, without it being a problem, and that players have even skipped most/all of training camp without it being a problem? Of course not, so why are you going down this path?

NOBODY. IS. SAYING. THAT.

I'm not going back through the thread, but yeah, people are saying that, in one form or another.

 

[Deus Irae]

It's hard to have a serious discussion with you when you're throwing out crap like that. Nobody here is expressing the things you're suggesting. It's only morphed into that in your own mind.

You obviously haven't read the thread.

 

[Deus Irae]

It probably won't sink their season

But it's the other guys - especially the new receivers who have developed very little to no rapport with Brady - that matter here. This is an important part of the season's preparation and Brady is missing it. It's not good.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Honestly, if this were so important they should change it to mandatory OTAs.

 

[ivanvamp]

Honestly, if this were so important they should change it to mandatory OTAs.

Good luck with getting that in the next CBA.

 

[Bruins29]

But regardless of the reason, it hurts the team that he's not there. .

Or as stated, maybe the benefit of letting TB have rest or family time outweighs the negative of him missing out on the time at the OTAs. Its certainly possible. Its about the sum, not the parts. All Tom is doing is missing out on one part of the sum. There are other parts...

The point is you really have no clue and are just making assumptions based on a myopic view on something you are trying to make completely linear. Maybe BB said to TB he can skip OTA because he knows long term its BETTER for the team if TB is in a great place when he starts camp more healthy or whatever.

He is 41 with what......27 years of competitive football under his belt from HS to now with 17 of those years in the NFL. 17 years of 300 lb linemen trying to kill him.

Why isnt anyone looking at the big picture since winning football games is just as much mental and staying healthy as it is getting yard.. You dont get a lombardi for having WR/QB chemistry.

 

[ivanvamp]

Let's see... who do I go with? Belichick and Brady's own words, or random internet dope Deus?

Man that's a tough call.

 

[Deus Irae]

It's hard to have a serious discussion with you when you're throwing out crap like that. Nobody here is expressing the things you're suggesting. It's only morphed into that in your own mind.

Umm... as I noted, you have expressed those things. Then there are posts like these

Great, Tom has mastered the system. Good for him. What about all the new receivers? Have they mastered the system? Do they know exactly how Brady likes his routes run? Do they have experience catching a ball he throws? Are used to Brady calling the plays?

There is so much that goes on during OTAs other than Brady learning the system. The excuse making is unbelievable.

Historically, receivers have had a very difficult time earning Brady's trust and being where he expects them to be at any moment. We've seen so many receivers who were good with other teams, come here and fail...So many good college receivers come here and fail....

Now, those receivers will have less time with Brady...yet, it is all good OTAs are worthless.

But, yeah, let's pretend that you people aren't saying what you're obviously saying, because that's the only way your lousy argument can hold water.

Or, we can just admit the obvious:

• While it's not optimal for Brady to miss these OTAs, it's not a particularly problematic thing, either.
  
• Plays will still be practiced. Whether it's Brady calling them in May, or Hoyer, makes no difference to that.
  
• Rreceivers will still be learning the system and routes and adjustments and assignments.
  
• Running in shorts doesn't equate to timing in pads, so the argument about on-field timing is a straw man.
• There will still be June, July, and August, for new guys to get more familiar with Brady, assuming they are still on the team by then and, if they are cut before them, Brady's absence won't be the reason they are cut.

 

[aluminum seats]

It’s mind boggling to me that those who would sing Brady’s praises to the freaking heavens over his work ethic (which has been done here for going on two decades) will turn ON A DIME and now say, “eh, whatever. We’re talking about PRACTICE...”

Well, ok. Make sure you get treated for your whiplash after that.

And no, nobody knows what kind of butterfly effect may or may not come out of this. But it’s bonkers to act like those NOTICING this and maybe thinking it’s not great are the irrational ones. Come on now.

 

[Deus Irae]

Let's see... who do I go with? Belichick and Brady's own words, or random internet dope Deus?

Man that's a tough call.

Random internet dope ivanamp is all about Brady's own words, yet is ignoring Brady's current actions as a potential sign of a change of opinion regarding his earlier words.

I wonder why that could possibly be?

 

[Betterthanmost]

I am going to predict that this is Brady's last season, unless BB calls it after this season. But if BB is around, I can bet that he will not put himself in this situation again. I understand Brady wants to do things differently now, but whatever this is will not end well.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Win the damn game last February and none of this matters including the players who chose to walk away.

 

[Bruins29]

I think some people dont care and cant stand it

 

[Deus Irae]

It's hard to have a serious discussion with you when you're throwing out crap like that. Nobody here is expressing the things you're suggesting. It's only morphed into that in your own mind.

"It's ok if the team struggles a bit in SEPTEMBER, because everyone knows BB considers the first four games of the season an extension of training camp" has now morphed into "OMG! Brady's not going to throw to his receivers for 9 days in MAY! How will those poor new guys survive..."

But it's the other guys - especially the new receivers who have developed very little to no rapport with Brady - that matter here. This is an important part of the season's preparation and Brady is missing it. It's not good.

"...and what will become of the team?" "

It probably won't sink their season, but it's a reasonably big deal.

 

[farn]

In this case, and on this topic, they are mutually exclusive. Or, to put it another way.....


Gronk and Brady are the two players who can most afford to miss these sessions, and have no real reason to be there other than "Everyone else is doing it!".

I suppose.

My overall take : while I’ll be fine sleeping at night, I can understand how fans are concerned that Brady is changing his habits after so many years. It can be especially concerning when you consider reports of possible discord between the QB and the coach.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Or as stated, maybe the benefit of letting TB have rest or family time outweighs the negative of him missing out on the time at the OTAs. Its certainly possible. Its about the sum, not the parts. All Tom is doing is missing out on one part of the sum. There are other parts...

The point is you really have no clue and are just making assumptions based on a myopic view on something you are trying to make completely linear. Maybe BB said to TB he can skip OTA because he knows long term its BETTER for the team if TB is in a great place when he starts camp more healthy or whatever.

He is 41 with what......27 years of competitive football under his belt from HS to now with 17 of those years in the NFL. 17 years of 300 lb linemen trying to kill him.

Why isnt anyone looking at the big picture since winning football games is just as much mental and staying healthy as it is getting yard.. You dont get a lombardi for having WR/QB chemistry.

I don't think anyone would disagree with the logic that the team or Tom collaborated on a preservatio plan.

The problem is the prevailing belief is he is staying away because of family, organizational fatigue, trainer freeze out and contract reasons.