OTAs - TB absence thread

[Kontradiction]

I agree that missing is not going to prevent Brady from performing. But it means the offense gets less time to gel with its most important player and it impacts the team building process. And it makes you wonder how committed Brady is this year - yes he has always been all in - but all players reach a point where they are not. Sooner or later they do not want to do what it takes to prepare, even if they still enjoy playing the games.

All that matters is TC. That's where the offense and defense ultimately get installed. These are just glorified workouts. It wasn't a big deal when guys like Branch would miss and it's not a big deal now that Brady is missing. It would be more alarming if the rooks and new guys weren't there. For guys that have been in the system, this is much ado about nothing.

 

[PP2]

I agree that missing is not going to prevent Brady from performing. But it means the offense gets less time to gel with its most important player and it impacts the team building process. And it makes you wonder how committed Brady is this year - yes he has always been all in - but all players reach a point where they are not. Sooner or later they do not want to do what it takes to prepare, even if they still enjoy playing the games.

This is what makes me think that he is a lot closer to the end than many of us realize. It's my personal opinion that he just wants to win one more and then ride off into the sunset.

 

[Kontradiction]

This is what makes me think that he is a lot closer to the end than many of us realize. It's my personal opinion that he just wants to win one more and then ride off into the sunset.

Well, yeah. That and his age. But I agree in that I think if he wins one more, he's retiring.

 

[luuked]

Just a continuation of his modus operandi throughout the entire preseason. But I am sure some people will continue to pretend that nothing has changed with Brady over the last 12 months. Keep your fingers in your ears and pretend everything is exactly as usual guys.

Also lets stop the it is voluntary narrative. Either you are in or not. Butler got benched for a few days because he showed up late to OTAs. It clearly is important in the team building / team culture sense.

 

[luuked]

This is what makes me think that he is a lot closer to the end than many of us realize. It's my personal opinion that he just wants to win one more and then ride off into the sunset.

I read it totally different. To me he clearly wants more money and the Pats are not yet playing ball.

 

[PP2]

Well, yeah. That and his age. But I agree in that I think if he wins one more, he's retiring.

It's all the little things that are hard to miss- what he said at the end of the web series he released around the time of the SB, the hints he drops about missing family time, and of course, missing OTA's. Not that he's not training on his own, but...

 

[Kontradiction]

It's all the little things that are hard to miss- what he said at the end of the web series he released around the time of the SB, the hints he drops about missing family time, and of course, missing OTA's. Not that he's not training on his own, but...

Yep. And he's 41. If the team doesn't win this season, I think he comes back and finishes out his current contract (I don't think the team will budge), but, and again this is IMO, if they go all the way, I think he retires. Also, don't forget all the interest in this QB class.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Well, Gronk is going to show up for part of OTAs at least.

Report: Rob Gronkowski will eventually join Patriots for OTAs

 

[PP2]

I read it totally different. To me he clearly wants more money and the Pats are not yet playing ball.

In this case, what he's been doing lately would not have been a good idea:

Instead of attending Patriots workouts, Tom Brady has spent his spring traveling the world

My thinking is that if he was holding out for more money, he would be seen training or at least showing in some way that he deserves more money.

However, it looks as if he's really living up to the hints that he's dropped about wanting to spend more time with his family.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

He's been like this all along? And it has really impacted his play on the field too!! and all the demands he's made! Ridiculous. I'd rather have a guy all in, who gets paid what he deserves, not a penny more.

*This is snark for our resident Jets fan*

Of course Tom Brady has changed. This is the first time he's ever missed OTA's. This guy used to be 1st one in and last one out with workouts, camp etc. In the past he has spoken about the importance of these camps for team building, relationship building. Apparently all that was pure bullsh!t.
BTW can you be "all in" when you are blowing off OTA's???
Stop making excuses for the diva behavior.
If Tom Brady played for any other team you and all the other pinkhats would be killing him for his behavior and his nail polish.

 

[Jimke]

This is a very big deal. The leader of the team is not all in the program. How
can we expect him to turn it around once the season begins and try 110% to get
his team into another Superbowl?
We can only speculate what has soured him like this. The Butler situation, the
situation with his personal trainer, or seeing much inferior quarterbacks making
33% more salary?

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Not in New England, it doesn't. A very fickle fanbase we have. Guy leads the franchise to unheard of success in the salary cap era and gets crucified because he misses a team activity that is voluntary. Go figure.

So many 'so called Patriot fans' are nothing more than embarrassing sycophants who refuse to have a genuine discussion on any real topic at hand if it involves being even mildly critical of their superheroes.

 

[PatsWSB47]

I'm uneasy about his behavior but I'm not defining it. If he were 35 then I might.

 

[captain insano]

Not in New England, it doesn't. A very fickle fanbase we have. Guy leads the franchise to unheard of success in the salary cap era and gets crucified because he misses a team activity that is voluntary. Go figure.

not fickle. just not homers. most tell it like it is. we are critical because it matters to us. he should be there. and it's a big deal that he isn't.

 

[Kontradiction]

So many 'so called Patriot fans' are nothing more than embarrassing sycophants who refuse to have a genuine discussion on any real topic at hand if it involves being even mildly critical of their superheroes.

not fickle. just not homers. most tell it like it is. we are critical because it matters to us. he should be there. and it's a big deal that he isn't.

So, tell me, what are they doing this time around that Brady hasn’t been a part of before? Be specific.

 

[reflexblue]

So many 'so called Patriot fans' are nothing more than embarrassing sycophants who refuse to have a genuine discussion on any real topic at hand if it involves being even mildly critical of their superheroes.

When the tree falls the monkeys will scatter

 

[Jimke]

If Brady sits out all the OTAs, I wouldn't doubt seeing Hoyer and Etling quarterbacking the team during the mandatory mini-camp. Can't see BB
starting a player with no practice time.

 

[long distance]

So, tell me, what are they doing this time around that Brady hasn’t been a part of before? Be specific.

Building a new team?

 

[borg]

It's 10:55AM
Is Tom Brady at his kids' school handing out TB12 approved celery sticks during snack time
or maybe he's back at the mansion getting his glutes kneaded by Magic Hands.
Maybe he's on a business call with his documercial producers demanding more product placement.
Armani could be at his house fitting him for another Three Amigos outfit.

In the meantime, the Pats fleet of new WRs are gelling with aerial specialist Danny Etling...."run three steps and turn right"

 

[Kontradiction]

Building a new team?

He gets that through mandatory mini-camp and training camp - when the offense and defense get installed. Anything else?