Brady is back….back again

bankshot1

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GOAT took the G and family to the North Pole to hand deliver this year's wish list to Santa. Tom wants 2 more years, kids want reindeer rides with the elves. TB12 is afraid that global warming may make the trip impossible in coming years. Santa oked the trip. Professional courtesy to legends.
 

joe dokes

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GOAT took the G and family to the North Pole to hand deliver this year's wish list to Santa. Tom wants 2 more years, kids want reindeer rides with the elves. TB12 is afraid that global warming may make the trip impossible in coming years. Santa oked the trip. Professional courtesy to legends.
I think you've got it backwards. TB gives some TB12 potion *to* Santa to spread around the Earth and stop global warming.
 

nattysez

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Florio's bored, so he's stirring up a little trouble re: Brady:

Brady has been absent for a full week, for personal reasons. There’s apparently no end in sight. Beyond a report from Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times that the situation has nothing to do with the health of Brady or his family, there has been no announcement or reporting on why he’s away.
***
No, it feels like this wasn’t planned. Also, the absences didn’t begin on August 11. He missed his birthday (August 3) in a supposedly planned day off. He missed Thursday, August 4, and Friday, August 5, for personal reasons. Then he practiced four more times before embarking on his mid-camp break.
 

Van Everyman

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Does Brady want to be back? It’s a worthwhile question given all his apparent machinations of this past offseason. I would still bet on him playing out the season but it wouldn’t exactly be shocking if he hung ‘em up again before training camp was out.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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It's pretty much impossible to try to make heads or tails of any of this without pretty rank speculation.

The guy doesn't need training camp to be great. He's old. And it seems reasonably clear that work-life-family balance is something that he thinks about a lot and so is not looking to be away more than he has to.

I have little doubt that when they turn the lights on for real this season he's going to be there in pads and he's going to be really good.
 

Joe D Reid

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Maybe, after all these years of natural leonine glory, he has decided it's time for hair plugs.
 

HomeRunBaker

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It's pretty much impossible to try to make heads or tails of any of this without pretty rank speculation.

The guy doesn't need training camp to be great. He's old. And it seems reasonably clear that work-life-family balance is something that he thinks about a lot and so is not looking to be away more than he has to.

I have little doubt that when they turn the lights on for real this season he's going to be there in pads and he's going to be really good.
I would agree if he had Gronk/Godwin as weapons without a decimated offensive line. This Bucs offense is going to be brutal with or without Brady (obv less brutal with him). There is a greater than zero chance he’s bailing bc he sees the writing on the wall and doesn’t want to get killed.
 

RedOctober3829

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I would agree if he had Gronk/Godwin as weapons without a decimated offensive line. This Bucs offense is going to be brutal with or without Brady (obv less brutal with him). There is a greater than zero chance he’s bailing bc he sees the writing on the wall and doesn’t want to get killed.
As long as Tom is the QB, that offense will not be brutal. Mike Evans is still a very good receiver and Godwin will get better and better as the weeks go on. Julio Jones, Russell Gage, Tyler Johnson, Cameron Brate, and Scotty Miller all are decent enough targets. Now, it won't be the machine it was when they won the SB, but there's still talent there.
 

Gash Prex

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I am about the least conspiratorial person but this whole episode is really strange. I could easily see Tom having second thoughts about playing this season and the team offered him some time away hoping that he would solidify his commitment to the season. If was on some planned family vacation, then it wouldn't have been announced at the last second and there would a date certain return date.

Or he is on the masked singer. Which would be super weird.
 

Ale Xander

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I’m all for non-current-Patriot chaos

Hilarity would ensue if he announces he really is retiring now
 

Mystic Merlin

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If it's the Masked Singer, he should be crucified. That's ridiculous.
It’s up to the Bucs what they can live with (and it won’t be Blaine Gabbert or Kyle Trask), of course. But if that’s the reason for his absence then laughing at him seems an appropriate, if not the only appropriate, reaction.

Also humorous is how some in the media like Rapoport seem to know what is going on, but they won’t report any details because undoubtedly their masters - I mean, sources - have a tight leash on them.
 

E5 Yaz

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As a longtime Masked Singer watcher, it's sort of an accepted but unverified truth that some of the bigger name celebrities they get on the show only do it on the condition they can be eliminated after one performance. If Brady did agree to do the show before he unretired, it no doubt could be easily arranged for him for be one-and-done.

On the other hand ... I really want this to be true ... and dressed in a goat costume
 

rodderick

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I would agree if he had Gronk/Godwin as weapons without a decimated offensive line. This Bucs offense is going to be brutal with or without Brady (obv less brutal with him). There is a greater than zero chance he’s bailing bc he sees the writing on the wall and doesn’t want to get killed.
Huh? Godwin is practicing and there's no reason to believe he, along with Evans, Gage and Jones won't be available for opening day. You can do worse at pass catching TE than Cam Brate and Kyle Rudolph too. The offense should be fine if Brady plays.
 

Bongorific

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This guy figured it out - he's taping episodes of the Masked Singer. I'd say this is preposterous, but stranger things have definitely happened.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DynastyFF/comments/ws2gb7/stop_freaking_out_about_brady_hes_just_off/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
At the risk of completely embarrassing my wife, this is certainly possible.

She is a HUGE fan of the Hanson brothers. Maybe it’s Hansen. Whatever. She’s in the fan club, monitors the message board, etc. Thankfully she’s nowhere near as obsessive as some of the other Hanso(e)n Heads.

Similarly, those nut balls figured out the brothers were going to be on Masked Singer last year by lining up taping dates with social media posts about their family and band travels.
 

snowmanny

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As a longtime Masked Singer watcher, it's sort of an accepted but unverified truth that some of the bigger name celebrities they get on the show only do it on the condition they can be eliminated after one performance. If Brady did agree to do the show before he unretired, it no doubt could be easily arranged for him for be one-and-done.
Although Gronk lasted longer than Chaka Khan and Dionne Warwick so you never know.
 

rodderick

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I'm thinking more and more he made a family commitment with Gisele when he was "retired" and one of the conditions of him coming back was that he wouldn't cancel it. Probably a trip/vacation or something of the sort, which is why the Bucs were informed of the dates of his absence prior to training camp starting (per Bowles).
 

BigSoxFan

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I'm thinking more and more he made a family commitment with Gisele when he was "retired" and one of the conditions of him coming back was that he wouldn't cancel it. Probably a trip/vacation or something of the sort, which is why the Bucs were informed of the dates of his absence prior to training camp starting (per Bowles).
How about Tom made a prior commitment to Gisele to do the Masked Singer? I think I just broke the code!
 

Granite Sox

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I can’t imagine standing in front of my teammates after talking about the commitment required to compete in the NFL and missing crucial prep time to perform like a circus clown on a stupid TV show. To me, it’s not about how “ready” Brady will be, it’s about being a shitty teammate and an asshole. But, sure… he’s earned the right *rolls eyes*

Brady: guys, I couldn’t get out of it… I signed a contract with Fox
Bucs: uhhhh, yeah… you were already under contract to us.
Bowles: why the fuck did we agree to this?

Hope it’s not true. I hope (at the very least) it’s what rodderick suggested.
 

cornwalls@6

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I can’t imagine standing in front of my teammates after talking about the commitment required to compete in the NFL and missing crucial prep time to perform like a circus clown on a stupid TV show. To me, it’s not about how “ready” Brady will be, it’s about being a shitty teammate and an asshole. But, sure… he’s earned the right *rolls eyes*

Brady: guys, I couldn’t get out of it… I signed a contract with Fox
Bucs: uhhhh, yeah… you were already under contract to us.
Bowles: why the fuck did we agree to this?

Hope it’s not true. I hope (at the very least) it’s what rodderick suggested.
I can’t either, which is why I highly doubt this theory, as funny as it is to speculate on. I’m on board with the previously scheduled family commitment theory. One that might have caused friction on the home front if he cancelled to be at camp. Which I also think probably goes over much better in the Bucs locker room.
 

Petagine in a Bottle

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He’s Tom Brady, what kind of vacation could he be on that he couldn’t have done between February and July? Are there exotic parts of the world that can only be visited in mid August? If he was on a family trip, wouldn’t there be a definitive date for his return?

I don’t feel like any of these explanations make all that much sense or any more justifiable than any other one .
 

BaseballJones

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He’s Tom Brady, what kind of vacation could he be on that he couldn’t have done between February and July? Are there exotic parts of the world that can only be visited in mid August? If he was on a family trip, wouldn’t there be a definitive date for his return?

I don’t feel like any of these explanations make all that much sense or any more justifiable than any other one .
So what’s the explanation in your view? (I ask because I haven’t got the foggiest idea what’s going on.)
 

lexrageorge

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He’s Tom Brady, what kind of vacation could he be on that he couldn’t have done between February and July? Are there exotic parts of the world that can only be visited in mid August? If he was on a family trip, wouldn’t there be a definitive date for his return?

I don’t feel like any of these explanations make all that much sense or any more justifiable than any other one .
One alternative is that there was a family event planned, perhaps centered around an activity for one of his kids that is on a fixed schedule. Or perhaps multiple such events. And he committed to them during his retirement, and made a promise to meet those commitments if he unretired. But agree that there are still some pieces that don't fit, so not much to do except wait....and speculate.
 

BigJimEd

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Doesn't sound like something planned during his "retirement."
"This is something we talked about before training camp started," Bowles said last week. "We allotted this time because he wanted to get in and get chemistry with the guys and go through two weeks of training camp, knowing he wasn't going to play the first two [preseason] games."
That to me sounds like it was planned knowing he would miss time but minimizing how much. Another quote mentioned Brady will only miss about 5 practices.
 

jcd0805

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I'm thinking more and more he made a family commitment with Gisele when he was "retired" and one of the conditions of him coming back was that he wouldn't cancel it. Probably a trip/vacation or something of the sort, which is why the Bucs were informed of the dates of his absence prior to training camp starting (per Bowles).
his kids are in school in Florida, and they went back to school last week. I can't imagine they scheduled a trip to where the kids miss the first week of school.
It's really weird. No, he most definitely does not need practice to be awesome but it's a bad look to his teammates IMO.
 

lexrageorge

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his kids are in school in Florida, and they went back to school last week. I can't imagine they scheduled a trip to where the kids miss the first week of school.
It's really weird. No, he most definitely does not need practice to be awesome but it's a bad look to his teammates IMO.
I think if any player in the league has earned the benefit of the doubt from his teammates, it’s Brady.
 

Old Fart Tree

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He’s Tom Brady, what kind of vacation could he be on that he couldn’t have done between February and July? Are there exotic parts of the world that can only be visited in mid August? If he was on a family trip, wouldn’t there be a definitive date for his return?

I don’t feel like any of these explanations make all that much sense or any more justifiable than any other one .
Well, the Palio is only 7/2 and 8/16… maybe he’s just all in on Giraffa. Higher the head, the greater the glory and all.
 

jcd0805

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I think if any player in the league has earned the benefit of the doubt from his teammates, it’s Brady.
I think it'd still be kind of a bummer to his Tampa teammates. They know they lost a lot of talent and now the one guy they know will be awesome is kind of blowing them off for a couple weeks, again just really weird knowing Brady's work ethic and desire to be seen as part of a team.
 

54thMA

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I think it'd still be kind of a bummer to his Tampa teammates. They know they lost a lot of talent and now the one guy they know will be awesome is kind of blowing them off for a couple weeks, again just really weird knowing Brady's work ethic and desire to be seen as part of a team.
It's got a back to the future 2019 vibe to it.
 

Phil Plantier

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Well, the Palio is only 7/2 and 8/16… maybe he’s just all in on Giraffa. Higher the head, the greater the glory and all.
I enjoyed this post very much.

My attempt at content: If Boles knows when Brady is supposed to be back, why won't he say? He has given so much more oxygen to the story trying to be coy.
 

Auger34

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I would agree if he had Gronk/Godwin as weapons without a decimated offensive line. This Bucs offense is going to be brutal with or without Brady (obv less brutal with him). There is a greater than zero chance he’s bailing bc he sees the writing on the wall and doesn’t want to get killed.
This is way, way off base.

Godwin is going to come back this year. They have probably the best, most deep wideout group in the NFL. Gronk will definitely be missed but more for his blocking. Cam Brate is a very good receiving TE.

They probably upgraded the RG spot going from Cappa to Shaq Mason. The Jensen injury hurts but all of the reports out of camp are that Hainsey is playing very well. The Marpet retirement and finding his replacement is the biggest loss but Aaron Stinnie did a good job replacing him during their Super Bowl run.

The Bucs also probably play in the worst division in the NFL and the NFC as a whole is much much weaker than it used to be.

Other than the Rams, whose QB is going through his own set of health issues right now, what team in the NFC is close to the Bucs?

I know you’re into gambling and the Bucs have the second highest odds to win the Super Bowl and highest in the NFC. None of your post is rooted in reality
 

genoasalami

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He’s Tom Brady, what kind of vacation could he be on that he couldn’t have done between February and July? Are there exotic parts of the world that can only be visited in mid August? If he was on a family trip, wouldn’t there be a definitive date for his return?

I don’t feel like any of these explanations make all that much sense or any more justifiable than any other one .
probably because training camp is an absolute beat down here in Florida. I'm serious. I can barely get to the mail box and back without succumbing to the heat. If I was him, I'd look for a way to avoid as much of the camp as possible
 

McBride11

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his kids are in school in Florida, and they went back to school last week. I can't imagine they scheduled a trip to where the kids miss the first week of school.
It's really weird. No, he most definitely does not need practice to be awesome but it's a bad look to his teammates IMO.
Him and G needed some sexy time vacay without the kids.

Or maybe he got a vasectomy after reading our thread on here and is busy applying peas and studying tape.

Since he is basically the de facto O play caller and best QB ever, im sure missing a week or 2 wont be an issue.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Huh? Godwin is practicing and there's no reason to believe he, along with Evans, Gage and Jones won't be available for opening day. You can do worse at pass catching TE than Cam Brate and Kyle Rudolph too. The offense should be fine if Brady plays.
I’m referring primarily to the Bucs offensive line and Brady’s protection from pressure/injury. Not having Marpet, Cappa, Gronk, Jensen and now Wirfs is devastating to that offense. Even if you can replace some of this protection the depth on the line takes a major hit over the course of 17+ weeks. I’d be surprised if this isn’t a factor in Brady having second thoughts in returning. This has such an Andrew Luck feel to it to me.