Found at a gym.

When Joe had heard two weeks ago that park-violating, home-invading Bucs quarterback Tom Brady was spotted working out with teammates at Berkeley Prep High School, Joe thought for sure the sleuth was Kevin O’Donnell.

The long-time WTVT-TV Channel 13 sports anchor/reporter will long be remembered in local journalism circles as a guy that can sniff out where Bucs players are hiding within the community. If there is a high school field or a park or a gym where Bucs are tucked away, O’Donnell will find them.

It was not, however, O’Donnell who found Brady and his bunch. That doesn’t mean O’Donnell’s nose for scoops is dead. O’Donnell this week found three Bucs players pumping iron at a gym owned by- exBucs receiver Yo Murphy.

O’Donnell even got Vea to say something, which is a task. (Joe loves Vea and he’s a super nice guy but the dude is so shy with media Joe wonders if he may need counseling someday. The only time Joe has ever seen Vea remotely chatty was after he caught a touchdown against the Dixie Chicks last season.).

Of course, the NFL’s offseason has been trashed by The Sickness and players are just now getting back in traditional gyms. And Vea admitted the Bucs will be behind in preparation for the 2020 season as a result.

“Mentally, as far as the game goes, everyone is definitely going to be a step back,” Vea said.

Good thing all other NFL teams will be in the same boat.

Backup receiver Bryant Mitchell told O’Donnell he hasn’t worked out with Brady yet but he has worked out with Bucs backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert and Brady’s predecessor.

Backup defensive lineman Patrick O’Connor said if the NFL could work things out with the NFLPA, he wouldn’t mind a longer training camp to try to make up for time missed with no OTAs or minicamp.

“We need the most out of it,” O’Connor said.

As the players stated in the video, they can be workout warriors in gyms and on high school fields, but going head-to-head live with your teammates is a far different animal.