Questioning Brady’s Commitment
June 24th, 2020
Boston columnist worn out.
A rather well-written column out of Boston today is annoying and thought-provoking for Tampa Bay fans.
Ken Laird of WEEI Radio calls the modern Tom Brady experience a “six-ring circus” and explains why it might be more than the Bucs can handle.
Here’s a small snippet from Laird making a long case that Brady is hardly a team-first guy:
… One thing is for sure, as the TB12 megacorp grows Brady’s public life feels at least half infomercial. It’s going to be impossible for Brady’s teammates and coaches to not wonder if he’s placing that personal empire ahead of team success at some point.
It sure felt that way here when the Brady’s Netflix spa-scene cameo dropped in the middle of a 2019 game week. For a man who claims that he tries to avoid distractions, Brady’s perceived joke at Robert Kraft’s expense fueled hours of talk show debate. Luckily for the Pats, the lowly NY Jets were that week’s opponent. Tampa might not be so lucky if the Saints are on the docket.
Gisele’s busy schedule always made Brady’s off-field life demanding, but now between Hulu commercial shoots, Tony Robbins Wealth Summits, and behind-the-scenes documentaries, Brady is enough of a supermodel by himself. The crew of ESPN’s Man in the Arena might occupy more seats at Raymond James Stadium this year than Bucs fans do.
For Joe, this all comes down to wins and losses.
Step 1 to everything Brady being just fine is avoiding a 3-5 (or worse) start for the first time since Greg Schiano was head coach. Step 2 is a strong finish behind a consistently efficient offense.
If Brady can pull off those un-Buccaneers-like occurrences, then it won’t matter how obsessed he is with his hair, his vitamins, his Hollwood connections or anything else.
As for Brady’s high-profile life being a potential distraction to his new teammates, Joe will assume Bucco Bruce Arians knows how to keep a team focused under the spotlight. Yeah, Joe realizes Arians hasn’t been to the playoffs in years and has only one playoff win as a head coach, but Joe has a lot of faith in this area.
June 24th, 2020 at 1:52 pm
So if Brady wasn’t 100% committed why does he keep bringing teammates out to practice in the middle of this pandemic?
He has been arranging workouts with players. If that doesn’t tell you a player is committed I don’t know what is.
June 24th, 2020 at 1:54 pm
Brady knows his career is in its twilight years – of course he’s trying to set himself up for after. Vincent Jackson performed at a high level despite having the restaurant and a burgeoning real estate investment career (am I remembering this right?). This is a non-story as far as I’m concerned.
June 24th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Boston writer?
Sounds like a lot of whiny butthurt to me…
June 24th, 2020 at 2:20 pm
Ridiculous. These are worries for a rookie not a HOf player.
June 24th, 2020 at 2:28 pm
Sour grapes again. I think his workouts with some team members pretty much say he’s serious about football.
June 24th, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Much of Brady’s future depends on his continuing success as a championship Quarterback….I’m quite sure he has his priories straight….
June 24th, 2020 at 2:47 pm
I expect no Boston writer to say anything good about him until he retires
June 24th, 2020 at 2:48 pm
This is what happens when you sign with the Bucs, a dark cloud rolls in and the world hates you.I have to believe its because of the owners and the way the are viewed by the rest of the league
June 24th, 2020 at 2:48 pm
Sour grapes from a chowder head. Yawn.
June 24th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
I can’t take anything written about Brady in Boston seriously.
June 24th, 2020 at 2:55 pm
Salty salty salty bostards.
June 24th, 2020 at 3:40 pm
“For Joe, this all comes down to wins and losses.”
Amen! I do not care about stats or production other than wins and playoffs. That is ALL that matters.
June 24th, 2020 at 3:48 pm
it’s the same in every profession. the most successful people have the most things going on. if they’re successful it’s proof of their drive. if they fail it’s proof they took on too much and weren’t focused on whatever the critic feels is\was most important.
June 24th, 2020 at 3:53 pm
I’m a Boston Red Sox fan, so I know about the media there. They try to make everything an issue. If they don’t like you (such as David Price), the media will write story after story of how you don’t belong there.
June 24th, 2020 at 3:56 pm
Working out in a park we he shouldn’t be, picking up a playbook when he shouldn’t be and practicing with team mates he should be…. is all i need to know.
June 24th, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Lol. Says the man contributing to the six ring circus. Brady is practicing football. The media makes it seem like much more. Carry on Tommy
June 24th, 2020 at 4:45 pm
Yeah, um…All of that is legal.
June 24th, 2020 at 4:48 pm
I guess this writer hasn’t seen the three ring circus we’ve had the last five years with Jameis.
June 24th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
Hodad: True statement.
June 24th, 2020 at 5:38 pm
This season with the Bucs is part of the infomercial. If he can take a crappy team and make a run toward the Stupor Bowl, his motivational speaker act will be a never ending fount of cash.
He can not allow the team to go 3-5 or worse because it will dent the mythos. He will fight for all he is worth for an undefeated season.
Enjoy the ride.
June 24th, 2020 at 5:46 pm
Boston loved him until he left.
Think about it. He said, “I’ve got 1-2 years left, and I’d rather be in Tampa.”
So would I.
June 24th, 2020 at 6:11 pm
Yawn.
June 24th, 2020 at 6:12 pm
Craig
That is an excellent point. Brady and Giselle could quit Tomorrow and enjoy the half billion plus.
But it’s obviously about far more than just money…it’s about power and what money can buy. Tom want’s to build a grand brand and emulate Michael Jordan. TB12 has conquered football…it only makes sense he wants to conquer the ENTIRE sports world, He’s driven.
Jordan is the only true target left. Notice TB12 is responding to the Jordan Doc with one about himself.
TB12 is about brand and as Craig correctly points out at this point in his career how he plays this year can still have the most impact good or bad on his brand. He will be HIGHLY MOTIVATED.
June 24th, 2020 at 6:44 pm
To be fair, Ken Laird has been unfavorable to Brady for some time.
His past comments include that Brady declined in 2014. Despite fact that Brady has still done pretty well since 2014.
Sooner or later Laird will be correct that Brady will be no good.
He also has been hating on the Alex Guerrero- Brady relationship for many years.
Arians has the biggest coaching staff and believes that his players should have lives outside of the team.
I see every reason why Arians will let the relationship between Guerrero and Brady thrive and we will see if it works.
June 24th, 2020 at 7:05 pm
Craig & stpete
I was going to post almost exactly the same points.
Thanks for saving me the keystrokes!
June 24th, 2020 at 7:34 pm
Thanks for the motivation …Bill is prob like shut the hell up.
June 24th, 2020 at 8:32 pm
Best thing for the TB12 brand is a super bowl win. If he wins in tampa he is the GOAT. If he fails in tampa Belicheck was the reason.
June 24th, 2020 at 9:14 pm
This is from a Patriots ‘fanboi’ writer realizing the prize from his Cracker Jack or Lucky Charms was taken from the box right from under his nose. This is just a whiny New England fans are a bunch of soreheads.
June 24th, 2020 at 10:00 pm
Yea, I don’t doubt Brady is putting his business ventures ahead of the team.
He is peddling non-FDA approved supplements similar to Alex Jones. Especially when these supplements boost “immunity” while a pandemic is ravaging the USA.
June 24th, 2020 at 11:36 pm
Apparently, having private workouts is a media circus these days.
June 25th, 2020 at 12:37 am
CPN,
Is Alex Jones a supplement?
Where can you buy Bradys immunity booster? Is Tom scheduled for promotional appearances , has he done any TV ads?
Btw, the FDA doesn’t approve “supplements” !
June 25th, 2020 at 12:49 am
Jealous Ex Syndrome.
I’d call the author a jealous little b¡tch, but his article is doing my talking for me.
June 25th, 2020 at 2:06 am
Ken is a little B. I live in Boston. I have been watching Brady for twenty years. I am now a TB fan until Brady retires. Why? Because Bill is over rated and forced Tom out of town. I will still root for the Pats, but for the time being my team is the Bucs.
Ken has hated Tom for years, because he said Tom was declining in 2014 and Tom went on to four SB’s won three and an MVP. Sour grapes just like half this ungrateful city I live in. Amazing the arrogance and lack of loyalty Boston has for Brady. What did Bill do before Tom came here? NOTHING.
June 25th, 2020 at 7:32 am
He sounds like a recently dumped lover ..jealousy much?
June 25th, 2020 at 10:56 am
“Waaaa! Waaaa! I’m a whiny, front-running Boston puke. Tom Brady left me and I hate him!”
June 25th, 2020 at 11:26 am
As a diehard Patriots fan, we have been spoiled by the success of what Tom brought to the Patriots organization. You guys are in for a treat watching what Tom brings to Tampa Bay. I hope you guys crush all of your opponents in the next two seasons and win a Superbowl or two. Tom is all about winning and the way he preps and continues to do is the reason he’s a winner. Laugh at the Patriots this season cuz I’m sure gonna. Good luck Bucs LFG!