“Regularly Scheduled Programming”
August 23rd, 2022
Confusing messages were delivered from One Buc Palace.
And Joe is not surprised because Tom Brady is involved.
Yesterday, Brady returned from his 11-day hiatus and Todd Bowles said there was no locker room distraction associated with Brady’s atypical absence.
Why not? The head coach explained.
“We pretty much keep distractions out of the locker room, so it wasn’t a big deal to us because everybody knew what was going on,” Bowles said.
Joe found that curious for several reasons. First, talking to a couple of assistant coaches and two players in Tennessee last week, Joe was told by all that they didn’t know what was going on with Brady other than it was personal and that he would return at some point.
One coach told Joe that Brady is “a God” among players and coaches, and “nobody questions anything related to Tom because the level of respect and appreciation for him is way off the charts.” A Bucs player agreed with what that assistant coach said and noted “everyone knows how deeply Tom loves the game, so if he had to leave for a while then you know it’s serious and you just respect it completely and do your job.”
That attitude and awareness jibes with Devin White explaining that he was praying for Brady and Brady’s “personal problems.”
Yesterday after practice, Lavonte David said it took the team a couple of days to adjust to life without Brady — “definitely was a difference in the first couple of days” — which almost seemed odd because before Brady’s official hiatus he already had missed two practice days.
“Obviously, his presence is, you know, one-of-a-kind,” David said. “He’s Tom Brady. So when he’s not out there you kind of know. But after the first couple of days or whatever went by, we just went back to our regularly scheduled programming: you know, everybody going out there to work.”
Before Brady’s return, Logan Ryan told Outkick.com that he had no idea where Brady was other than Bowles telling the team before media was alerted that Brady would be gone for a stretch handling personal issues and would return. Ryan said, “that seems to be the truth” and “business as usual” was the mindset for players.
Like every other Bucs fan, Joe is so glad Brady has returned. The sincere hope is that whatever powerful force drove Brady away doesn’t reappear between now and the Super Bowl.
Was Brady leaving the team a distraction? Of course it was, but probably not reaching the point where it could affect the season’s bottom line.
August 23rd, 2022 at 10:47 am
Tom’s back, all is forgiven. LFG! Time enough for Tom, and the offense to get ready for Dallas. I don’t need to see any starters on Sat. They should be preparing for Dallas, and some Saints the next two weeks.
August 23rd, 2022 at 10:50 am
Perhaps it had a positive effect, not having him around necessitated these guys learning to start their own engine so to speak.
August 23rd, 2022 at 10:54 am
^^ Very well said, Mike C. — I was just thinking the same thing, lol.
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:02 am
The idea that this was some kind of distraction is pure projection by media and some fans. The players have no problem because they know Tom has unmatched work ethic and leadership. His teammates and former teammates know this, so his preplanned absence will be no distraction. His teammates said as much. He came back focused and sharp, just like Jason Licht said he would be. As long as Tommy boy cusses like a sailor in practice, I’ll always know he’s all in.
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:07 am
This the time of year where there is usually only bad news…….a player beats his spouse, gets in a car accident or fireworks mishap……injured…..
Or….leaves the team for an extended period leaving most to wonder……where was he, what did he do….who was he with……when will he come back….will he or the team be the same……
So far, Tom’s absence pales in comparison to injuries to Jensen & Stennie.
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:16 am
This teet is almost out of milk. Time to move on.
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:19 am
Does Brady have an unusually dark tan now?
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:21 am
It’s only a distraction because media makes it a distraction. Asking every player to comment on TB12s whereabouts is the distraction. All those guys know what the deal was. Prying for a slip of tongue to get that story, taking any comment to the extreme is comical and annoying. I always like the Joe’s questions at press conferences, some others, seem to drum up ridiculous drama. The reality is, Players play football, focused when the ball is snapped. I think it was good TB wasn’t around while they fit the offensive line, get the next man up ready.
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:26 am
Psycho Tom is back….let us see for how long.
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:36 am
Looks like when Brady went on a hiatus, the team did the same thing. Nobody showed up against the Titans, even coaches. It feels like every single one of them was on a vacation mindset.
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:43 am
It was a good trial for the team to play without Tom Brady.
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:48 am
I think it’s cool Tom spent this time with his first son Jack.
Jacks mother?
Kathryn Bridget Moynahan
Moynahan + Brady? = Irish Royalty
Brady means “spirited” in the Irish language.
“No fear. No Envy. No meanness.” The Irish Way
Tom seems to embody this Irish philosophy perfectly!
Go Bucs!
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:55 am
I think you hit every point right on the dot here w/ your observations here. Go back to very specific words Bowles used in the initial post-practice PC when he announced that Brady was leaving the team almost 2 weeks ago. Every word from then, throughout and until now used by almost everyone from Bowles to White, etc. doesn’t say “vacation (in the Bahamas or anywhere)”.
First, when you leave your job for a while and everyone says you’re not sick and your family is healthy, then it’s a vacation from your job. Pure and simple. Joe is a regular guy, and regular guys take vacation time and do all kinds of things. –Joe
Joe, that’s w/o mentioning the reports of Brady “looking miserable” in TC practices just before his announced hiatus. The “looking miserable” line was from a Boston writer who was at practice for one day — the same day Joe noted how NFL Network cameras focused on Brady for nearly 30 minutes and he looked super happy and was mingling with Dolphins and Bucs players and coaches. –Joe
Also, Rick Stroud on his Sports Day – Tampa Bay podcast this morning said, “Brady looks noticeably ‘skinnier’” upon returning too. Not sure what looking skinny has to do with anything. –Joe I’m not saying anything that someone hasn’t said first hand not am I gonna suggest anything here (one can do so for themselves if they choose), but I can at least say that none of this, the words used or anything through this all has sounded very “vacation-like” though.
But just as you concluded this article….however it got (gets?) ironed out, I’m just ecstatic to have the 🐐 back in Tampa Bay (that feels so good to say)!
August 23rd, 2022 at 11:59 am
I said it last week…give it a week and it will become a non-story.
I even predicted Monday as his return.
Media is trained to look for stories…that’s cool, it’s their profession and they should. But we as fans should control our mindset and remember the media guesses more than it investigates these days.
No accountability in media equals misdirection, intentional or unintentional.
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:11 pm
OMG,
Get over it ladies and children.
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Strange chapter in Buc history
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:27 pm
What Rob R said. Ditto, ditto, fuc*ing ditto! Makes me almost miss the Gronk a Day stories. Almost. Lol
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:36 pm
I was thinking he’d come back after Indy. Glad he’s back earlier.
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Come on man, it’s preseason.
Would you be more entertained by some bubble players struggles in the trailer park with his dying grandmother and his ten siblings?
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Every player (maybe minus some camp meat) and coach in that building knew exactly what was going on with Tom and when he would return. They just were not going to tell the media. That’s why everyone had something different to say. And why, because his personal business is none of our business, until it is.
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Media can’t even report directly on the practices anymore.
August 23rd, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Maybe Geiselle is going on Masked Singer and he wanted to meet that Chinese guy from The Hangover? Isn’t he on the show anymore?
August 23rd, 2022 at 1:31 pm
Can’t understand why this was such a big deal. Either he takes some extra breaks or he doesn’t play this year. Good trade off, I think. Have some time off during pre-season, gets to play another year. GOBUCS!
August 23rd, 2022 at 1:33 pm
Where are all of the “Tom’s not coming back” trolls? Back under their rocks until the next time? Jeff? Anyone?
August 23rd, 2022 at 2:07 pm
I like the concept that Giselle was on the Masked Singer
August 23rd, 2022 at 2:12 pm
I seriously doubt it was Brady choice or decision to leave camp for a vacation. It’s just not in his nature. The powerful force Joe mentioned was none other than super G. It was a distraction, and Brady knows it. They’d better get off to a fast start, or the Vaca will be blamed.
Rob R, what was the media supposed to do, ignore Brady’s absence? Had Brady remained at camp, there’s no story. Blaming the distraction on the media, instead of the person who caused the distraction is a little strange. Did he really need 11 days or whatever to celebrate his son’s birthday? Three or four days, and the story would’ve died. With the extended time, Brady and the bucs opened themselves up to criticism. IMO it’s fair game
August 23rd, 2022 at 2:12 pm
This is just another case of much to do about nothing. Fake journalists like the Joe’s have to keep these things going because they are devoid of any talent or intellect.
Odd comment from someone here every week reading Joe’s work. –Joe
August 23rd, 2022 at 2:20 pm
Most of the information really suggests that the Bucs and Brady negotiated this time off. Some on the site, did not like my suggesting that it was done when Brady agreed to come out of retirement. I was bashed for using the word stipulation. Read the archives.
I am not sure what this Joe or others are thinking at this point of when it was done. Certainly not one or two days before he took off.
So, the comment “The sincere hope is that whatever powerful force drove Brady away doesn’t reappear between now and the Super Bowl…” just does not fit what most everyone believes is the narrative at this point.
It was negotiated time off. Does anyone really think that there is a 2nd set of negotiated time off during the season?
My biggest speculation at this point is that the NFL brass did not want the details of the negotiated time off from training camp out there. That is why there was no formal announcement of the issue.
The NFL’s fear has to be in a few years that every decent starting quarterback and diva receiver in their newly negotiated contracts ask for the same deal. Furthering to the NFL that preseason games mean absolutely nothing for all of us idiots (myself included) who watched some of them.
August 23rd, 2022 at 2:22 pm
Hi, George, yeah! Wouldn’t that be a hoot.
August 23rd, 2022 at 2:53 pm
Hhhmmm? Joe looks up at the office wall and sees his college degree. Yup, has “Journalism” right on it.
Maybe those years working to pay for college and then at newspapers and winning AP reporting awards for decades was just a figment of Joe’s imagination.
August 23rd, 2022 at 4:09 pm
Giselle, please save your next couples counseling retreat for late February.
August 24th, 2022 at 12:30 am
The G-Hag needs something to focus on besides her need to control the GOAT. She wants to be the Alpha dog . Sorry Geezie, you may have higher net worth (I read that somewhere but find it hard to believe) but a whole lot more people know and love the GOAT than give a can of beans about you. Your jealousy of your husband is toxic. Most would embrace it, but you are simply selfish.
Do everyone a favor and bottle up your narcissism for the next six months. Your career whatevers will still be there for you in another six months, I’m sure the AARP spread won’t look any different.
August 24th, 2022 at 8:38 am
Tampa loyal