Was The Tom Brady Mini-Vacation Part Of The Larger Plan?
August 12th, 2022
“Julio, I’m heading to my pad in Montana for a couple of weeks to cool off. I’ll say hi to Monica Dutton for you.”
On face value, there must be something more to this Tom Brady needs a leave of absence to figure out better work/life balance.
And the way the NFL works, hardly anything is as it appears.
So Joe was thinking what might be behind the Tom Brady mini-vacation. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported yesterday Brady is healthy and so is his family. He had no specifics other than Brady is working on “work/life balance.”
Then Bucs coach Tom Bowles said this was all prearranged before training camp. How long before camp began? Bowles didn’t go there.
So last night watching NFL Network. Rapoport did a live hit with sort of an update on the Brady sabbatical. He noted this arrangement was worked out between the Bucs and Brady weeks before training camp, or “maybe months.”
Ah, ha! Now the scent is strong.
Remember the Bucs said in March when Brady returned from his 40-day retirement that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians noted they spoke to Brady several times as Brady began waffling on his retirement?
Well, Joe would lay cash one unretirement condition was missing part of training camp; Brady could take off two weeks or so in August, at his discretion, and all would be well.
This makes more sense to Joe than Brady demanding Arians step down or he would stay retired.
And you know what? As long as Brady is ready to rock by Week 1, Joe doesn’t give a flip if he blows off the entire worthless preseason schedule.
Even better, if Brady shows up and throttles Dallas after not participating in a preseason game, that would demonstrate that if a 45-year-old doesn’t need preseason nonsense to be ready, neither does the rest of the mere mortals in the league.
The NFL can then add an 18th game and chuck the damn preseason farce for good, all three worthless games.
Meanwhile, the supermarket tabloids wasted no time yesterday.
Hat tip @mattsinn pic.twitter.com/2uZxpxe8l8
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) August 12, 2022
August 12th, 2022 at 4:56 am
I knew it. The tabloids always know. I was just telling Bigfoot this very thing yesterday before he left on his spaceship.
August 12th, 2022 at 5:18 am
This makes more sense to Joe than Brady demanding Arians step down or he would stay retired.
Same here. 100%.
August 12th, 2022 at 5:50 am
This is not what I would call …All In!
August 12th, 2022 at 6:09 am
The only thing that gives me pause is what Boles said during a Q/A
“It’s something he needed to handle. We trust him.”
People don’t “handle” vacations, nor is it normally an issue where “trust” is needed…especially for a 45-year-old man.
I tend to think it’s more related to himself or his family. Conjecture of course on my part. Hope it works out whatever it is.
August 12th, 2022 at 6:40 am
2 things from this article:
-Tom Bowles rules!
-Jlo and Ben Marriage is True Love that will last an eternity
August 12th, 2022 at 6:51 am
Love your take on preseason games Mr Joe.
August 12th, 2022 at 7:03 am
My wife would never demand I do ANYthing… outside of taking out the trash/mowing grass
August 12th, 2022 at 7:27 am
This is a break up. Brady retires before the season begins.
August 12th, 2022 at 7:28 am
There is a simpler explanation.
Brady caught Giselle sleeping with Arians.
August 12th, 2022 at 7:41 am
Regarding the preseason, college ball has seemed to do well with no pre-season. Yes they have scrimmages but then so does the NFL. It’s clear the preseason games are not necessary. Even the so-called showcasing of free agents can be done during scrimmages. Obviously it’s a money thing. But yes an 18 game season and no preseason games is the way it should be.
August 12th, 2022 at 7:59 am
Preseason rushes the conditioning process. If that entire time was used for a more gradual conditioning process leading up to the first game there might be less injuries. JMO. I’ve never watched more than a possession or two of a preseason game. I do understand that it helps evaluate the rooks and newbies though. Don’t know how much you can glean from watching mailmen go against landscapers though.
August 12th, 2022 at 8:04 am
Whatever the reason is
It is terrible for chemistry
August 12th, 2022 at 8:05 am
A poster here on JBF said he thinks this leave of Brady’s might be to take the heat off of him for the Tampering Story ?
This may very well be, because some in the media are wondering why the Dolphins Owner gets penalized financially, plus loses both a 1st and third round pick, yet nothing happens to either Tom Brady or Sean Peyton ?
After all, it takes 2 to tamper.
LOL, one media guy is calling us “The Tamper Bay Bucs”
Part of “Brady’s Legacy” might very well be all the Drama he brings, besides his great play ?
He never had anywhere near the amount of Drama in New England that he has brought here.
In fact, one of my football buddies from the Sports Bar is from the Boston Area. He lived there, when Brady played there. He said Belichick would have never put up with all the Drama that Brady has now.
August 12th, 2022 at 8:15 am
Tom, prima Donna, Brady. Fame, fortune and privilege.
August 12th, 2022 at 8:27 am
I agree w the guy who said this is terrible for continuity and timing w his receiver’s and RB.
Don’t Iike this situation at all.
August 12th, 2022 at 8:34 am
@Pruritis Ani
You read my thoughts exactly. “It’s something he needed to handle. We trust him.” from Bowles doesn’t sound like something that was sharpied into the calendar well in advance.
If I am giving all benefit of the doubt, maybe Brady agreed with the Bucs under vague terms that he could skip practices as Brady saw fit. In that case, you could sort of say it was pre-planned or at least pre-expected. When trying to get Brady to come back I imagine the Glazers correctly said “Whatever you need Tom”.
All sober Bucs fans can agree that we would take a training-campless Brady over a regular season with any other quarterback every day.
Just hope all is well with him personally.
August 12th, 2022 at 8:39 am
As long as TB12 is available for the regular season + playoff games, I’m feeling pretty good.
August 12th, 2022 at 8:39 am
So…what about all that “building chemistry” BS….with Brady and his new receivers…..I guess you can do that in a week or two.
And, the silence on this only breeds speculation and rumor…..like everything else Brady….
Marriage in trouble…..cancelled B’day party…..Miami mansion construction halted……
August 12th, 2022 at 8:44 am
Temper Tantrum Tommy
August 12th, 2022 at 8:56 am
BTW, Mike Garafolo of the NFL network, says last week that he was told don’t be surprised if Brady takes off more time from the Bucs training camp.
So there seems to clearly have been confirmation that at least yesterday’s announcements were not a surprise to some connected people.
August 12th, 2022 at 9:02 am
I can’t picture Bart Star telling Lombardi ” I got something to take care of see you in two weeks”
Or Bradshaw to Knoll, Unitas to Shula, Staubach to Landry.
But different times I suppose.
August 12th, 2022 at 9:14 am
Wild Bill, you always have Gabbert. They begged him to come out of retirement and like anyone else in any industry he negotiated his terms, nothing wrong with that. Bucs did have the option of having BA comeback with Gabbert, Jimmy G or some other QB off the scrap pile and at best Bucs fans enjoy another 7-10 season. Oh and no Gage or Jones either. How much of the preseason is he really going to play? A series or two at best. Wild Bill and Anonymous two selfish posts.
August 12th, 2022 at 9:16 am
Pipe down folks. Brady will be back after the 2nd preseason game. He’ll play in the 3rd game maybe 1 or 2 possessions and be ready for opening day. No one is more prepared than Tom. Cut the conspiracy and the worry.
August 12th, 2022 at 9:17 am
Gabbert and Trask getting more work is a plus. A 45 yr old QB getting more rest is a also good thing. I like the plan. Brady has earned the right to call his own shots and do it his way. Kudos to Licht, Arians and Bowles for their open minded approach. Belichick would have never approved such a plan, which is why Brady’s a Buc in the first place.
August 12th, 2022 at 9:27 am
The difference between Brady (at this point) and Bart Star/Bradshaw/Unitas/etc taking time off during training camp is that Brady has participated in about 20 training camps/pre-seasons. What does he need to train for? It is his 3rd offseason in the offense and you know he prepares on his own. He probably laughed at the 4 hour film clause in Kyler Murray’s contract as I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes that on Sundays after the game is complete to “relax.”
I don’t think the 10 days is going to disrupt his timing with receivers. He was suspended the first 4 weeks of the 2016 season, was unable to “work on his timing with the receivers” during this period and ended it with a 28/2 TD to INT ratio and finished 2nd in MVP voting while winning the Super Bowl.
Finally, if indeed it was planned before training camp, and possibly as part of the deal to come out of retirement, I wouldn’t think that it is related to marital problems. Who would be able to predict in March that they are going to have marital problems the second week of August that require time off?
August 12th, 2022 at 10:38 am
Hey maybe it’s a top secret suspension of 10 days for the tampering brought on by the NFL, Benifer, and our alien overlords.
August 12th, 2022 at 10:50 am
Get Jimmy G. Before Cleveland does. Don’t let ur team possibly left hanging twisting in the wind.
August 12th, 2022 at 10:54 am
Hard to blame the tabloids for running with that junk with the way Brady has been acting.
Tom obviously OK with the drama for what ever reason.
Don’t care if he misses training camp for pre-planned vacation.
Keeping Brady (Gisele) happy is more important than WR chemistry
Can the season just start already? This off season has been a roller coaster for Bucs fans
August 12th, 2022 at 11:32 am
A short-armed quarterback for a long-ball offense. Just a hunch that won’t work.
August 12th, 2022 at 11:56 am
So why say he’s going thru a personal matter?….why not say Brady is just resting because he’s the goat and doesn’t need to be here….
None of it makes sense lol
GO BUCS
August 12th, 2022 at 1:46 pm
Kentucky Buc – LOL!
I was having drinks with Bigfoot at a flat earth society meeting, and he told me that Brady is in love with an alien and is actually on his way to the Martian underground right now. He also said that he has a reporter friend who says that Dardung is the best athlete in the Bucs WR room.
It’s good to have these sources.
August 12th, 2022 at 1:55 pm
Brady had worse drama while in the Patriots. He was suspended for several games (4?) by the NFL for “deflategate”. Did you forget? Bill “put up” with him just fine. His marriage is not heading for divorce. But even if it was, what does it matter to us?
August 12th, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Joe Says:
August 12th, 2022 at 11:32 am
Well, it’s not a given that the offense stays identical with Bowles as HC. If Lefty is the OC that they tell us he is, he’d adapt to the QB’s strengths. I mean, they’ve adapted to some of Brady’s preferences.
Not advocating for Garropolo, just saying they could adapt. It’s not like the shorter and intermediate plays aren’t in the playbook.
August 12th, 2022 at 5:10 pm
Grape-a-blow is not going to be a Buccaneer. Bigfoot told me a reporter he knows tweeted that to him.
August 12th, 2022 at 5:19 pm
Gender reassignment. He’ll come back as Toni Brady.
He’s already the best man to ever play the game… but what about the best woman?
August 12th, 2022 at 10:23 pm
I hope Gisele takes his handcuffs off in time for the Tennessee game.
I also hope she didn’t do something to his knees.
August 13th, 2022 at 11:32 am
Your Mom and Craig, thanks for causing me to change shirts twice.
August 13th, 2022 at 11:52 am
Welp… when you can’t trust the mainstream news or the team pressers… gotta come to JBF to get the dirt…. Brady’s hiatus shall remain JBF news until we all get to the bottom of his “leave of absence”.