Tom Brady: Resting Week 18 “Would Bother Me”
January 1st, 2023
“Hey, Todd, Sean Payton would let me play.”
There might be a bit of a showdown at One Buc Palace in the next couple of days.
The NFC South champion Bucs have a meaningless game on turf in Atlanta on Sunday (time to be determined but it won’t be Saturday). It’s practically a bye week, a gift from the football gods to help an older roster heal for the playoffs.
But will Todd Bowles sit key starters? Bowles was asked and said he hasn’t decided.
The question came from Sage of Tampa Bay Sports and JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman, who also asked Tom Brady if sitting out Week 18 would bother him.
Brady wasn’t politically correct. He wants the damn ball.
“I mean, it’s always up to coach, but yeah, that would bother me,” Brady replied, noting he’s only missed games because of his ACL injury and a league suspension.
So now what?
Brady’s starting tackles on the offensive line are banged up and could use a break. Tristan Wirfs is gutting through an ankle sprain and Donovan Smith has a bad foot. There’s no way the Bucs would be dumb enough to play Brady without his tackles on the field, right?
Bowles is in a tough spot. Does he cater to Brady’s ego and let him play, maybe a half? It sure seems foolish.
Perhaps the Bucs can tell Brady that he can play if he signs a contract extension for the 2023 season?
January 1st, 2023 at 10:19 pm
Just play him for tge first snap or the first series so he can continue his games played streak
January 1st, 2023 at 10:20 pm
Start with a half then see if it makes sense to sit a few guys.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:22 pm
Maybe first quarter. First half at most. Officially wondering about Jensen playoff return.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:25 pm
This is why Coaches get played to run the team and players (even the ones some fans anoint as infallible ) get paid to play when they are told. This should be a no-brained.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:28 pm
Anyone else watching Steelers-Ravens?
I’ve been keying on JPP.
He’s stealing money from Baltimore.
Not even trying.
He’s been done for 2 years.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:29 pm
and here come all the start Trask clowns…..
January 1st, 2023 at 10:31 pm
is it a question of what’s best for team ? (from tom’s point of view)
or is it just a personal preference?
is continuity better than break for offense?
tackle line rest / receiver live timing work ?
more drama?
January 1st, 2023 at 10:33 pm
Gotta see what Trask is really about, also. Is he even worthy of being number three QB much less starting in 2023. This is a mobile QB league and like others I would enjoy drafting Hendon Hooker in the first or second round.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:34 pm
Crazy that Evans reached 1100 in 15 games this year. How did that happen?
January 1st, 2023 at 10:34 pm
Bottom line Wirfs and Smith need to heal before the playoff game. Tom needs to go ahead and chill out for a week.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:40 pm
Rest? 8-8 teams need to improve. This team finally got a little hot. Now people are talking about rest? Like we’re the 85 Bears or something. Rest?? A vacation? A break due to a job well done? The only thing we have going for us is momentum. You know how to kill momentum? Go out and lose to Arthur and Desmond and finish 8-9. Rest? Nonsense. I still remember Gruden and the rest he gave his 07 team. A team that won the division sitting at 9-5. Then they got to rest and lose 2 games. Then after stinking up their playoff game, they got to rest for the rest of the playoffs. Rest?
January 1st, 2023 at 10:42 pm
Would bother the team if he gets hurt too. So……..
January 1st, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Tom can make up for is 11 day training camp absence by playing this game…
January 1st, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Don’t let his pressers fool you, old man Brady wants to pat those stats.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:48 pm
I agree second half. 1. He does his best work in 2 half. 2. You can see how rough Atlanta is playing, you need to keep Tom healthy. I agree make him sign 2 year contract 2023-2024(he will play until he’s 50. I would get rid of special team coach.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:49 pm
Tee nailed it. It’s about winning in the playoffs.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:49 pm
The players who are hurt….they definitely need the rest and doesn’t need to play.
If this coaching staff is smart…..they definitely will run a vanilla offense and defense against the falcons.
Brady never wants to stop playing…..maybe he thinks the whole team will get dull if they rest for a week??????
January 1st, 2023 at 10:56 pm
Let him play the first snap or first series so he can continue his streak
January 1st, 2023 at 10:58 pm
Capeaceiskaput is right, I do not agree with resting and taking the L. Capeaceiskaput mentioned how that backfired for Chuckie in 2007. It also backfired for Dungy when the Bucs were 9-6 and had a meaningless game vs Philly. Dungy let the Eagles win the meaningless game and then they boat raced the Bucs the next week. Spurrier criticized Dungy after that game, saying that he would play to win at all costs as if he was auditioning for the job though he went to Washington and the Bucs got Chucky. Anyhow, you always have to play to win, tanking and resting is counter productive, Anyhow, the ATL might be tanking for a better draft slot as they are done at 6-10 and really should have lost to AZ this afternoon.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:58 pm
Capeaceiskaput
I feel you and so does Tom. Wow. We squeezed out a win against our sh!tty division rival, won in OT against 4-10 Arizona. SECOND 30+ point game of the year. I think goat knows he f#cked up with all his unretirment and rest bullsh!t early. Strives for greatness with a victory and being the underdog. I only say play him the whole game because we have to look at the future without Brady.
January 1st, 2023 at 10:59 pm
Brady’s instincts on this are correct. He wants to play. This team needs to go out and hammer an opponent for momentum. Let’s face it — this team sucks and they need all the practice they can get. And going into the playoffs 9-8 sounds a lot better than 8-9. Brady doesn’t want a losing record, and neither should any of the players of coaches.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:00 pm
The Bucs have played about 90 minutes of good football this year. They all need to play. If today was a sign that the offense is waking up, Bowles can’t hit the snooze button. They rest, they lose the first playoff game.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:00 pm
*I only say don’t play him the whole game because we have to look at the future without Brady.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:08 pm
You don’t rest players. You just don’t. You want momentum. I believe the packers rested players last year and got snake bit.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:12 pm
Mike Tomlin is a helluva coach.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:20 pm
Trask time baby. Let’s see what he’s got. Rest everyone
January 1st, 2023 at 11:24 pm
Brady will play against ATL. He wants to finish the season with a winning record.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:33 pm
Joe, you are an idiot!!! It has nothing to do with ego. You didnt finish the rest of his explanation. He also said to the affect we need to keep the momentum going. He believes you play to win at all times , and you play til the end! That attitude has won him 7 super bowls, including the greatest superbowl come back in history. The losers in this town never cease to amaze me. All year long you criticized bowles and lefty about every decision even flight schedules! Yes flight schedules!!!!!!. You said go with brady’s calls. Let him coach. Now bowles is hinting of a sit down and roll over, and brady says we need to play. Now the loser in you all say maybe bowles is right! You all just navigate to the loser and quiter that permeates this site! Just pathetic. Belichek wouldn’t be laying down! Oh wait he and brady only won six rings! Sorry not enough to be considered by the LOSERS!!!
January 1st, 2023 at 11:33 pm
The whole damn squad could use the break.
Start game planning for the playoffs NOW!
January 1st, 2023 at 11:35 pm
Trask? Bwaaahahahaaaaa.
It will be Gabbert if Tom sits. Trashk is a stat line for goobers who didn’t watch him actually play.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:40 pm
Big guys like Vita, Hicks and Wirfs risk re-aggravating their foot injuries playing on turf. Godwin looked like he got his head dinged up on one catch and if his head gets slammed on the turf he could end up in the concussion protocol. Dean, Davis and Winfield could use an extra week of rest. White got a stinger today, and Lenny has a lis-franc. Evans knees look a little unstable and after a big game like today he could pull a hamstring if he doesn’t hydrate and get rest. And of course we know Brady has been playing with a bum hand and shoulder pretty much the entire season. If this was a young team I would say they need the reps, but I think a veteran team like this would benefit more from rest then risking them in a meaningless game. If any one of those guys goes down our chances of winning are pretty much nil. But if we can go into the playoffs with everyone reasonably healthy then I think we have a shot against almost anyone.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:44 pm
He finally just got into real rhythm with Evans and Godwin consistently… Otton clearly needs some practice… I say let ‘em all play a couple series and then pull them.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:44 pm
Belichick never sat his starters except Gronk. He wasn’t taught to sit. He’s paid to play.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:45 pm
@Irishmist- you make a convincing point… I may have just changed my mind.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:46 pm
Brady is someone who likes the reps. Hopefully bowles is starting his preparation of the cowboys. His defense looks better when he has more time to prepare
January 1st, 2023 at 11:47 pm
I think it’s pretty sample rest anybody who not 100 percent. If that includes any offensive linemen rest Brady. Also, if you rest Brady might as well rest all starters.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:49 pm
BA’s Red Pen Says:
“January 1st, 2023 at 10:29 pm
and here come all the start Trask clowns…..”
The only clown on this blog is you for referring others as clowns without any supportive facts.
January 1st, 2023 at 11:54 pm
SOEbuc Says:
January 1st, 2023 at 10:33 pm
“Gotta see what Trask is really about, also. Is he even worthy of being number three QB much less starting in 2023. This is a mobile QB league and like others I would enjoy drafting Hendon Hooker in the first or second round.”
Where are those mobile qb’s in the same draft class as Trask ?
Where are those mobile qb’s who have won the last few super bowls besides Mahomes ?
January 1st, 2023 at 11:55 pm
He doesn’t trust anyone else to do his job
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:02 am
Play him the first quarter… in hurry up shot gun.
Then sit him…
I will leave with this amazing factoid:
“The 2023 NFL Playoffs will mark the 20th appearance for Brady, who hasn’t missed the postseason since 2008.”
To elaborate just how amazing this is… before Brady came, the Bucs missed every single play off since (and I am guessing here because I forgot already lol) since they won the first Super Bowl in 2003.
(now I will go double check that)….
At any rate… that is amazing. The Bucs are not used to making the playoffs… so everyone needs to count their blessings!
And this isn’t about Brady… this is about how hard it is for an NFL franchise to rebuild and repeat year in and year out.
Just so glad the Bucs have another shot this season!
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:13 am
As much as i do think they need the practice I would let the starters rest. This team has been banged up all year. A week off would help a lot of the older guys. If somehow we get Ryan Jensen back on top of a healthy Wirfs and Smith. Then no telling what this offense can do.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:19 am
Oh yes… 2005 and 2007 the Bucs won the NFC South as well under Gruden… one and dones… no wonder they were forgettable.
The fanbase chased him off… a coach who helped the franchise win its first Super Bowl, then won 2 more division titles… followed by a melt down after starting 2008 9-4…. they lost 4 straight and were eliminated.
But thereafter…. Josh Freeman and Jameis Winston ate up a decade of zero play offs appearances…. sadly that span was what the Bucs used to be prior to tge Dungy years…
all I’m saying is… don’t take the NFL playoffs for granted Buc fans.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:20 am
@Buc You – they made playoffs in 07 and 08 but lost in wild card round both years. Never went back until Brady came.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:21 am
Whoops 06 and 08 sorry
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:22 am
I agree with the momentum posters but I still would like to see Trask play some–just to see him.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:22 am
Ah I see your last comment now. Yeah, 05 and 07 seasons, which took place in 06 / 08.
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:28 am
Sorry Tom, but in this case you’re getting overruled. Nothing to gain, and everything to lose here. Based on the huge number of injuries this year, and last year, the Bucs should literally sit everyone they can, let the backups play the entire game.
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:35 am
play them all for a bit…just a bit…
then start pulling dudes like it’s preseason…
you do need a little bit of continuity
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:40 am
How is kapiecekaput one of very few of you with half a brain… this team is barely keeping it together. They had 1 game where they’re remotely playing well. They arguably didn’t even play well for the whole game.
Don’t take any unnecessary risks, no QB sneaks or dangerous crossed routes but build on today. Blow out the Falcons and walk into playoffs with some swagger… score 30 in the first half and sit who you can after that.
Who cares if you’re rested for playoffs if you’ll be on the couch the week after.
It was essentially a playoff game today.. keep that mentality, it is no time for a loss in January.. I can’t remember a team that “rested” players late in the season and won afterwards.
I’ve honestly always cheered for no bye week. Teams always come out rusty against a team that’s been working their ass off for an extra week. Sometimes they can overcome it but it’s always a shaky situation.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:07 am
Tell Tom he will be playing behind an OL with third stringer starters. He won’t change his mind, but he will probably go for a series or two and then sit. Bowles needs to put his foot down. Brady likes his reps, even in training camp. He’s always been that way.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:15 am
They need to play. At least a half. When you are a bad team, you need all the physics you can get. They need momentum heading into wildcard.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:42 am
This struggling team has still not played consistently good ball. They do not, and perhaps never will, have that look of a dominant team firing on every cylinder for four straight quarters. Other teams do have that look.
A tough one coming up. On the one hand, they need to work on things. On the other hand, injured guys need to be rested. The key is peaking at the right time, and getting guys healthy.
Perhaps they should treat it as a preseason game. Rest the starters after a quarter.
January 2nd, 2023 at 6:13 am
Starters need to sit.. Don’t play them for a quarter or half. You can get hurt on the first play of the game.
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:02 am
Catch 22, the O finally played like all hoped and now sit them? He maybe afraid sitting would kill the rhythm. On the other hand all BL is.going to do is ground and pound and I don’t want to either back hurt. Not to mention the secondary that’s made out of glass.
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:17 am
The only thing a meaningless game in the NFL provides is money for the owners. They are not even fun to watch. Players know that. I think it’s best to just field a team like we do in preseason and go with that.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:37 am
It would certainly be foolish to start Brady, Wirfs, and /or Smith. Unfortunately, Bowel movement’s track record is is to make the foolish choice.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:51 am
Beat ATL and we finish the season with a winning record. I think Brady plays next week and has a field day against them dirty birds.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:54 am
Samosam@ agreed! Let these haters watch Trask play. Though unfortunately it will be Gabbert. Careful what you wish for, Atlanta may still be sour from their first loss, hate to see Trask carried out in a body bag.
January 2nd, 2023 at 10:46 am
Smart coaches would know how to game plan to minimize the risk of further injuries.
Don’t run plays that require a player to cut or plant on a bad leg.
If the big guys on defense need a break, then they should get some 3 and outs.
Limit our 3 and out, and take time off the clock.
Bad news is that the Bucs offense is the hurry up, and the current coaches lack of imagination.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:52 am
Teams that rest their players before the playoffs often come out sluggish and play poorly in their first playoff game. Teams that rest their starters often lose their first playoff game. It has even happened quite often to top seeds that decided to rest starters.
It’s a game to play starters and risk injury and it’s a gamble to not play starters and risk the team being slow and sluggish and out of rhythm. Either way can cause a team to lose in the playoffs.
The best way is to have a happy medium. To rest any player that has any injury issues, to play the healthy starters in the first half, or maybe for 2.5 to 3 quarters, and then sit them. That’s usually the approach that leads to the most success in the first playoff game.
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:23 pm
Based on the previous games, rest Tom till the 4th qtr hahahahahah If any of you guys think Tom would site on the bench, you don’t know him very well
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:25 pm
Do u guys realize playing Trask with key starters out and resting, is not a true litmus test to see if he’s capable right!? Just like a second half of a pre-season game with future mailmen doesn’t tell u if said player is truly good
January 3rd, 2023 at 11:38 am
“Perhaps the Bucs can tell Brady that he can play if he signs a contract extension for the 2023 season?”
LOL…I kinda wish it worked that way Joes 🙂