Too Scared To Ask
January 2nd, 2023
After two amazing seasons with the Bucs and a training camp that saw him take an unexplained leave of absence, the stories of Tom Brady’s work ethic sort of dried up.
It either became a given in the eyes of media and players, or it wasn’t quite the same any longer and wasn’t something to celebrate in the same way.
Well, Kalyn Kahler of TheAthletic.com was patrolling One Buc Palace in recent days and wrote about Brady’s grind and drive in a long feature. The Brady way, it seems, as not waned.
Cornerback/safety Logan Ryan shared a story about giving up trying to beat Brady to the New England facility and that hasn’t changed in Tampa.
… Now in his 10th season, Ryan is passing on Brady’s lesson to young Bucs players who ask him what is the key to NFL longevity.
“How do you let the oldest guy in the room beat you to work?” he said. “How do you let the guy who has the most money in the room beat you to work? How do you let the guy who has the most Super Bowls in the room outwork you?”
Brady’s work ethic has inspired the Bucs secondary; Ryan says its members frequently come in early for extra meetings that other position groups don’t do.
When he heard about Ryan’s takeaway from Brady, Wirfs said he’d noticed that too. “(Brady’s) car is always here,” Wirfs said. “You’re like, what time do you get here? I’m too scared (to ask him). Some days like, if we lift in the morning, I’m here early, Oh, there’s this car. I look down there and there is his car.”
Joe can only guess how Brady’s divorce led to even greater football dedication, and how he will be all-in to the extreme this month.
Also, Joe isn’t surprised Brady lit up Carolina in his second game against them. His football IQ is too high to not make a bunch of adjustments as long as Dennis Allen isn’t calling a defense. That could bode very well against the Cowboys in the playoffs — if the Bucs play the Cowboys.
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:40 am
Joe is obsessed with discrediting Byron Leftwich and giving Tom Brady all the credit when our offense plays well Yeah, that makes sense. https://www.joebucsfan.com/2023/01/new-year-new-byron-leftwich/ –Joe
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:45 am
It’s called being “obsessed” with work
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:45 am
Problem is the Bucs O was inert for three quarters.
A finish flurry does not mean the problems are behind them.
That said, what was the worst regular season record a SB Champ earned? Maybe that’s another record the GOAT wants to achieve…
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:46 am
Thanks Joe, now all the haters that belive he screws off can read another story they can ignore.
I believe it was.Kentucky that mentioned Brady looked heavier and I agree. I believe he retired for Giselle, found out she was taking a few more jujitsu classes than she claimed and unretired a total mess. He grew up in a very family oriented household and are still all close so this divorce most likely killed him, hence the weight loss.The 11 days were to figure out his life. The good thing it appears he’s getting over it.
January 2nd, 2023 at 8:47 am
Playoffs……a clean slate…..anything can happen…..get healthy…..win!!!
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:02 am
Geezahag was a drag on the whole operation. And finally, finally, the Bowels took his choke hold off of the offense and et it be no risk it no biscuit again.
Even Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder could see that was long overdue.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:05 am
First, off, happy victory f@cking Monday!! Come on, there’s a lot to be happy for, especially since there was so much doubt we couldn’t stop Carolina’s run game, or their current hot streak because we couldn’t score points. You still have a 53 man roster that you can’t downgrade and elevate, but I would assume there’s enough there to rest all our key starters next week in ATL. We are hosting a home playoff game!…And dare I say we get Jensen back on the line come Playoffs! We should be able to integrate Ifeadi Odenigbo into the rotation by then, plus Nassib finally getting healthier to play. Carlton Davis will be back! This team will be Shaq Barrett short of being at full-strength the way they started the season. Gronk would be the cherry on top. Both rookie TE’s struggled yesterday at key moments.
That being said…lol…sorry it can’t all be sunshine and rainbows…they need to sort out that red zone offense. Imagine if Mike Evans doesn’t catch (3) bombs heading into the in-zone. We squandered another red zone opportunity on an entire set of downs and could not get into the in-zone, same look on the first 2-pt conversion. Remember the 2nd 2-pt conversion, that didn’t look the easiest to pull off. It’s why we’ve been settling for field goals most of the season. We were fortunate yesterday, and a lot went our way. Hopefully, the “charm” continues. LFG!
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:08 am
Did anyone ever answer the i
qusstion did Bowles get the bucket challenge after that game? If he didn’t that say a LOT about how these players feel about him.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:19 am
Brady will beat the Cowpies and Philthy Buzzards.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:22 am
Jack Clark, you’re right. But Joe is right.
Every 2 minute comeback this year, you think Leftwich called those plays? Nah.
Leftwich is horrible.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:22 am
The body language on the sidelines between TB and Leftie is cold.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:29 am
That was the best Buccaneers game that I have ever been to. After the slow start we took control over the game and Brady was dropping dimes. He was showing everyone that there has been no decline on his part. They put on quite a show for Arians induction celebration. One of Brady’s passes went 57 yards in the air. Incredible!
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:33 am
SB~LV@ maybe Leftnut and Brady gave Bowles the middle finger to his conservative game plan. I never see friendly player interaction with him, just instructional.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:47 am
Only the casuals questioned Tom’s work ethic. To ignore 23 years worth of evidence was asinine. He’s obsessed with football. Brady missed a total of about five practices. During his time away, Evans, Julio, Gage, and Godwin were out. He missed zero time with the people who count. Brady would be taking snaps with practice squad guys who are no longer with the team
The fact is that Brady made prior commitments with his family prior to unretiring. Do you think the team would decline to let him come back because he needed to fulfill these commitments? Brady loves practice, so you know that these commitments had to be serious. He’s earned the right. The cognitive dissonance for people who say that he isn’t all in and the ones who chide Brady for giving up his family for football is wide. He’s obsessed with the game. Anyone who questioned his dedication are idiots.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:52 am
ModHairKen Says:
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:22 am
Jack Clark, you’re right. But Joe is right. Every 2 minute comeback this year, you think Leftwich called those plays? Nah. Leftwich is horrible.
Todd Bowels is the one who forced our offense to change from bruce arian’s proven successful style no risk it no biscuit to run first, play it safe, and keep the game close with our defense–NOT byron leftwich.
When Byron Leftwich was allowed to go back to the no risk it no biscuit style offense we put up 30 points and were exciting to watch. You people put too much blame on Byron Leftwich because he is just trying his best to do what his defensive minded head coach wants the offense to do.
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:55 am
I will add that I love Brady’s obsession to his craft, but Someone needs to intervene and tell him it’s time to hang it up. Joe, he has a really bad addiction. Football is a drug that he can’t quit. Right now, he’s been enabled by his family Licht, and the Glazers. Brady is close with Licht. Shouldn’t Licht intervene and help Tom end his addiction? Gisele was always his mistress. Football is his wife. She’s said it multiple times before. Brady legacy is cemented. Why continue playing until the wheels fall off? Brady can still play, but it’s ok to leave with a little still in the tank.
January 2nd, 2023 at 10:10 am
The only way the 2 minute offense would work the whole game would be if the other team played prevent defense the whole game.
January 2nd, 2023 at 10:11 am
Hearing about Brady’s unexplained 11 day leave of absence is getting infuriating. Can some journalist please look up the court records for Brady’s divorce? I have a feeling it coincides with his 11 day absence. Prior to his leave the coaches said the leave was planned and didn’t know exactly when Brady would return. Divorce court appearances are scheduled months in advance and even the football GOAT must must follow the judges orders.
Based on my own experience I see Brady suffering through his divorce in similar fashion. The unexplained absences, weight loss, somber look, and lack of concentration at times. Doesn’t matter who you are, when you find out your wife has been cheating it takes an emotional and physical toll.
January 2nd, 2023 at 10:50 am
“Bucsfan13 Says:
January 2nd, 2023 at 9:55 am
Brady legacy is cemented. Why continue playing until the wheels fall off? Brady can still play, but it’s ok to leave with a little still in the tank.”
I think Brady would still try to play – on crutches or on a walker. The only way that guy leaves the game is by being dragged off the field, kicking and screaming the whole way. Like others have said, he’s addicted to football, and yesterday showed just how good at it he still is, at 45 freakin’ years old. Never seen anything like Brady.
January 2nd, 2023 at 10:55 am
With the coaching changes and the divorce and the lawsuit etc. I don’t think he was all in this year. I think he wanted to move on, go to different team. He was indecisive… It’s a big part of why they are 8–8, plus there was the line and injuries and BL’s horrendous play calling but Brady takes blame too.
However, maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel if they allow the O to open up, if he is 100% focused because he doesn’t have to rush home to the wife, if the defense and O line are getting healthier
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:00 am
What was truly different this week was that even though we didn’t score much early in the game it wasn’t the same anemic 3 and out. We settled for field goal tries but the and turned the ball over on a promising drive but those were 4 drives that moved the ball pretty well. That was the real progress we showed in this game.
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:04 am
When Brady has protection, time, look what happens.
Go Bucs!!
January 2nd, 2023 at 11:19 am
Last point about the 11 day absence. What was telling was D. Whites comment, he said:” We’re all praying for him.” That tells me it was divorce related.
January 2nd, 2023 at 12:14 pm
@ david
Life can distract you and cause you to lose mental focus.
I’m sure Brady had a lot of that…….but just know this….divorces don’t happen in one season.
……….OBVIOUSLY……THIS has been building up for years with Brady…..even before he left New England.
OBVIOUSLY……Brady and wife his tried to make things work…..but if you’re gone all the time……..then something gots to give.
Brady loves the game and is addicted to it…..it’s just ashame he couldn’t keep BOTH loves in his life.
But as long as they’re both happy along with the kids…..then that’s all that matters now.
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Commitment and focus are two different animals. When trouble hits your personal life, like when Brady’s mother was battling cancer or the recent marriage/divorce issue, those can distract your focus. His commitment has never wavered in my mind. Like any other human, you deal with the issues and that can become a distraction from your focus on the work/football side of life, but it doesn’t mean the effort wasn’t there to do as much as possible. He may not have been able to spend as much extra time studying film at home, etc. but you can believe he still did more of that than your average QB.
This 45 year old has cemented his legacy long ago. He could be sitting in a comfy broadcast booth commenting on how so many of these other teams “stuck with that mf’er at QB”. Lol
Yes, he’s addicted to the game. Maybe to a fault. He doesn’t need the money. He doesn’t need any more accolades or records. He is simply driven and dedicated to the game and his teammates. To doubt that is foolish, goofy or hate/jealousy driven nonsense.
January 2nd, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Yes, NE, I asked that question and it seems it did not happen. It means a lot to me. I think they won the division for a Ring of Honor coach who was there. I hope the other coaches can gain their respect.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:24 pm
Lol. Hard to imagine Tom has a sentient thought with all you psychoanalyst speaking as though you live in his head. It is a lil pathetic how obedient and media groomed you are to always tow the TB12 line. I hope he’s paying you NE.
I will acknowledge that tat was Tommy’s best game of the year and fir once I agree with you NE… His WRs were little help in the 1st half.