This morning, rumblings came out that Tom Brady would be missing all of the Patriots’ voluntary OTAs this week. Naturally, Patriots Nation freaked out over this news, wondering how long Brady would hold out--presumably amidst contract negotiations. Even ESPN Insider Adam Schefter called it a “red flag.” However, I’m here to assure you all that Tom Brady’s curious offseason should not be worrisome.
Brady’s 2018 has been a rollercoaster so far; after losing the Super Bowl despite throwing for 505 yards and 3 TDs, people (mostly the media) began to talk about whether or not Brady would decide to hang ‘em up. Even after Brady has made it abundantly clear that he wishes to play into his mid-40s and repeatedly confirmed he would return for 2018, the media, always driven crazy by what-ifs, snaps every time a hint of Brady missing action reaches them.
Listen, I’m not an idiot––Brady missing the third week of the OTAs for probably the first time in his career isn’t a great look, but the fact that people jump directly into oh, he must be thinking about retiring now is absurd. First of all, the guy’s 40 years old; I think it’s about time that people realize that he’s not superhuman (although it may seem like it after he won the MVP in his 18th season). Tom likely needs all the time he can get to recuperate and get ready for the grueling year ahead.
Secondly, Brady is in the middle of contract negotiations with New England and could be sending a message to the team with this move. To that end, Brady “pleaded the fifth” when asked if he felt appreciated by the team. Brady, the poster child for taking pay cuts for the team, likely feels like he finally has a complete roster around him and that the team has money to spend––they’re $13,510,504 under the salary cap right now. Don’t be too quick to jump the gun, though, and say that he’s “holding out,” as these OTAs are voluntary, and official holdouts typically occur when teams have mandatory workouts. For the Pats, these mandatory workouts will come the week of June 5-7, and there is no indication that the Pats’ longtime centerpiece will miss those.
Again, I get it. This is not a great look for someone who, for 18 years, has embodied the “Patriot Way.” It’s almost like Brady is beginning to reach his teenage years and is rebelling against the organization; this is his way of begging his parents for a new car. As Tucker mentioned in one of his blogs, Brady is becoming somewhat hypocritical in the ways in which he’s gone about his business of late, and I’m not a big fan of the new Tom. However, people need to chill out and stop worrying about the small things and watch a 41-year-old Brady tear up a league full of 20-year-olds en route to the Patriots’ sixth Super Bowl ring.
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