The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to make another run at the Super Bowl. But there’s absolutely no chance of that happening without quarterback Tom Brady under center. The seven-time Super Bowl-winning signal-caller led the Bucs to the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy in his first season in South Florida. Last season, the Bucs lost a thrilling last-second divisional playoff game to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
After that, head coach Bruce Arians stepped away from the sidelines to take a front office position within the franchise, leaving head coach duties to Todd Bowles. Tom Brady retired for all of 44 days before announcing he was returning during the NCAA Tournament’s March Madness Selection Show.
And while things seemed normal in Tampa since his return, the former Michigan Wolverines gunslinger has taken a surprising leave of absence during the last two weeks of training camp. Talking to reporters this week per ESPN, first-year head coach Todd Bowles addressed Brady’s availability for the final preseason game next week.
“We’ll see. We’ll talk about it next week. I’m not concerned about it right now. We’re trying to practice to practice against Tennessee and play a game. I said sometime after Tennessee. There’s no definitive date for me. But we’ll check on it, we’ll keep in touch, and we’ll find out.”
Bowles also reiterated at that time that he’s been in touch with his quarterback constantly and there’s no reason to believe he won’t be under center in the Bucs’ season opener at the Dallas Cowboys.
Brady’s absence reportedly is not family or health related and the team knew about it prior to training camp. It is still uncharacteristic of someone like Brady, who is so addicted to being prepared and establishing a chemistry with his teammates.
Bucs’ QB Tom Brady is expected to return to the team, per a source, “very shortly.” Brady left the team earlier this month for personal reasons.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2022
Bowles Gave More Insight Into Brady’s Absence On Sunday
During a media session on Sunday, Bowles began by first saying “Brady will be back early this week.”
The former Buccaneers defensive coordinator then addressed the understanding between Brady and the team.
“This is something we talked about before training camp started,” Boles said. “We allotted this time because we wanted to get in and get chemistry with the guys and go through two weeks of training camp, knowing he wasn’t going to play the first two preseason games.”
Bucs coach Todd Bowles said it has not been decided if Tom Brady will play this week in the third and final preseason game. He said they’ll see how this week goes.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 21, 2022
Brady is in his 23rd NFL season and, like most veterans, there are allotted times for them to be excused from practice. But you never see a player absent for two consecutive weeks without hearing why, although the Bucs have done a good job of keeping Brady’s business in-house.
There’s been plenty of speculation, from marital problems to him being on a planned vacation with his family. There were also rumors of his mom, a cancer survivor, being sick again. But that’s all unconfirmed and the media looking for an angle to drum up a story.
League sources indicated Tom Brady's time away included a trip to the Bahamas at an exclusive resort and primarily for family time with his wife, Gisele Bündchen.
The latest on Brady's expected return from @AaronWilson_NFL in this #PFNReport ⤵️https://t.co/iYRXZGrjhm
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 21, 2022
Brady Has Plenty Of Reasons To Return For Year 23
When you are fortunate to play as long as Brady has, and you’re good, you reach a lot of milestones. Brady needs just over 2,400 yards to become the first player in NFL history to pass for 100,000 yards. If he reaches 40 touchdown passes he’d become the first player to do it three consecutive seasons, and the first to do it four times. He also has nine seasons of at least 30 touchdown passes; one more will tie him with future Hall of Famer Drew Brees with 10. Not to mention a chance to add to his already probably unreachable seven Super Bowl wins.
At 45, and with all this hoopla on-and-off-the-field surrounding him, it wouldn’t be surprising if this was really his final NFL season.
