Malcolm Butler: SB LII and 'a Perfect Storm of Issues'

[EddieMac]

I thought this was the first time Brady has ever missed OTAs?

From BB

“We have the voluntary offseason program that starts on Monday,” Belichick said. “It will be heavily attended, but I know there are a couple players that I’ve talked to that have other commitments, but that’s the way it always is, too. So, not really anything new there.”

Another quote from BB

Even after Tom Brady returns from Qatar, I do not anticipate he will be a regular participant in team’s offseason program. He plans to spend more time with family and body coach Alex Guerrero. Brady did miss parts of Pats’ offseason program in 08, 09 and 10 so not unprecedented.

and:

Brady missed parts of the offseason program from 2008-10.

What he is missing this year is exercise. No play implementation, or important things like that.

That is why I this this is more wishful thinking that a real breakdown in Foxborough

[broncoslover115]

From BB

“We have the voluntary offseason program that starts on Monday,” Belichick said. “It will be heavily attended, but I know there are a couple players that I’ve talked to that have other commitments, but that’s the way it always is, too. So, not really anything new there.”

Another quote from BB

Even after Tom Brady returns from Qatar, I do not anticipate he will be a regular participant in team’s offseason program. He plans to spend more time with family and body coach Alex Guerrero. Brady did miss parts of Pats’ offseason program in 08, 09 and 10 so not unprecedented.

and:

Brady missed parts of the offseason program from 2008-10.

What he is missing this year is exercise. No play implementation, or important things like that.

That is why I this this is more wishful thinking that a real breakdown in Foxborough

Coach speak and not wishful thinking. It's dominating the sports media and air waves here. Something I listen to quite frequently.

Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski missing Patriots offseason program is not normal

https://www.google.com/amp/s/patriotswire.usatoday.com/2018/04/16/tom-brady-rob-gronkowski-missing-patriots-offseason-program-is-not-normal/amp/



Voluntary workouts are a bit of a misnomer for the New England Patriots, which is why it was strange to hear that Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski will not attend the start of the team’s offseason program.

Coach Bill Belichick teased the possibility of it (without mentioning their names) during a pre-draft press conference last week. Belichick made sure to state he would only answer questions about the draft, but he threw in some important non-draft information.

At the time, the comments didn’t seem like much. Brady was supposed to just miss the first day because of an obligation with his charity, Best Buddies. But then reports came out that Gronkowski was going to miss some of the program while negotiating his contract. On Monday, news surfaced that Brady wouldn’t just be missing the first day.

If this is Brady’s first absence in eight years, that would be very significant. This is not normal.

Combine that with Gronkowski’s absence. Combine that with the reports that Belichick’s coaching methods are not jibing well with Brady or Gronk. The star tight end is considering retirement but will play if given a pay raise, according to The Athletic. Brady wants to spend time with his family and Alex Guerrero more than he does with his team, according to ESPN.

The idea that Brady might be substituting the team’s time with Guerrero, in particular, might not sit well with Belichick. After all, the Patriots coach banned Guerrero from working on players at Gillette Stadium, where Guerrero once had an office, according to the Boston Globe. The heavy application of the TB12 method among Patriots players has created friction among Belichick, Brady and Gronkowski, who became a loyal user of Brady and Guerrero’s training and dieting techniques. Belichick went so far as to reportedly chastise Gronk over the TB12 method in front of the whole team.

Patriots fans will brush off the idea that there is no significance to Brady and Gronkowski missing these actives. “They’re voluntary,” fans will argue. “We’re talking about practice,” they’ll say.

But ask yourself: Does this feel like a normal offseason? And wouldn’t the presence of Brady and Gronk help calm the noise that there’s dysfunction in Foxborough?

Yet for some reason, the two best players in the franchise will not report. Something is not right.

[EddieMac]

Meh we disagree....I guess we just have to wait and see...

And FWIW I hope you are right....

[broncoslover115]

And the chaos continues. OMG, if you could see what's happening here in Boston you'd be amazed. Gronk's antics this weekend was unbelievable. He's looking to be traded or doesn't care if he is.

The Boston sports media are now keeping a white board of the days of how many days there's no workplace incidents going on in Foxboro. Days=0.

Holy moly. The ridiculous crap that Gronk pulled this weekend was ridiculous. He looked like a jerk. He's gonna be shipped out very soon. Mark my words. The tide has turned and the public has turned on him. He's a goner.

And now Brady is talking through his agent that he wants a new contract and is not willing to take a team friendly deal anymore....and yet still has not confirmed that he's coming back. And is pissed that Alex Guerrero can't be on the field.... and would be pissed if Gronk is traded...,

And Brady still has not reported to OTA's. This is fun.

And the rumor that NE is gonna take Lamar Jackson in the draft..

Yup, things are a mess in Patriots land.