The Patriots have been going at it with their voluntary offseason program for over a month now and Tom Brady has yet to show up.
Although he's missed the first couple phases in the past, this year was the first time he's missed any of the OTAs, which have been going on for two weeks. The quarterback has said this offseason was about his family and he would be devoting more time to them.
He also has been working on business ventures like spending last weekend in Europe at Aston Martin and then a Formula 1 race.
While he hasn't been with the rest of his team on the field and in the facility, apparently he's been working out with Julian Edelman.
According to NBC Sports Boston's Mike Giardi, Brady has been semi-regularly showing up to Gillette Stadium and throwing inside the bubble with Edelman.
So, Brady can make it to the facility to throw privately with Edelman, but can't get on the field for OTAs with the rest of his team? That isn't the greatest of looks for the 40-year-old.
After losing Brandin Cooks this offseason, the Patriots have a lot of new receivers potentially being in the mix. Jordan Matthews and Cordarrelle Patterson were signed this offseason and then the team drafted Braxton Berrios. Then, there's newer receivers Phillip Dorsett and Kenny Britt, who joined in the middle of last season and haven't been able to spend tons of time working with Brady.
Everyone knows how difficult the Patriots offense is and how demanding Brady is of his receivers, so typically the spring is used to get on the same page as the quarterback so it isn't an issue in July when training camp begins. Besides Patterson, who is strictly a burner, all the other receivers' routes are based on timing, so not working with Brady now is setting them back come a few months.
No one is questioning how devoted Brady is because he's surely putting in the time working out on his own with Alex Guerrero, but him missing these sessions is impacting the team, particularly the receivers. It's also worth pointing out the sessions the media have attended have lacked the intensity they've had in the past and Brady not being there likely is part of the reason why.
Whether skipping these sessions is sending a message to Bill Belichick or not, coming to the facility to throw privately with Edelman isn't a great look not only to Belichick, but the rest of the team as well.
