Tom Brady needs the NFL season to start. Right now. Then, the public will once again be able to focus on his unprecedented gridiron excellence, and less on why he missed training camp for 11 days.
The speculation is still at a fever pitch, and it's getting even more ridiculous. On Saturday, Brady stepped up to the podium after Tampa Bay's preseason finale — he completed 6 of 8 passes for 44 yards — and answered questions from reporters for the first time since his hiatus. His explanation for his mysterious whereabouts was slightly ominous.
"It's all personal," he said. "You know everyone's got different situations they're dealing with. So, we all have really unique challenges to our life. I'm 45 years old, man. There's a lot of s— going on. You've just got to try to figure out life the best you can. It's a continuous process."
It is true that Brady is dealing with more life situations than most NFL players. He has teenage kids and multiple business empires, including TB12 and BRADY ™. But could one of those "unique challenges" mean altering his face?
Brady looked noticeably gaunt Saturday, and his hair looked a couple of shades darker, too. Step aside, "Masked Singer" rumors. It's now time for the plastic surgery part of this narrative.
There's been a lot of news about Brady this summer. An NFL investigation revealed he was tampering with the Dolphins as far back as August 2019, and last week, UFC President Dana White said he almost put together a deal that would've brought Brady and Rob Gronkowski to Las Vegas.
Then Brady went missing for a week-and-a-half, on top of all that. He hasn't answered questions about the Dolphins or Raiders reports, and probably never will. Unsurprisingly, speculation has filled the information vacuum.
Brady has always dealt with controversies — both real and ridiculous — in one way: playing better than everybody else. He referenced as much Saturday. "I feel good. I've played football for a long time. I'm pretty good at it. Doesn't take long for me to remember how to play it," he said.
Tampa Bay's schedule won't afford Brady a lot of time to get comfortable. The Bucs open the season against the Cowboys on Sunday night before playing the Saints, Packers and Chiefs. Those are three Super Bowl contenders, as well as a tough divisional foe.
The people will stop laughing once, or if, Brady starts lighting up the scoreboard. Until then, it's open season on the GOAT.
