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Jul 28, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks on during training camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

NFL insider: Buccaneers 'bungled' Tom Brady absences from summer practices

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/12/22

Outsiders continue to have more questions than answers regarding Tampa Bay Buccaneers star quarterback Tom Brady being excused from team practices for the second time this month.

Proven players routinely receive so-called "veteran off-days" amid summer sessions -- few voiced hot takes when Brady missed a pair of practices while celebrating his birthday and attending "to a personal matter" last week. Eyebrows were raised on Thursday, though, when Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed that Brady would remain away from the team through at least its second preseason game at the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 20.

For what it's worth, Bowles also insisted that "this is something we talked about before training camp started" and that "it was scheduled way before training camp." Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht later offered similar remarks about Brady's practice absences being pre-planned during an appearance on WDAE radio out of Florida. However, linebacker Devin White remarked while speaking with reporters that "we’re praying for whatever (Brady) got going on as a human being."

Knowledgeable individuals such as Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times are asking reasonable questions ahead of the weekend:

If it was planned for a while, why didn’t they tell us that on Day 1 of camp? (“Hey folks, just a heads up that Tom will miss some time during camp…”). That so easily could’ve dispelled the (warranted) speculation now occurring. https://t.co/ET1aFeFLDt
— Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) August 12, 2022

The Joe Bucs Fan website noted Friday that it is now "fair to question whether Brady is all-in on the Bucs for 2022" and also that "Brady’s behavior is extraordinarily abnormal for" the seven-time Super Bowl champion who retired and then quickly unretired this past winter. Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio said the Buccaneers "bungled" the Brady situation.

"The way it was handled invites curiosity," Florio said of the matter. "Which results in speculation. As the situation has been explained by the team, it can be anything from a scheduled family surgical procedure to a mid-camp vacation."

Florio continued:

"There’s also a question about whether his teammates knew he’d be leaving camp. Even with Brady being Brady, human beings will be human beings — and those left to do the real work will feel some resentment to anyone who isn’t pulling an oar next to everyone else."

White's words suggested he only learned about Brady's temporary leave from camp on Thursday. The 24-year-old and his teammates could, of course, merely be covering for Brady and already know what's occurring behind the scenes.

Even still, a unique situation continues to feel downright strange ahead of the Buccaneers' preseason opener versus the Miami Dolphins on Saturday.

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