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Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Bucs struggled in their most recent outing, a 20-18 loss to the 1-4 Steelers. Many have been quick to blame the QB for the loss.
Brady has been lightening the workload in what’s expected to be his final NFL season. The passer is no longer practicing on Wednesdays, taking the time as a recovery day each week. That’s not necessarily surprising at age 45, but a few other additional events have made football appear to be on the backburner for the future Hall of Famer.
Brady took time away from the team in the preseason, disappearing for unknown reasons only to return 11 days later. There have now been divorce rumors and other issues that could be affecting his play.
Over the weekend, Brady took another short stint away from the team for personal reasons.
Tom Brady left the team to attend Robert Kraft’s wedding Friday night.
He arrived in Pittsburgh alone, missing the walk through before his matchup vs. the Steelers.
Many are now blaming that wedding for the Bucs’ loss on Sunday. While head coach Todd Bowles says he doesn’t believe the brief absence contributed to the team’s defeat, there are a number of others that aren’t buying it.
Take a look at some of the immediate reaction online.
One person wrote, “Tom Brady is playing like a guy that skipped practice to attend the wedding of the owner of his former team,” after seeing the Bucs’ poor play.
Tom Brady is playing like a guy that skipped practice to attend the wedding of the owner of his former team.
— Joe Osborne (@JTFOz) October 16, 2022
Another Twitter user commented, “Brady’s still hungover from Kraft’s wedding.”
Brady's still hungover from Kraft's wedding.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) October 16, 2022
A number of major members of the media took shots at Brady, too.
Jason Whitlock noticed that the guys in the booth mentioned his hiatus, posting, “Good job by the FOX broadcasting crew referencing the fact Brady went to Robert Kraft’s wedding, flew in to Pittsburgh separate from the team. Brady is half in. Can’t be half in and lead this team.”
Good job by the Fox broadcasting crew referencing the fact Brady went to Robert Kraft's wedding, flew in to Pittsburgh separate from the team. Brady is half in. Can't be half in and lead this team.
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) October 16, 2022
Skip Bayless echoed those sentiments, saying, “I hear what Sean Payton/Terry Bradshaw just said about how Brady should’ve flown with the team to Pitt. But I was surprised he went to Bob Kraft’s wedding party on Fri night in NY in the 1st place. During the season?? Once there, tough to fly all way back for 10 am team flight.”
I hear what Sean Payton/Terry Bradshaw just said about how Brady should've flown with the team to Pitt. But I was surprised he went to Bob Kraft's wedding party on Fri night in NY in the 1st place. During the season??? Once there, tough to fly all way back for 10 am team flight.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 16, 2022
This fan noted that Bill Belichick did not attend the wedding, even though he still works for the Patriots, and his team pulled out a 23-point upset over Cleveland. Brady wasn’t so lucky.
Belichick: Skipped Kraft’s wedding and then beat the Browns as the underdog.
Brady: Attended Kraft’s wedding and then lost to the Steelers as the 10-point favorite.
— Lucy Burdge (@LucilleBurdge) October 16, 2022
At one point, Brady was seen berating his offensive teammates on the sidelines, which wasn’t the best look seeing that he was away from the team a good part of the week.
This fan wrote, “Tom Brady doesn’t practice Wednesday. Doesn’t travel with the team or walk through to go to Robert krafts wedding, gets mad that team doesn’t look good.”
Things continue to get worse for Brady this year. He and the Bucs will try to bounce back next week.