Tom Brady is away from Buccaneers for ‘work-life balance’
“No one is worried, he’s fine,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on the “Pat McAfee Show” Thursday. “To my knowledge, it is not a medical emergency related to him or I believe anyone close to him.
I was told everything is OK. The best description I got about this is that it’s important to find a work-life balance.”
Thursday morning, Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles revealed that Brady will be away from the team through their second preseason game on Aug. 20.
Bowles — who talked with Brady about the matter prior to the start of training camp — said that Brady was away to “deal with some personal things.”
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht reiterated the pre-planned absence and likewise had little issue with Brady taking time away from the team.
“Of course, we were going to let him do what he needs to do,” Licht told WDAE radio, per JoeBucsFan.com. “He’s focused as ever. He’ll come back even more focused. It’s the least of our concerns.”
Bowles also expressed confidence that Brady, 45, would be ready for Week 1 against the Cowboys on Sept. 11.
In March, 40 days after announcing his retirement, Brady revealed that he would be returning to the Buccaneers for a 23rd season.
“Brady has been doing this for 23 years,” Rapoport said. “He knows the scheme as well as anyone. He wasn’t going to play in those two games anyway. So he steps aside, it sounds like, to do some personal, family things.”