Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans would be forgiven for fearing the worst after learning Tom Brady had pulled out of their pre-season training camp for undisclosed reasons.
However, even an 11-day absence from practice isn't enough to quell the talents of arguably the greatest NFL player of all time, it seems. Brady, 45, left Tampa Bay's set-up on August 11 and returned on Monday, barely a fortnight before the franchise kicks its season off against the Dallas Cowboys (Sept. 12).
According to Rick Stoud of the Tampa Bay Times, an un-named member of the Bucs organisation said of Brady "he's on fire ". The quarterback has broken virtually every record available to him so far, but will be hoping he can sign off his career with a flourish.
It's still unclear as to why Brady left midway through a training camp, particularly ahead of his 23rd and final NFL campaign. One rumour suggested the veteran left to appear on The Masked Singer , though the seven-time Super Bowl -winner has shot down those suggestions. Instead, it was registered as a personal issue, and the 45-year-old is unlikely to share any further details.
The compliments weren't limited to those watching from the outside as Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate gushed over his returning team-mate. That being said, it's not all that surprising for those closest to the player when Brady has a good day at the office.
“Pretty much as expected,” said Brate. “Wherever Tom was, he was working out still and getting good reps in. Yeah, if anyone can get away with the 11-day break during training camp, it’s Tom. He came back kind of firing on all cylinders (Monday). Yeah, we’re all excited he’s back and ready to move on.”
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The Buccaneers are hoping to improve upon last season's run to the NFC divisional play-offs, where they lost out narrowly to eventual Super Bowl champions the Los Angeles Rams. The franchise has since lost head coach Bruce Arians and tight end Rob Gronkowski to retirement, with Todd Bowles replacing the former.
Brady also headed for football's exit in January and announced his own retirement from the sport—only to reverse his decision in March. The former New England Patriot guided Tampa Bay to a championship in his maiden season in Florida and is hoping to collect a record-extending eighth ring in 2023.
As far as practice goes, Brady's preparations appear to be purring along despite his 11-day hiatus. Having debuted back in 2000 and etched his name in the sport's history books, if there's anyone who can afford to miss that amount of time and not allow standards to slip, it's the man they call 'Tom Terrific'.
