Revisiting Tom Brady's past explanation for avoiding offseason workouts in Foxborough

Two Patriots-related thoughts on this rainy Monday morning:

We knew that Tom Brady wasn’t going to be there for the first day of offseason workouts. But Jeff Darlington of ESPN took it a step further with a report Monday that indicated Brady isn’t going to be a “regular participant” in the offseason program. Darlington’s report indicates that Brady plans on spending more time with his family, as well as body coach Alex Guerrero.

So what does this mean?


First, this isn’t altogether new. Brady wasn’t around for a chunk of the offseason work in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In that span, he was spending more time on the West Coast, working out in California and hanging out in his mansion he eventually sold to Dr. Dre. (Seriously.) This interview with Peter King from 2010 explained his thinking back then, and it’s likely that some of the things he says like “Life changes. You’ve got to be able to change with it.”

He also said something that struck me as being fairly timely now, especially in the wake of his comments in the final episode of the "Tom vs. Time" documentary. While there's clearly a desire to work with his guy Guerrero, there's also the pull of family.

"I'm not going to have the same relationship with the guys as if I was there every day,'' he acknowledged in the same interview. "I hope they can understand. I've seen it handled different ways by a lot of guys on the team in the past, including some of the real leaders. I've seen Willie McGinest and Rodney Harrison when their family lives turned in different directions and they couldn't be in the offseason program every day. Ultimately, what it comes down to is this: We've all got to be ready to play.''

(The interview is also fascinating for several other quotes, including his take on the two tight ends the Patriots selected in the draft earlier that spring: "The two tight ends we drafted, from what I hear, are really good players.”)

As was the case with Gronkowski, it’s important to note Bill Belichick said last Friday there are players who have what might best be described as having “excused absences” when it comes to these workouts.

“We have the voluntary offseason program that starts on Monday,” Belichick said. “It will be heavily attended, but I know there are a couple players that I’ve talked to that have other commitments, but that’s the way it always is, too. So, not really anything new there.”

Given the recent reports of tension between Belichick and Guerrero, it’s hard to dismiss this as no big deal. Is Brady tweaking his coach? It’s also worth noting that when Brady steered clear for some of the offseason workouts in 2010, he ended up winning the MVP. This is a business decision — he knows more than anyone what he needs to prepare for another season. Ultimately, the feeling here is that like most reports involving this team, the current reality of the situation lies somewhere in the middle. We should know more about the quarterback and his mindset in the coming weeks.

Ronald Jones is reportedly in for a workout with the Patriots on Monday. The USC running back is a 6-foot, 200-pounder who is ticketed by many as a Day 2 pick. In three years at Southern Cal, he finished wth 3,619 yards on 591 carries (6.1 yards per carry) and 39 rushing touchdowns. He showed a bit of a knack for catching passes out of the backfield with 32 receptions in three seasons. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com describes him as “big-play talent with a chance to thrive at a high level wherever he lands.”