Why Buccaneers don’t need to COMPLETELY panic about Tom Brady, yet

Tom Brady is still absent from Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp with no set return date, causing many to hit the panic button. However, the Buccaneers don’t need to do this just yet.

In case you haven’t heard, Tom Brady has taken a leave of absence from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during training camp, in what was reportedly a pre-agreed upon turn of events. Many eyebrows were raised, and when new Buccaneers head honcho Todd Bowles mentioned how they aren’t EXACTLY sure what date the GOAT will return, it lead to a small sense of dread.

However, here is why the Buccaneers don’t need to be in full-scale panic mode just yet.

For starters, a lot of the Bucs starters are hurt and getting banged up so there isn’t much reason for Brady to be there in that regard. Speaking of starters, yes, the Buccaneers have several new starters on the offensive line and among his pass-catchers. However, that’s looking at it from a bit of a wide-angle lens, so let’s zoom in a bit.

One of the new starters on the offensive line is Shaq Mason. Mason was Brady’s starting guard with the New England Patriots for five seasons, including playing together in three straight Super Bowls. As far as their chemistry goes, that should be like riding a bicycle. Aaron Stinnie and Robet Hainsey are the new penciled-in starters at guard and center respectively, but both are familiar with the system since they’ve been around. Stinnie even started in Super Bowl LV.

As for the pass-catchers, Brady will still have Mike Evans, and it’s looking like Chris Godwin so he’ll have familiarity there, same with Cameron Brate. Kyle Rudolph, Russell Gage, and Julio Jones are new to Tampa Bay, so Brady will have to build chemistry and rapport with them.

Luckily, while there isn’t a set-return date for Brady’s return to the team, that doesn’t mean he won’t return at all. There’s no need to completely panic about that. Once he’s back, the greatest quarterback of all time can build that chemistry with them.

Of course, there’s the issue of what Brady’s future holds. Sure, he may retire after the season, plus the fact that he’s an unrestricted free agent after this year. That’s the key though, AFTER this year. For 2022, Brady will be back and all will be well, and hey Kyle Trask has been looking good, eh?

At the end of the day, he’s more likely than not spending time with his family after essentially burning them out of his retirement, in a pre-planned vacation. As far as this Masked Singer conspiracy theory, it’s hard to fathom that the most competitive human on the planet would skip training camp time to be in a singing competition, so we can probably throw that one out the window.

Look it’s completely normal to have a bit of anxiety about this whole Tom Brady thing, especially since the regular season is so close we can almost taste it. That said, he’s going to be back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2022 season. The division and the conference are weaker, and the team will keep chugging along with their GOAT quarterback. To quote Kevin Bacon in Animal House, “Remain calm. All is well.”