New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady didn't participate in the team's voluntary workouts last offseason, and he received quite a bit of criticism for that decision.
Brady got the last laugh, however, as the Patriots' offense ranked fourth in points scored and the 41-year-old quarterback, while not putting up MVP-caliber statistics, still played at a high level. He ultimately led the Patriots on another memorable playoff run that ended with a Super Bowl LIII victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
ESPN's Mike Reiss dropped a little nugget in one of his recent stories about Brady's offseason plans, and it sounds like we could see a repeat of of 2018.
4. Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater on his message to teammates: "We need to start shifting our mindset from celebration mode to work mode. Certainly, all of us that were part of what we accomplished last season are very thankful for the way the season turned out, but we have to turn the page. We have to understand this year is going to be a new year with different challenges. We're going to have to find our identity all over again, and it's going to take a lot of work and time." That process shifts into a higher gear when the Patriots' voluntary offseason program begins April 15. While always subject to change, early indications are that quarterback Tom Brady plans to follow a similar routine as last year when he remained away from voluntary workouts, in part to focus more on family time.
Brady has been enjoying his offseason so far, at least judging by the vacation posts to his Instagram page.
The Patriots shouldn't have to worry about Brady staying in shape if he doesn't attend the team's voluntary sessions. He obviously takes his strength and conditioning very seriously, and his dedication in that area has helped him remain among the league's top quarterbacks into his forties.
On the other hand, the Patriots will have plenty of new faces at the wide receiver and tight end positions going into next season, and many of these players have no experience catching passes from Brady. Extra reps early in the offseason would help build chemistry, but Brady has earned the right to choose his own path when it comes to these workouts.
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