TAMPA, Fla – Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has always understood the physical demands of preparing to play an NFL season and doing so at the highest level. After all, he won six Super Bowl rings. But he didn’t realize the mental energy it would take to learn a new playbook, which he has to do for the first time in 20 years at his new home in Tampa Bay.
“It was different to have the opportunity during that time to move around and, for example, study my playbook – I mean I really haven’t had to do this in 19 years, so you forget , ‘Dude, this is really hard,’ like all the different terminologies, ”Brady said Thursday. “You go back a very long time in my career to really have to put in the mental energy like I did. I have to work pretty hard physically, though. I spend a lot of time and energy making sure that I do. feel good to perform at my best, but mentally I think that’s what obviously had its challenges.
Coach Bruce Arians said his concepts were not much different from what Brady did with the New England Patriots, although his offense is best known for pushing the ball vertically down. But the terminology – basically learning a new language – is the hard part.
The workouts he organized with Berkley Prep receivers helped speed up this process and helped him develop chemistry with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Cameron Brate, Dare Ogunbowale, OJ Howard, Ronald Jones and Ryan Jensen. Now he will spend time collaborating with the Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, which they have not been able to do often this spring without an off-season schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I think we probably would have had conversations in April, we have now,” Brady said. “I think that part was also difficult, but the only thing you can do is adapt to the situation, adapt in the best possible way. [and] devote as much time and energy to it as possible. I think the reality is that time is running out for everyone. We’re going to have to work as hard as possible and not waste a minute of the day trying to get used to it. [We need to] take up the challenge and see it as an opportunity to see what we can become. “
Aside from the playbook, Brady is still trying to find his way. He had not entered Bucs’ facility for the first time until last week.
“You’re trying to learn a bunch of different things and you’re not only trying to learn an offense, but also to learn the way you work or learn the names of guys,” Brady said. “I didn’t even know where the quarters was or [where] the full team meeting room was. You walk in here and your brain is trying to figure out a lot of different things. With each passing day, it gets a little better. I’m glad we weren’t playing a game this Sunday – glad we have time to prepare. It’s been a good week pretty much here and I think I’ll take the opportunity to improve myself so that I can be the best quarterback for this team that this team really deserves. These guys are working really hard and I want to come here and do a great job for them. “
The Arians praised Brady for gathering new teammates himself and getting them on board quickly, which he compared to his former student and another future Hall of Famer – Peyton Manning.
“I think they all have the same qualities of wanting themselves over others to win and getting them accepted quickly. All the good guys, they all had it. When they were talking, everyone was listening, and Tom has it. of course, ”Arians told me. “Sure, he’s got the rings and stuff, but what he did in Berkeley [Prep], it was strictly on him. Nobody pushed him to do that. He said, ‘Hey, let’s go.’ Right now, he’s already tired of the walkthroughs. He’s like, “We have to train.” We have to wait about five more days, but yeah, I like it about him. “
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