Tom Brady has voiced his disapproval of the growing trend among NFL players to skip preseason games, asserting that participation is crucial for development and readiness.
In a recent social media post, Brady shared a clip of himself playing deep into a 2010 preseason game with the New England Patriots. In that game against the then-St. Louis Rams, Brady played through the first offensive series of the fourth quarter, completing 18 of 22 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns. He highlighted the clip with the message, "Practice makes perfect. Too many people looking for easy ways out these days."
Brady, who had already secured three Super Bowl rings and two Super Bowl MVP awards by 2010, suggested that his willingness to play in exhibition games stemmed from a fundamental belief in his role as a football player.
"When you're a football player, and it's football season, your job is to play football," Brady stated.
The sentiment from Brady comes as the NFL season has expanded to 17 regular-season games, leading many coaches to prioritize the health of their star players by keeping them out of exhibition contests. However, Brady's perspective suggests a belief that consistent game action, even in the preseason, is essential for maintaining peak performance and developing a competitive mindset.