Tom Brady has been slammed for attending the wedding of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Friday night, with NFL expert Bill Simmons claiming he isn't the same player anymore.
Brady is unquestionably the best player in NFL history, with an incredible seven Super Bowl rings to show for his glittering 20-year career. But after returning to the field following a brief flirtation with retirement earlier in the year, many feel he doesn't have the same desire as he used to.
None hold that opinion more so than Ringer CEO Simmons, who explained on his podcast that Brady seems to be thinking he's bigger than his team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Speaking on Sunday night, Simmons explained that he shouldn't have gone to Kraft's surprise wedding on Friday night, which resulted in him missing multiple team activities and flying to Sunday's game by himself on a private jet.
Simmons explained: "Just eye test, he's getting rid of the ball a half-to a full second faster than he needs to. He's not holding it and saying 'I'm gonna get killed but I'm gonna find [a receiver], he's just not. He's getting rid of it, and he doesn't look like Brady.
"He doesn't practice on Wednesday's. He f****** went to Bob Kraft's wedding on Friday night in New York City, they had a game on Sunday! Why is he in New York City on a Friday night, he's supposed to be the leader of the team!
"All the rules are different for him. He missed pre-season for ten days. Football is meant to be this team sport where everyone is on the same side, nobody is bigger than the team, he's acted like he's bigger than the team for ten months. I think it's an embarrassing year for him."
Brady's old team, the New England Patriots, are starting to turn the corner slightly after a rough start to the season, with fourth-round draft pick Bailey Zappe a surprise package at quarterback. Zappe, who started the season as a third-string quarterback, has been thrust into the starting spot due to injuries to Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer.
That situation bares a striking resemblance to when Brady was given the starting role back in 2001 after an injury to Drew Bledsoe, with Simmons explaining that the young quarterback is showing the same characteristics Brady would have at the start of his career.
He continued: "You know who wasn't at Bob Kraft's wedding on Friday in New York City? Bailey f****** Zappe. He was at his hotel room preparing for the Browns. That's the next Tom Brady right there. 2001 Tom Brady is in his hotel room studying for the Browns."
