Tom Brady has criticized some of the NFL’s biggest stars for sitting out of their team’s preseason games over the weekend.
NFL stars finally returned to the field for the first time since the Super Bowl in February as they continued to ramp up preparations for the new season.
Over the course of Thursday, Friday and Saturday every team was in action as coaches continue to evaluate players and test new things ahead of Week 1 next month.
But some teams refused to play a number of their starters, opting to protect them from suffering potential injuries before real football gets underway. Those who did play only stepped onto the field briefly before taking a spot on the bench.
However Brady, who played 23 seasons and was known for his meticulous preparation, blasted those players who were given the weekend off.
The seven-time Super Bowl winner posted on Instagram on Sunday: ‘Preseason… Regular season… I never wanted to be taken off the field.’
Tom Brady has criticized some of the NFL’s biggest stars for sitting out preseason games
Some teams refused to play their starters, opting to protect them from potential injuries
He continued: ‘Practice makes perfect… Too many people looking for easy ways out these days.
‘When you’re a football player, and it’s football season, your job is to play football.’
Brady was in Las Vegas on Thursday to watch the Raiders’ No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza make his NFL debut.
In a home matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza was able to drive down the length of the field to set up for a 3rd and Goal.
He tossed an easy slant pass to second-year receiver Jack Bech for a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.
Mendoza ran to the end zone to celebrate with Bech and the rest of the team for the first of what may be many passing touchdowns in the NFL.
On social media, fans celebrated the arrival of a new star for Raider Nation.
‘Mendoza agenda officially back on schedule,’ wrote one user on X.
Another said, ‘I’m pushing Mendoza propaganda this year.’
A Chargers fan posted, ‘Mendoza is gonna be really good in this league. Gonna have to get pressure on him.’
Brady was in Las Vegas on Thursday to watch Fernando Mendoza make his Raiders debut
One user posted, ‘raiders finally got a qb who stares down the goal line like he owns it instead of checking his first read and folding. that calm in the pocket on 3rd and goal hits different.’
Even former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr praised Mendoza, posting, ‘First of many!’
Brady will now be fine-tuning his preparations for the new season as he prepares to start year three of his 10-year, $375million contract with Fox.
And on Week 1 he will be in Philadelphia to watch the Eagles take on the Washington Commanders on September 13.
Brady will be joined by Fox’s top team, including play-by-play commentator Kevin Burkhardt and sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
The first ‘America’s Game of the Week’ of the new season, a showdown between two NFC East rivals, will kick off at 4:25pm ET from Lincoln Financial Field.
Brady showed major improvement in his second season as an analyst and earned rave reviews for his performance in the NFC Championship game between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
