Tom Brady. (Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Patriots players will start reporting to training camp this weekend, and veterans are required in Foxborough by Wednesday, which is probably when Tom Brady will show up.
Remember, the future Hall of Famer hasn't exactly gone out of his way to be around this offseason after missing the team's voluntary workouts and only showing up for mandatory mini-camp. That wouldn't normally be the biggest of deals, except Brady's spent his whole career talking about the importance of each and every camp and practice.
Retired receiver Wes Welker spent six seasons with New England, and he told NBC Sports Boston it's really not a story the QB skipped optional spring OTAs.
"He's got a family, a wife who wants to take the family on vacation," Welker said. "What are you really teaching Tom Brady at this point? If you're worried about him getting on the right page with receivers or whatever, that's why they have coaches. Coaches are really able to emphasize with those guys what they want them to do. I think it's a great opportunity for those guys to play together without Tom and kind of figure it out. It's got to get figured out somehow--it can't always be him doing it."
Plus, Brady's getting older. He'll turn 41 in two weeks.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports