TAMPA, Fla. — No Tom Brady, no problem.
That has been the plan for the Bucs during their organized team activities, which began Tuesday without the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
Brady, 43, instead began passing sessions Monday next door to Raymond James Stadium at the New York Yankees’ spring training home.
Players who attended that workout included quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin, tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate, receiver Chris Godwin and running backs Ronald Jones and Giovani Bernard.
Griffin, who doesn’t get many reps during training camp or the preseason and was inactive for every game in 2020, did attend Tuesday’s OTA. He alternated under center with Florida Gators rookie Kyle Trask.
Bernard, the former Bengal signed as a free agent, running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, tight end Tanner Hudson and defensive end Anthony Nelson were present, as well.
Bucs coach Bruce Arians said he did not want to see any of the Bucs’ 22 returning starters from the Super Bowl 55 championship team at OTAs, at least not on the field, and he got his wish Tuesday.
“I don’t necessarily want our veterans here, our starters here until minicamp,” Arians said. “But we need the bottom half of our roster working.”
The bulk of the players working Tuesday were rookies, undrafted free agents and veteran backups still fighting for roster spots.
