There always seems to be some kind of drama swirling around the New England Patriots, and now we find ourselves talking about the latest installment of gossip: ConcussionGate.
Earlier this week, the wife of Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen, was interviewed on CBS This Morning, where she stated that TB12, or The Pharoh as some of us like to call him, sustained a concussion last season, and many previous seasons for that matter.
“As you know, it’s not the most, like, let’s say ‘unaggressive’ sport. Right? Football. Like, he had a concussion last year,” Bundchen said. “I mean, he has concussions pretty much. We don’t talk about it, but he does have concussions. I don’t really think it’s a healthy thing for your body to go through, do that kind of aggression all the time, that can not be healthy for you. I’m planning on having him be healthy and do a lot of fun things when we are 100 (years old) I hope.”
#NEW: @giseleofficial told @CharlieRose on @CBSThisMorning that Tom Brady had a concussion last year. "He does have concussions." pic.twitter.com/K4B8ixDN9X
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) May 17, 2017
Enter Patriots PR Team stage left, jaws on the floor, heart dropping in suspense. It’s a good thing that the Pats have been one of the winningest franchises over the last decade because they have been a public relations nightmare.
Mark Daniels, Patriots’ beat writer for the Providence Journal, was quick to state that Brady was on the injury report in 2016 for a number of things, none of which being a concussion.
Last season, Brady was on the injury report for thigh, knee and ankle injuries
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) May 17, 2017
The NFL also quickly chimed in stating:
“We have reviewed all reports relating to Tom Brady from the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants and certified athletic trainer spotters who worked at Patriots’ home and away 2016 season games as well as club injury reports that were sent to the league office.
There are no records that indicate that Mr. Brady suffered a head injury or concussion, or exhibited or complained of concussion symptoms. Today we have been in contact with the NFLPA and will work together to gather more information from the club’s medical staff and Mr. Brady. The health and safety of our players is our foremost priority and we want to ensure that all our players have and continue to receive the best care possible.”
The latest to speak out against these allegations by his wife was Brady’s agent Don Yee.
“Tom was not diagnosed with a concussion last year,” Yee said. “Many of the protocols and safeguards still are evolving, and it’s obviously a good thing the organization and everyone close to him is vigilant and always looking out for his health.”
So is this whole situation just white noise? A concerned wife that doesn’t like watching her husband being hunted by 300-pound men that run sub-five second 40s? Or is there some validity to her concern?
Whether you believe the Patriots have a history of cheating or not, i.e. SpyGate, DeflateGate, etc., it does raise one’s eyebrow when the question has been raised whether or not the organization is forced to disclose information regarding their Golden Boy yet again.
Now, do I believe that Brady underwent some sort of secret concussion protocol, failed the test, and the team covered it up so that he could continue to play? No, I do not believe that happened. Would it shock me if this unfolded? Sadly, it wouldn’t.
More than likely, Brady did have a concussion, or more than one last season. I’m pretty certain I’ve had more than a few small concussion’s that were never diagnosed, primarily due to the fact that I have never been forced into a concussion protocol or medical procedure. If Brady never appeared to be in a “concussed state” on the field or on the sidelines, and he never brought anything up to the medical staff, then there would be no reason for him to go through the protocol.
And it is safe to say that Brady’s wife probably knows him better than anyone one else. Whether he complained of continual headaches at home or displayed signs of forgetfulness, I doubt that Gisele would just make something like his up as a publicity stunt (like this couple needs any more publicity).
Either way, this is another offseason Patriots’ headline that takes away from the dominance that they (the Patriots) display on the field in-season. Hopefully, for my sake, and for your sake, and for the sake of the NFL, this is the last time you have to hear about a potential “ConcussionGate.” Another New England soap opera is the last thing that any of us want.