Handling the pressure of a full-time starter in the NFL isn’t easy. With the limelight comes increased scrutiny, a nonexistent margin for error, and a level of dedication few athletes can commit to. Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, knows a thing or two about performing at the highest level. After all, you don’t win seven Super Bowls by taking it easy.
Recently, the 48-year-old issued a controversial take about practice squad players, which didn’t go down well with many in the NFL community.
Tom Brady’s Comments Result in Social Media Backlash
It’s not easy being a ‘clutch’ athlete. Performing at the highest level in a high-pressure environment takes more than just talent. It requires nerves of steel. Perhaps that’s the difference between practice squad players and those on the starting roster. Simply put, it all comes down to their ability to deal with a pressure-cooker environment when the lights are bright. But Brady went one step further, issuing a controversial take.
Sharing his thoughts on practice squad players, Brady candidly said, “Whatever we saw in practice against where there was not a lot of pressure, now when they’re put in a situation where there’s an expectation for performance, they’ve never had to personally deal with that, and then they fail. And then what I realized was a lot of guys on those practice squads, they don’t want to be elevated to the roster.”
The Las Vegas Raiders minority owner then went on to say, “They’re very happy living this life where they could tell their family and friends, which I have no problem with that… But the reality is a lot of guys don’t want the pressure of dealing at the top.”
The sentiment was echoed by others on social media, with an X handle called Aakash Gupta claiming, “The $606,000 gap between practice squad and active roster is the annual price of pressure-avoidance. Enough NFL players pay it voluntarily that a seven-time Super Bowl champion noticed a pattern.”
Take a Quick Break. Run a Mock Draft!
Before you keep reading, jump into the shoes of the GM of your favorite team.
Naturally, the opinion didn’t go down well with some in the NFL community. Retired offensive lineman Dan Skipper was having none of it, saying, “This is an absolute bullsh*t take on all accounts.”
Former offensive guard Geoff Schwartz echoed that sentiment, writing on X, “No serious practice squad player prefers to never play in a game. This is nonsense and unserious.” He also went on to say, “I remember only a handful of guys who truly did not want to play in a game. They were all active squad guys. The PS guys can’t wait to get called up.”
Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ wide receiver Simi Fehoko issued a more diplomatic response. He said, “I understand the take but respectfully disagree. He mentions that on the psquad there’s no pressure to perform at practice. Although it is not performing on Sundays, it’s understood that every day the front office is looking for a reason to replace you. There’s pressure to keep your job every single day, whether you’re on psquad or active roster.”
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
As for his cousin, Breiden Fehoko, the former Chargers defensive tackle wrote, “Tom Brady, you are definitely wrong on performing under pressure. There are a lot of practice squad guys who get the opportunity to ball and actually do so. You just forgot to mention the other reason they never succeed is because a team is more often than not heavily financially invested in the guys in front of them.”
As for Denver Broncos wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, the 28-year-old also chimed in, saying, “Haven’t met one person who is okay with just being on the PSquad.”
Regardless of where players or fans stand on the issue, Brady’s recent remarks prove just how much weight his opinion carries within the football world. The former New England Patriots quarterback may have been trying to highlight the mental demands of performing at the highest level.
However, the backlash on social media suggests a clear disconnect between how roster battles are viewed from the top and how they are experienced by those fighting for their place in the NFL. For many, earning a call-up is a moment they have worked their entire careers for.
