Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady 'ready to go' after 11-day absence

INDIANAPOLIS — Speaking for the first time since his 11-day absence tending to what have been described as «personal matters,» Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady said Saturday that he «feels good» and that it was not a difficult decision to step away from the team.

«It's all personal. Everyone's got different situations they're dealing with,» Brady said. «We all have really unique challenges to our life. I'm 45 years old, man. There's a lot of s--- going on. Just gotta try to figure out life the best you can. It's a continuous process.»

When asked if he was able to address the issues he needed to address during his time away, and if he is in a better place now, Brady said, «I'm ready to go.»

Brady thanked the Bucs for their support for allowing him to take an extended absence so close to the start of the regular season. He also indirectly shot down rumors that he wanted to play elsewhere.

«I think since I came to this organization, it's been amazing — it's just been an amazing experience for me to come to this place and be as supported as I have for a long period of time,» Brady said. «I read all these stories about all these different places I was supposed to go or could have gone. And I was like, 'I only was gonna go to one place, which was here.' I think this whole organization knows that.»

Last week UFC president Dana White said Brady was poised to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders before joining the Buccaneers in 2020, with White saying Brady even went as far as looking for a house in Vegas, and that former Raiders coach Jon Gruden killed the deal.

An NFL investigation also determined that Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross contacted Brady and his agent Don Yee about joining their organization in Dec. 2021.