NFC Notes: Tom Brady, Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers

Buccaneers

In an appearance on ESPN reporter Adam Schefter‘s podcast, Buccaneers QB Tom Brady‘s personal trainer and business partner, Alex Guerrero, reiterated that Brady still has the goal of playing when he’s 45, which would mean two more seasons — at least. 

“I think the biggest accomplishment from me will come probably if we make it through age 45 because that’s what his goal was,” Guerrero told Schefter, via Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. “That will probably be the proudest moment for me, to say, ‘Hey, we actually did it.’ I know from my perspective that I want to honor my promise to him in helping him with his goal. If his goal changes, no problem. If he says, ‘Hey, I think I’m going to call it a day,’ then great. No problem. I will 100 percent support that.

“But in my mind, I’m trying to prepare him to be able to do that. I thought about this year two years ago. I try to keep his body three years ahead of where we’re going to be. I’m thinking about not just next year, but, ‘What if he feels so good at 45 he wants to play to 46?’ I don’t know, so I’d better plan. I better plan to think about how I need to get his body prepared for 46 or 47. I don’t know.”

Brady pointed out that he’s been able to remain at a high level of productivity with specific training and recovery instead of focusing on things like arm strength or throwing distance. 

“You’ve passed your physical prime, absolutely,” Brady said via SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I believe that I sustained it for a long period of time. But I don’t see me now — and there wouldn’t be a reason to like improve let’s say my arm strength or the distance I can throw a ball or the speed I can run physically. It is what it is. It’s just, I’ve actually maintained that for a long period of time through a lot of unique thoughts and my workout, my recovery, my training.”

Falcons

• Scott Bair of the team website notes 2020 third-round C Matt Hennessy should be the favorite to start but there are no guarantees given the new regime spent a fourth-rounder on C Drew Dalman. 
• The other major competition is at left guard, where veteran G Josh Andrews is the incumbent but third-round OL Jalen Mayfield will provide a stiff challenge. 
• Bair expects Falcons OL Matt Gono to slot in as the swing tackle, assuming he’s healthy after offseason surgery. 
• The Athletic’s Tori McElhaney adds there’s a possibility Mayfield could unseat former first-round OT Kaleb McGary at right tackle as well if McGary continues to struggle. 

Panthers

ESPN’s football injury analyst Stephania Bell said she isn’t concerned about Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey‘s injury history given how Carolina utilizes him in their offense. 

“When you put it all together in the context of what he’s done in his career, college and pro, and his ability to stay on the field and play the position he does, I’m not really worried about him,” Bell said, via David Newton of ESPN. “Combine his talent and utilization and what he can do and how much he can touch the ball and how much of a threat he can be, I don’t know if there’s anybody else that I want.”

Panthers OC Joe Brady confirmed their plans haven’t changed with McCaffrey and told the running back to play like his usual self. 

“My mindset has not changed with Christian McCaffrey,” Brady said. “You can obviously see the difference when Christian McCaffrey is on the football field. You can see the production of it. I told Christian I don’t want Christian to be anything more than Christian McCaffrey. He doesn’t have anything to prove to me, to prove to anybody else.”