Tom Brady Thinks Practice Squad Players Don’t Want Success. Kerry Hyder Has Some Words.
Tom Brady went on a podcast and decided to enlighten everyone about practice squad players. According to the seven-time Super Bowl champion, these guys don’t actually want to succeed when they get their shot. They’re just happy collecting checks and telling people they play in the NFL.
Yeah, that went over about as well as you’d expect with actual practice squad players.
Kerry Hyder, who spent three seasons with the Lions and knows a thing or two about grinding his way off practice squads, had some thoughts. And by thoughts, I mean he basically told Brady he’s completely wrong.
Hyder Fires Back With Some Reality
“That’s just simply not true,” Hyder said. “As a former practice squad player for my first two seasons, it’s literally all you think about 24/7. How can I get on the roster? Then one mistake once your roster could end your career. That’s pressure. How am I going to take care of my family? You could argue it’s the most pressure.”
Hyder would know. He fought his way from practice squad obscurity to become a starter for Detroit. The kind of grind that apparently doesn’t register when you’re Tom Brady and success has been handed to you since you were drafted by the Patriots.
Brady’s take was that practice squad guys do well in practice where there’s no pressure, but fold when they get elevated because they can’t handle expectations. He claimed a lot of them don’t even want to be promoted.
The Lions Know Better
Under Dan Campbell, the Lions have relied heavily on their practice squad. They stack it with guys who can step up when needed, because that’s how you build depth in this league. Campbell understands what Hyder is saying because he’s been around players who actually had to fight for everything.
Think about it. You’re on a practice squad, which means you’re automatically expendable. You could be cut tomorrow. You’re watching other guys live your dream while you’re stuck running scout team. That’s not low pressure, that’s the highest pressure imaginable.
As Hyder pointed out, you’re one mistake away from being let go. And finding a new team as a practice squad cut is twice as hard as getting released from an active roster. Half the UFL is practice squad guys trying to claw their way back to the NFL.
Brady is just flat wrong here. But hey, when you’ve been Tom Brady your entire career, maybe it’s hard to understand what real pressure feels like.
Think Brady’s take is as tone-deaf as it sounds, or does the GOAT have a point buried in there somewhere? Let us know below.
