Phil Simms: Tom Brady 'a distraction' for Buccaneers

Former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms has become the latest noteworthy person to criticize Tom Brady about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' struggles. 

"The distractions caused by him: Going away for 10 days in training camp, what went on with the wedding is a distraction to the football team. It hurts," Simms explained about Brady on the latest edition of the Paramount+ "Inside the NFL" program, per Justin Terranova of the New York Post. 

Brady has consistently generated off-the-field headlines since he initially retired in February and then returned in March. He surprisingly took an 11-day break away from the Buccaneers during the preseason in August for unspecified "personal reasons" and more recently was blasted by individuals such as former All-Pro offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth and former Buccaneers offensive lineman Ian Beckles for missing a team walk-through to attend the wedding of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. 

"If you could go back in time, Tom Brady would stay retired down in Tampa, no doubt about it," Simms added. 

Simms made his comments amid numerous rumors and reports claiming that Brady and his wife Gisele Bündchen have hired divorce attorneys because their relationship is "beyond saving." Such stories continue to hover over the 45-year-old as the 3-4 Buccaneers head into the "Thursday Night Football" home game versus the 4-3 Baltimore Ravens. 

Simms isn't the only person to suggest Brady may be having second thoughts about playing in at least one more season. Radio hosts, former signal-caller Chris Simms, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, and NFL Network host Kyle Brandt have all said this month they believe the seven-time Super Bowl champion could retire, for good, during the ongoing campaign. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler thinks the "relentless Brady headlines" over the past eight months or so played a role in Tampa Bay players looking "checked out" this fall.