Tom Brady Finally Returns to Practice Thanks to Dan Shaughnessy's Imaginary Conversation With Unworried Fans

Tom Brady returned to practice on Tuesday morning, much to the relief of Patriots fans everywhere. Brady hadn’t been seen since he left the stadium with a hand injury before Thursday’s preseason game against the Bears. He was then excused from practice on Sunday and Monday. What’s up with that!?

His mysterious absence really upset some people. Things got so bad in New England that Dan Shaughnessy wrote out an imaginary 900-word conversation with Patriots fans who weren’t worried, but should have been.

"“This smacks of coverup. How do we know Tom’s really hurt? Isn’t it possible he just got into a hissing contest with Bill, and Bill sent him home and he’s pouting? “You guys are Patriots fans. Don’t you want to know if the most important athlete of 21st-century Boston is injured? Aren’t you a little curious about why your best player left the stadium before last Thursday’s preseason game and hasn’t been seen since?’’"

Tom Brady turned 39 earlier this month. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any instances of him being sent home before a game like a child during any of his previous 16 seasons, but I’m not an uncompromising Boston sports writer, so what do I know besides the reports of why Brady left before Thursday’s game?

Now that Brady has returned, perhaps Shaughnessy will imagine another conversation involving people who are worried about what it means to have Brady back. Did he return too soon? Is he still distracted by that personal matter? Shouldn’t he be resting? Why is Belichick avoiding questions about why Brady is practicing!?