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Tom Brady is at this time scheduled to sit out the preseason game between the Patriots and the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. Brady appeared more than perturbed on August 26, 2016, by the decision to keep him on the bench during the preseason because of the four week suspension Brady faces in regular season play as a result of the “Deflategate” decision.

Speculation has been rampant about Brady playing and the team, management, Brady, and backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo all appear anxious and undecided about the effect that Brady playing in a preseason game will have. The Patriots had planned to play three quarterbacks in the preseason and in the regular season.

The team management has not wavered from their August 23, 2016, press conference that emphatically stated that Brady would not play against the Panthers. Brady has been seen to be visibly angry and frustrated in practice and many fans and sports analysts are speculating about the mental effect that Brady’s absence will have on the team, Brady, and Garoppolo in particular.

The usual procedure for preseason games is to play as many players as possible. Brady, who is the starting quarter back of record, could play as few as four downs instead of the expected first half. Any playing time for Brady is seen as a confidence builder for Brady and the team.

The objective is of course to keep Brady and all of the Patriot starters healthy and free from injury in the preseason. Brady’s anger does not appear to be directed at the team or at management. The match between the Patriots and the Panthers has no impact on the Patriots chances at yet another Super Bowl victory but Brady’s presence does.