Tom Brady reached ‘another level’ to prepare for Buccaneers redemption

Fueled by a subpar performance against the Saints in Week 1, following which Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians wasn’t shy about placing the blame on his new quarterback, Tom Brady appears intent to put it all to rest on the field.

NFL Network reported Sunday that the 43-year-old Brady “went to another level” during practice in advance of playing the Carolina Panthers in Week 2.

“He doesn’t want to lose at anything,” an unnamed player told NFL Network. “Especially a football game. So we’ve seen him come out to practice just locked in and focused.”

Arians was shockingly frank with reporters after the Bucs fell, 34-23, in New Orleans last Sunday. Brady threw two interceptions in the season-opening loss and Arians was sure to call out the four-time Super Bowl MVP, saying one was an overthrow on miscommunication with receiver Mike Evans while the other was just a bad decision.

The criticism was notable considering Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hardly ever placed any blame on Brady publicly in his 20 years coaching him in New England.

Maybe that extra criticism has kicked Brady into another gear that no one has seen before. The Panthers will be the first to find out.