Back to work: Brady throws at camp, champs reward Arians, GM

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during an NFL football minicamp Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

TAMPA, Fla. ā€“ No keeping Tom Brady off the practice field.

The 43-year-old quarterback was a full participant Tuesday at mandatory minicamp for the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, taking part in individual drills and doing some 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work.

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The session came despite coach Bruce Arians saying last week there was a chance he'd limit Brady's involvement as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.

ā€œI donā€™t know how much Iā€™ll let him do with guys chasing him around. ... He might be doing a lot of coaching,ā€ Arians said then.

Brady wanted to work, though, and Arians liked what he saw from the seven-time Super Bowl champ during the opening session of a three-day minicamp that runs through Thursday.

ā€œHe looked fine. ... The only thing I didnā€™t want him in was the blitz period where some guys might get around him too quick,ā€ Arians said, adding team doctors gave their blessing to Brady joining practice.

ā€œThey both said he was good to go, (but) weā€™d still be careful with what weā€™re doing with him,ā€ the coach said. ā€œTrying to stop him from playing is pretty tough.ā€

Brady and backup Blaine Gabbert worked with veterans on one field.

No. 3 quarterback Ryan Griffin and rookie Kyle Trask, a second-round draft pick who on Tuesday signed a four-year, $5,535,000 contract that includes a $1,385,000 signing bonus, worked with a group of mostly younger players on a second field .

Trask was the 64th overall selection in the draft. His deal leaves first-round linebacker Joe Tryon and third-round offensive lineman Robert Hainsey as the teamā€™s only unsigned picks.

The start of minicamp came as the Bucs reiterated a commitment to giving themselves the best chance to repeat as NFL champions by giving general manager Jason Licht a contract extension and boosting Arians' salary for next season.

While details have not been disclosed, Arians said he appreciates the club adjusting terms of a four-year contract he signed in 2019.

ā€œIt means the world,ā€ Arians said. ā€œThey rewarded us for doing a good job. It wasnā€™t necessary, but they wanted to do it. I was really happy to see Jason's extension. He very well earned it.ā€

Arians and Licht made a good on a promise this offseason to do whatever necessary to keep as much of the clubā€™s championship roster together.

Key moves included giving Brady a contract extension that created much-needed salary-cap space, placing the franchise tag on receiver Chris Godwin and negotiating new contracts with Lavonte David, Shaquil Barrett, Rob Gronkowski, Leonard Fournette, Antonio Bryant and Ndamukong Suh.

As a result, all 22 starters are returning from last season.

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