SPC Patrick Caldwell 616333 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>On Thursday, April 23rd the New England Patriots made their way to the White House to be honored by President Barack Obama for their victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. However, a storyline erupted before the ceremony even began; Tom Brady wasn't able to go due to a "family committment".<br /><br />I watched ESPN's First Take this morning, featuring Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless debating about Brady's absence and whether is was unacceptable or not. SAS commented that unless it's a family emergency or something major, you should respect the office that the President occupies and attend the ceremony. Now he also mentioned that the wording of his reason to NOT be there was a 'family committment'. Maybe we hear more about it, maybe we don't. Skip more or less didn't address the issue, but did comment earlier about the Deflategate joke Obama made that "fell flat", or so it seemed.<br /><br />What do you all think? Is it okay that Tom Brady wasn't there, or is it a slap in the face to the President? Maybe both?<br /><br />Invite others to respond by typing @name 2015-04-24T14:22:16-04:00 SPC Patrick Caldwell 616333

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>On Thursday, April 23rd the New England Patriots made their way to the White House to be honored by President Barack Obama for their victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. However, a storyline erupted before the ceremony even began; Tom Brady wasn't able to go due to a "family committment".<br /><br />I watched ESPN's First Take this morning, featuring Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless debating about Brady's absence and whether is was unacceptable or not. SAS commented that unless it's a family emergency or something major, you should respect the office that the President occupies and attend the ceremony. Now he also mentioned that the wording of his reason to NOT be there was a 'family committment'. Maybe we hear more about it, maybe we don't. Skip more or less didn't address the issue, but did comment earlier about the Deflategate joke Obama made that "fell flat", or so it seemed.<br /><br />What do you all think? Is it okay that Tom Brady wasn't there, or is it a slap in the face to the President? Maybe both?<br /><br />Invite others to respond by typing @name

2015-04-24T14:22:16-04:00 2015-04-24T14:22:16-04:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 616347

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Perhaps, he has a family commitment.

2015-04-24T14:26:13-04:00 2015-04-24T14:26:13-04:00 GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad 616552

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>He exercised his right and I applaud him ... ESPECIALLY if it somehow managed to "slap" Mr. Obama in the face!

2015-04-24T15:29:45-04:00 2015-04-24T15:29:45-04:00 SGT Richard H. 616703

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My opinion is that same as it was when Marshawn Lynch skipped it last year (don't care)....except that I like Lynch.

2015-04-24T16:18:32-04:00 2015-04-24T16:18:32-04:00 SGT Shayne Merritt 616738

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I wouldn't go either... Good for him

2015-04-24T16:25:19-04:00 2015-04-24T16:25:19-04:00 CW3 Private RallyPoint Member 616808

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think if anyone wants to criticize Tom Brady for not going due to a family commitment, they need to suck start a shotgun, just like the idiots who criticized that one baseball player for taking paternity leave when his wife had a baby.

2015-04-24T16:44:08-04:00 2015-04-24T16:44:08-04:00 SGT James Elphick 616881

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Who cares?

2015-04-24T17:10:32-04:00 2015-04-24T17:10:32-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 1214344

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tom Brady does whatever he wants and gets away with it.

2016-01-04T13:28:52-05:00 2016-01-04T13:28:52-05:00 2015-04-24T14:22:16-04:00