Why won’t Tom Brady shake Nick Foles’ hand?

TAMPA — Tom Brady says he doesn’t know why he won’t shake Nick Foles' hand.

He didn’t do it after Foles' Eagles beat Brady’s Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl 52 or when Foles' Bears edged Brady’s Bucs 20-19 in Chicago Oct. 8.

However, Brady pressed the flesh this season with the Saints' Drew Brees, the Chargers' Justin Herbert and the Packers' Aaron Rodgers following games.

Was Brady so upset at his own performance in those two losses that he just wanted to get off the field as quickly as possible?

On the surface, considering Foles beat him twice on national TV, it appeared as if Brady was just too angry to congratulate anybody, much less the opposing quarterback.

Or maybe he holds a grudge longer than most?

Foles and Brady finally greeted each other prior to a preseason game the summer after the Eagles had beaten the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

"That was never my intention,'' Brady said about the championship snub. "I wouldn’t be a bad sport.''

Whatever the reason, Brady said Thursday, there really isn’t a good explanation for why he has left Foles' hand hanging, so to speak.

"I didn’t even think about that,'' Brady said Thursday. "I think Nick Foles is a hell of a player and a Super Bowl champ. I don’t know one reason or another why I wouldn’t do that. Sometimes I run off the field, sometimes I haven’t. Sometimes if I have a personal relationship, like I have with Drew and Justin and Aaron over the years…I don’t know, I don’t think it’s anything particular other than I have great admiration for Nick and I think he’s a hell of a player. They’re off to a great start.''

The Bears are 5-1 and sit atop the NFC North. The Bucs are 4-2 and have a half game lead over New Orleans in the NFC South.

Maybe they will meet again in the playoffs?

That could shake things up.