For almost two hours at the weekend, the NFL said goodbye to the best player in football history: Tom Brady. Then, among other things, the US news agency AP reported that the 44-year-old quarterback had not yet made his decision to resign, despite a different report from ESPN, and that he had said so to the manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a telephone call.
What is true? Only Brady himself knows that. His agent Don Yee also emphasized that. “Without addressing the accuracy or inaccuracy of the reports, Tom will be the only one expressing his plans with absolute accuracy,” the statement said. Brady’s father, Tom Senior, even described the reports of his retirement as “total conjecture,” he told NFL Network. “Tommy hasn’t made a final decision one way or the other and anyone who says otherwise is dead wrong.”
Players like Chris Godwin, the NFL itself and even his company, TB12sports, had only recently congratulated Brady via Twitter on a career that is second to none and has made Brady one of the best athletes on the planet for many. The family man won seven Super Bowls in the National Football League – no one else has more than five.
He was one of the best teams in the league for 20 years with the New England Patriots, and in his first year after moving to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he won the title again at the end of last season. The Bucs became the first team to win the championship on home soil after 18 years without winning a playoff game prior to Brady’s arrival.
His contract in Florida runs for another year. But the decision as to whether he fulfills this contract is his alone. When ESPN reported on Saturday, citing multiple anonymous sources, that the playmaker made the decision, only the timing was a bit of a surprise. Brady himself had recently commented on his future shortly after the narrow defeat against the Los Angeles Rams and pointed out that he had not yet dealt with it so closely after the game. But he also said: “My children are not getting any younger and I want to make sure they are getting what they need.”
Brady is taking the step with his health and family in mind, ESPN said. The NFL’s homepage initially said, “TB12 leaves with a trophy box full of awards.” TB12sports later tweeted: “7 Super Bowl rings. 5 Super Bowl MVPs. 3 league MVP awards. 22 amazing seasons. Thanks for everything, @TomBrady.” The tweet was deleted when Agent Yee’s statement was released.
A resignation would not be necessary for sporting reasons. Until the end of the season, he showed that the oldest player in the league was still capable of it. In the main round he had the best values for touchdowns, successful passes, pass attempts and yards thrown. He almost helped the Buccaneers comeback against the Rams, for which he is feared and respected in the league. In addition to the title record, he also holds the record for passing yards (84,520) and touchdowns (624). In total, he was in the Super Bowl final ten times. When he was picked in the sixth round of the 2000 draft as the number 199, no one thought it was possible. That Brady’s career is really over is now much more likely – despite all the confusion.