The National Football League (NFL) had already said goodbye to the seven-time Super Bowl champion for almost two hours. Then reports suddenly appeared that the 44-year-old had not yet made his decision to resign.
What is true now, that only knows Brady himself. That was also emphasized by his agent Don Yee. “Without addressing the accuracy or inaccuracy of the reports, Tom will be the only one expressing his plans with absolute accuracy,” it said in a statement. Bradys father Tom Senior even called the reports of his retirement “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.”
Teammates like Chris Godwin who had NFL himself and even his company, TB12sports Brady just shortly before congratulated via Twitter on a career spanning 22 years as a professional that is second to none and Brady also made one of the best athletes on the planet for many. The family man won seven championships, six with the New England Patriots and one with Tampa Bay.
He was one of the best teams in the league for 20 years with the Patriots, and in his first year after moving to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he clinched the title again at the end of last season. The “Bucs” were the first team to win the championship in their own stadium – and that after winning before Bradys Arrived hadn’t won a playoff game in 18 years. His contract in Florida runs for another year. But the decision as to whether he fulfills this contract is his alone.
When the US sports broadcaster ESPN reported on Saturday, citing several anonymous sources, that the playmaker had made the decision, only the timing was a bit surprising. Brady himself had recently commented on his future shortly after the play-off against the Los Angeles Rams and pointed out that he had not yet dealt with it so shortly 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.” Later it read: “If this is really the end for Brady is…” TB12sports also initially tweeted: “7 Super Bowl rings. 5 Super Bowl MVPs. 3 league MVP awards. 22 incredible 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. He also showed this season that the oldest player in the league can still do it. In the NFL season, for example, he had the best scores for touchdowns, successful passes, attempted passes and yards thrown. He nearly 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 best yards through passes (84,520) and touchdowns (624). In all, he made ten appearances in the Super Bowl. When he was picked in the sixth round of the 2000 draft as the number 199, no one thought it was possible. That Bradys career is really over is much more likely now – despite all the confusion.
And if the 44-year-old does say goodbye, his star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who fought alongside him in New England, will almost certainly follow. “That will definitely affect my situation,” five-time Pro-Bowler Gronkowski had already emphasized this week.
Source: Nachrichten
