Most people believe Tom Brady’s playing days are numbered. Rodney Harrison doesn’t.
The former Patriots safety joined WEEI’s “Middays with MFB” on Tuesday and said he believes the 37-year-old quarterback has at least another decade in him.
“Tom Brady is probably talking about him playing until he’s 45, 50 years old because of the rule changes,” Harrison said. “The cornerbacks and the safeties, they can’t hit you when you come across the middle, they can’t jam you at the line of scrimmage. So he should be able to play for another 10 or 15 years because of the rule changes.
“If you watch the preseason, you saw how these officials, if you’re breathing on a guy heavy, they’re throwing a flag. They don’t even give you the benefit of the doubt. They don’t even give you consideration. If you’re close to a guy, if you just stare at him too long, they’re throwing flags all over the place.”
Brady has said he doesn’t plan on throwing in the towel any time soon, and he’ll be able to do that as a less-mobile quarterback, according to Harrison.
“Now, this league was changing because of all the additions of Russell Wilson and (Robert Griffin III) and all these mobile quarterbacks like Andrew Luck,” Harrison said. “Statues that are in the pocket like Brady and (Peyton) Manning and Joe Flacco, why wouldn’t they play — if they have a good offensive line to protect them, why wouldn’t they play another 10 years? Because once you grab a guy, it’s a penalty. So I don’t see why they can’t be productive for another 8, 10 years, especially the way Tom takes care of his body.”
Photo via Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Images
