The Patriots may have their quarterback of the future already on the roster, and, no, it’s not Ryan Mallett or Tim Tebow.
Tom Brady is the quarterback for now and, from what he told SI’s Peter King recently, his tenure with the team could go a lot farther than what many might expect.
Brady, who will turn 36 in a few short weeks, signed a contract extension earlier this offseason that will keep him as the Patriots quarterback until he’s 40. Now, he sounds interested in playing even longer than that.
“The way I feel now, it’s beyond 40,” Brady said. ” I have a lot of goals, and I am in this for the long haul. I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.”
Brady’s stats have remained consistent in recent years and he continues to lead the Patriots into the playoffs, even to the Super Bowl two seasons ago. But, with the urge to play beyond when the Patriots may want him, Brady doesn’t sound completely opposed to playing for a new team later in his career — if, of course, he makes it that far.
“Whether the team wants me, or whether something [like an injury] happens tomorrow to stop me from playing, that remains to be seen,” Brady said. “But my training, my nutrition, the bodywork I do — I can’t see not playing at any time in the near future. There’s nothing I love to do more. Whether the New England Patriots want me, or anyone wants me, I know I want to play for quite a while.”
Brady also commented on his former teammate Aaron Hernandez for the first time publicly since the tight end was arrested, saying he’s already “moved on.” Brady and his Patriots teammates open training camp at Gillette Stadium this Friday.
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