The latest development in the Tom Brady saga is puzzling, to say the least.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday morning, citing sources close to the New England Patriots quarterback, that Brady has yet to commit to playing in 2018. This report came after ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported the 40-year-old is likely to skip the entire voluntary portion of New England’s offseason program, which would include organized team activities.
This is the same Brady who has reiterated on multiple occasions his desire to play until he’s 45 and who said with certainty ahead of Super Bowl LII that he would return for the 2018 season.
“Why does everyone want me to retire so bad?” Brady said from a podium at the Mall of America during Super Bowl week. “I don’t get it. I’m having fun. The team’s doing good. I know I’m a little bit older than most of the other guys, but I’m really enjoying it.”
Brady was even more definitive when asked about retirement in an interview with Westwood One that aired during the radio station’s Super Bowl pregame show.
“You’re going to see me playing football next year,” he said. “I don’t envision not playing.”
Even after Philadelphia Eagles handed Brady his third Super Bowl loss, the 2017 NFL MVP said he planned to continue his career.
“I expect to be back,” Brady said in his postgame presser in the bowels of U.S. Bank Stadium. “It’s 15 minutes after the game ended, so I would like to process this. I don’t see why I wouldn’t be back.”
And now? Uncertainty, a word rarely used to describe arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
As is the case with Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who also has yet to report to offseason workouts, Schefter reported Brady still is expected to play this season. There are, however, “people around (Brady) who would rather see him retire,” per Schefter. One can assume Brady’s wife, Gisele Bundchen, is on that list.
Brady’s decision obviously will have massive implications for the Patriots, who traded away his heir apparent, Jimmy Garoppolo, last season. They’re widely expected to draft a quarterback in next week’s NFL draft and have the assets to trade up for a top-tier signal-caller if they so choose.
