Seriously! He mentions Michigan in passing. This is such a nothing burger but certain people will always find something to complain about. Everyone wants to second guess the "messaging" these days.he doesn’t mention Michigan other than in the context of how long he’s known Don Yee and the other attorney. It’s a very Tampa centric at the beginning - understandably as it’s his current gig.
If he had wrote more about San Mateo or Ann Arbor and then skipped the NE years, maybe then I’d get more worked up on the lack of Foxboro. But i thought the letter was fine and appropriate. People can search for hidden meanings if they want.
Skrub speaks the truthThe guy gives us 20 years of all time greatness and people turn on a dime. Unreal. He's just giving Tampa their respect here, which I have no problem with at all.
Your thank you is coming, New England. Jesus.
Ha ha, that would be incredible even if it would suck for Pats fans.This is all part of a plan to build up suspense - either he's going to do the 1-day contract thing and retire as a Patriot, or he's going to let loose in the final Man in the Arena episode with double-barreled middle fingers towards Kraft and Belichick for all of their slights over the years (Kraft for giving him up to Goddell during Deflategate, Belichick for planning on replacing him since drafting the pretty boy). I believe the odds are far more tilted towards the former rather than the latter, but Tom is a bit of an odd duck in many ways so I can't rule anything out.
He doesn't go through his whole career, he thanks everybody, top to bottom, in the Tampa organization -- teammates, fans, city, owner, GM, coach, employees, before thanking Guerrero, his agent and family. It's understandable but my guess is that we're probably being a little overly sensitive and that this is just him being respectful of Tampa.This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.
I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions. And I am so proud of what we have achieved. My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans deserve 100% of me, but right now, it’s best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.
To my Bucs teammates the past two years, I love you guys, and I have loved going to battle with you. You have dug so deep to challenge yourself, and it inspired me to wake up every day and give you my best. I am always here for you guys and want to see you continue to push yourselves to be your best. I couldn’t be happier with what we accomplished together.
To all the Bucs fans, thank you. I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived here, but your support and embrace have enriched my life and that of my family. I have been honored to play for such a passionate and fun fan base. What a Krewe!!!
To the city of Tampa and the entire Tampa-St. Petersburg region, thank you. It has been wonderful to be a resident of such a fun place to live. I want to be invited to our next boat parade!
To the Glazer family, thank you for taking a chance on me and supporting me. I know I was demanding at times, but you provided everything we needed to win, and your ownership was everything a player could ask for.
To Jason Licht, thank you for your daily support and friendship - I will never forget it. I had never been through free agency, and I had some trepidation about how we could achieve success. Your leadership gave me confidence, and I will always be grateful.
To my head coach Bruce Arians, thanks for putting up with me! Your firm leadership and guidance were ideal. There is no way we could have had success without your experience, intuition, and wisdom. I am very grateful.
To all the Bucs coaches, my sincere thanks for all the hard work, dedication, and discipline that goes into creating a winning team. I have learned so much from all of you and will value the relationships we have.
To every single Bucs staffer and employee, thank you. Each of you is critically important, and i was greeted with a smile every day. that means so much to me. Your work is made up of long hours and hard tasks, but please know I see each and every one of you. thank you so much.
To Alex Guerrero, thank you. I could never have made every Sunday without you; it’s that simple. Your dedication to your craft and our friendship and brotherhood are immeasurable. We have an unbreakable bond, and I love you.
To Don Yee and Steve Dubin, thank you. You’ve been with me every step of the way since I left the University of Michigan and before I entered the league. What a journey it’s been, and I couldn’t do it without you.
To my parents and entire family (and extended family of countless friends), I love you you for your never-ending support and love. I could never have imagined the time and energy you have given for me the past 30 years in football. I can never repay you. And I just know I love you so much.
And lastly to my wife, Giselle, and my children Jack, Benny and VIV. You are my inspiration. Our family is my greatest achievement. I always came off the field and home to the most loving and supportive wife who has done EVERYTHING for our family to allow me to focus on my career. Her seflessness allowed me to reach new heights professionally, and i am beyond words what you mean to me and our gamily. Te amo amor da minha vida
My playing career has been such a thrilling ride, and far beyond my imagination, and full of ups and downs. When you’re in it every day, you really don’t think about any kind of ending. As i sit here now, however, I think of all the great players and coaches I was privileged to play with and against the competition was fierce and deep, JUST HOW WE LIKE IT. But the friendships and relationships are just as fierce and deep. I will remember and cherish these memories and re-visit them often. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.
The future is exciting. I’m fortunate to have cofounded incredible companies like @autograph.io @bradybrand @tb12sports that I am excited about to continue to help build and grow, but exactly what my days will look like will be a work-in-progress. As i said earlier, I am going to take it day by day. I know for sure I want to spend a lot of time giving to others and trying to enrich other people’s loves, just as so many have sone for me.
With much love, appreciation, and gratitude.
Tom
Yeah this thread reads like Jilted Boyfriends Quarterly.The guy gives us 20 years of all time greatness and people turn on a dime. Unreal. He's just giving Tampa their respect here, which I have no problem with at all.
Your thank you is coming, New England. Jesus.
Jimbodandy speaks the truthCut the shit, people. It's embarrassing.
Seriously, probably a vacation together to some exotic location or something.Bob Kraft loves a happy ending. I'm sure they have something nice planned.
This is pretty awesome and given what we know about Brady, I think he might appreciate it.Cold:
NBC New York
@NBCNewYork
#BREAKING: Tom Brady, who lost 2 Super Bowls to the Giants during his legendary 22-year NFL career, retires; see his full message here
Tom Brady is retiring from the NFL. Source? Tom Brady. Here's how the Buccaneers quarterback announced the news Tuesday morning.
9:58 AM · Feb 1, 2022
I always loved the great fictional Globe headline joke: "2 HUB MEN DIE IN BLAST; New York also destroyed"Cold:
NBC New York
@NBCNewYork
#BREAKING: Tom Brady, who lost 2 Super Bowls to the Giants during his legendary 22-year NFL career, retires; see his full message here
Tom Brady is retiring from the NFL. Source? Tom Brady. Here's how the Buccaneers quarterback announced the news Tuesday morning.
9:58 AM · Feb 1, 2022
Entitled butt-hurt crybabies, to be more specificAlso, I cannot believe how entitled some Patriot fans are.
There's a difference, though, between noting it ... and acting like a nitwit about itIt is noteworthy that he didn't mention the Patriots, it's clueless to pretend that it's not.
Some of whom may remember that at one point, all of their football hopes and dreams were pinned on the arm of guys like Hugh Millen and the show pony radio guy. That's what gets me. Brady could come back to NE and take a dump all over the field, flip off the Krafts and post an IG telling people in NE their accents are bad and their chowder is trash. And nobody should love him any less.Entitled butt-hurt crybabies, to be more specific
Yes, I fully expect there to be more coming out. Relax people……I’d be more upset if he included sometime in passing toward the end about Kraft and the Patriots. The fact that they were 100% omitted signals to me that he’s planning something big.This is all part of a plan to build up suspense - either he's going to do the 1-day contract thing and retire as a Patriot, or he's going to let loose in the final Man in the Arena episode with double-barreled middle fingers towards Kraft and Belichick for all of their slights over the years (Kraft for giving him up to Goddell during Deflategate, Belichick for planning on replacing him since drafting the pretty boy). I believe the odds are far more tilted towards the former rather than the latter, but Tom is a bit of an odd duck in many ways so I can't rule anything out.
To be fair, I assume more than half the people here don't remember any of that and are basically Cowboy fans circa 1996, but without pronouncing the r's at the end of words.Some of whom may remember that at one point, all of their football hopes and dreams were pinned on the arm of guys like Hugh Millen and the show pony radio guy. That's what gets me. Brady could come back to NE and take a dump all over the field, flip off the Krafts and post an IG telling people in NE their accents are bad and their chowder is trash. And nobody should love him any less.
I won’t even ask if you read the last 2-3 pages.
We are supposed to attack the post and not the poster ... so I will add that the post you responded to was moronicI won’t even ask if you read the last 2-3 pages.
E10 is going to be about his SB year with Tampa, but probably there will be something at the end. I wonder if it’s two hours instead of one?I haven't watched 1-9, but don't we have a big reveal coming up with E10 of Tommy's ESPN+ documentary?
Its possible he may spend a moment or two on reflecting on his retirement and put things in perspective.
You absolutely make a good point about the perspective and my references are from ancient times.To be fair, I assume more than half the people here don't remember any of that and are basically Cowboy fans circa 1996, but without pronouncing the r's at the end of words.
If you once spent time convincing yourself that Hugh Millen and Scott Lockwood could be a dynamite offensive duo, then it's easier to forgive the greatest QB ever for not saying thank you to us.
There's a difference between noteworthy and a slight, which is where some grown men are having a meltdown because a 45 year old man didn't mention the team they root for.It is noteworthy that he didn't mention the Patriots, it's clueless to pretend that it's not.
That being said, he probably has something else positive coming for the Patriots and Patriots fans. It's not like him to be an overt jerk like that.
Because a lot of the people who cover sports, and the people who consume this stuff, don't really like sports. They like drama and use sports to deliver their drug.Why does everything have to be a conspiracy?
For real. The entitlement of the entire fan base is ludicrous.The guy gives us 20 years of all time greatness and people turn on a dime. Unreal. He's just giving Tampa their respect here, which I have no problem with at all.
Your thank you is coming, New England. Jesus.
I assume there was some negotiation with the Bucs over financial loose ends in the past several days. This statement could have been part of that.It is noteworthy that he didn't mention the Patriots, it's clueless to pretend that it's not.
That being said, he probably has something else positive coming for the Patriots and Patriots fans. It's not like him to be an overt jerk like that.
Bucs get more cap relief if they keep him under contract until June 2nd and then release him.FWIW, for the one-day contract crowd:
View: https://twitter.com/LevanReid/status/1488534299934707725?s=20&t=HkTzY99bvzMEEtj0LBeIYA
“Grown men having a meltdown”.... LOL this board melts down in every game thread when the other team scores a TD.There's a difference between noteworthy and a slight, which is where some grown men are having a meltdown because a 45 year old man didn't mention the team they root for.
Yes.Unless there's some worry about him making a comeback, they should waive the 5-year period and put him in Canton this summer. Ditto for whatever the Pats Hall of Fame requirements are. Put him in, retire 12 at the home opener (if Brady's schedule allows).
The man has brought me more joy than probably any professional athlete. Thank you, Tom.
Both of these things can be true.“Grown men having a meltdown”.... LOL this board melts down in every game thread when the other team scores a TD.