2019 TB12: Everyday Is Like Sunday

axx

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
8,126
I could see him going somewhere for one season (and only one season), for one last megabucks payday that the Patriots wouldn't match. But I agree that anything is possible.
 

Reverend

for king and country
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 20, 2007
64,026
I could see him going somewhere for one season (and only one season), for one last megabucks payday that the Patriots wouldn't match. But I agree that anything is possible.
What constitutes megabucks here?
 
Apr 24, 2019
1,278
I’m just not sure I understand why, if he were seriously considering retirement after this year, Brady would’ve tacitly expressed pretty clear frustration that the Patriots were unwilling to give him a 2-3 year deal this summer. The only explanation is a version of “take me ball and go home,” which mad-about-negotiations is, IMO, unlikely to be enough to lead to.
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,095
I’m just not sure I understand why, if he were seriously considering retirement after this year, Brady would’ve tacitly expressed pretty clear frustration that the Patriots were unwilling to give him a 2-3 year deal this summer. The only explanation is a version of “take me ball and go home,” which mad-about-negotiations is, IMO, unlikely to be enough to lead to.
Not sure he ever actually expressed any frustration.
 

Ed Hillel

Wants to be startin somethin
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2007
43,558
Here
lol everyone made a big deal of Guerrero selling his house in MA, and then he turns around and buys a new house in...MA. I'm sure this will be mentioned in exactly zero future stories, only the "AG SOLD HIS HOUSE!!!"
 

staz

Intangible
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2004
20,659
The cradle of the game.
It’s preposterous until it happens. And honestly? He doesn’t owe me squat. Love to see him retire as a Patriot. But if not, go off, do what you want, you’ve certainly earned it.

And I bet BB could fix Jimmy G...
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
32,617
Did I ever tell you guys that my grandfather who is a bit of a drunk, a happy one, but a drunk, called me after Brady’s first night game, I think it was MNF, and told me “Tom Brady is an angel sent by God to take the Patriots to the Super Bowl.” This is a true story that happened and I scoffed at it. Many still had Drew coming back. My grandfather has been laughing for 20 years.

I was with a buddy in maybe 2004 when many thought Manning was going to beat the Pats in the playoffs, this could have been 03, and he was convinced the Colts were going to win, I told him “you don’t get it, Tom Brady is an angel.” He scoffed. We are at a bar for the game. By the end of the game we were both drunk and both of us knew the truth “He is a fucking angel.”
 

Reverend

for king and country
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 20, 2007
64,026
Did I ever tell you guys that my grandfather who is a bit of a drunk, a happy one, but a drunk, called me after Brady’s first night game, I think it was MNF, and told me “Tom Brady is an angel sent by God to take the Patriots to the Super Bowl.” This is a true story that happened and I scoffed at it. Many still had Drew coming back. My grandfather has been laughing for 20 years.

I was with a buddy in maybe 2004 when many thought Manning was going to beat the Pats in the playoffs, this could have been 03, and he was convinced the Colts were going to win, I told him “you don’t get it, Tom Brady is an angel.” He scoffed. We are at a bar for the game. By the end of the game we were both drunk and both of us knew the truth “He is a fucking angel.”
And you’re still a Jets fan.

View: https://youtu.be/ce9IvqfnYg4#t=01m45s
 

Marciano490

Urological Expert
SoSH Member
Nov 4, 2007
62,312
40 for the one season.
So, like a little less than his wife continues to make every year? $40 million is $40 million, but that’s not going to change the Brady household.

Plus, he’d need to go to a team with a good to great line and supporting cast. Why would he take a chance on getting fucked up or putting up bad numbers? But not a team that’s too good already, otherwise what’s he really proving by being Peyton his last year in Denver. I just don’t see it.
 

Reverend

for king and country
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 20, 2007
64,026
So, like a little less than his wife continues to make every year? $40 million is $40 million, but that’s not going to change the Brady household.

Plus, he’d need to go to a team with a good to great line and supporting cast. Why would he take a chance on getting fucked up or putting up bad numbers? But not a team that’s too good already, otherwise what’s he really proving by being Peyton his last year in Denver. I just don’t see it.
I was thinking that Gisele would have to OK the o-line too.

I think people also underestimate Brady’s endorsements because a lot of his are for, like, things that most of us don’t buy, in magazines we don’t read.
 

Marciano490

Urological Expert
SoSH Member
Nov 4, 2007
62,312
I was thinking that Gisele would have to OK the o-line too.

I think people also underestimate Brady’s endorsements because a lot of his are for, like, things that most of us don’t buy, in magazines we don’t read.
Totally. I mean he used to be an ambassador for Audemars, but now it’s just Tag Heuer.
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
47,083
So, like a little less than his wife continues to make every year? $40 million is $40 million, but that’s not going to change the Brady household.

Plus, he’d need to go to a team with a good to great line and supporting cast. Why would he take a chance on getting fucked up or putting up bad numbers? But not a team that’s too good already, otherwise what’s he really proving by being Peyton his last year in Denver. I just don’t see it.
Yeah, I find this the least plausible scenario. He’s going to mess with his legacy to join some random team for some extra money he doesn’t need? All after passing up money for basically his entire career?

Only way I can see Brady leaving NE is if he wants to play 3 more years and Belichick is like nah. But we haven’t seen any meaningful decline from him yet nor have we seen anything from Stidham to suggest he’s even remotely ready.

Thus, it feels like Brady just goes year to year with Pats until he’s done. Could be as early as this year.
 

Marciano490

Urological Expert
SoSH Member
Nov 4, 2007
62,312
The other thing, too, is that for guys that’ve been in the sport the concept of injuries to your body and mind are far less abstract than for fans.

I know just from boxing and powerlifting, the amount of time I’ve spent around guys who used to be able to bench 1000 pounds or beat up almost anyone in the world but now can’t pick up their young kids or formulate a sentence is sobering.

I can’t imagine Tom wants to risk body or brain in a new situation just to prove - what exactly?
 

The Social Chair

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 17, 2010
6,082
This is dumb. Brady has young kids. As much as Gisele hates him continuing to play, no way is she signing off on everyone moving to Chicago or San Diego for a year. He’s not going anywhere else to play and I’ll lay straight cash on that, homies.
I think you may be really off base here.

Next up, Brady turns his attention to Bündchen. “Gisele is not really into sports,” he says. “She’s like a kite flying in the sky, and I’m kind of tethering her. Sometimes I have to hold on hard. But she knows I’m always there for her.” Their backgrounds are in fact very different. “Gisele’s life has been very nontraditional,” says Brady. “She left home at 14; she lived in Japan at 16 in an era with no cell phones. She lived in New York City at 17 without speaking English. In her mind, there are no boundaries. ‘Why can’t you do that? Why do you have to go to school? Why can’t you just leave and live in a different country?’ In her reality, you can. Coming from mine, it was very different. This is what you do: You go to elementary school, go to high school, go to college. In her mind, why do you have to do any of those things? And you know what, she’s right. I’m the one that had to go, ‘You’re right!’ And that’s helped me grow.”
https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a28507342/tom-brady-age-nfl-training-interview/
 

Reverend

for king and country
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 20, 2007
64,026

BroodsSexton

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2006
12,630
guam
You might be reading a bit deeply into a “Both Partners Learn From Each Other: Isn’t Life Swell?” piece in a culture mag.

That said, I can’t imagine the decision processes each of them gets to employ that are completely unavailable to most people.
We have difficulty deciding on where to go for dinner around here.
 

splendid splinter

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2001
1,076
Greenville, SC
I think Brady just wants to control the endgame here, now that he’s reached an age where he knows the end is coming. If he wants to go year-to-year with the Pats, he can do that (and the Pats will gladly oblige). If he wants a 2 or 3 year deal he’ll either get that, because the franchise tag is off the table, or he’ll move on or retire if the Pats aren’t open to that.

I don’t see him asking for a huge payday from NE. As Marciano notes, that money means nothing to him financially, and he doesn’t need the “validation” that many players associate with a big number - he’s already the GOAT, he doesn’t need a $40M deal to affirm that in his mind or anyone else’s. And where would that leave him if he got it? Playing out his last year(s) for a team that wouldn’t be nearly as competitive because he’d cap hamstrung it? Winning 10 games tops with a decimated roster and putting his health and winning legacy at risk as a result? I don’t see it.

He’ll be back unless he retires or wants a multi-year deal of a length that NE just won’t accept.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,202
Did I ever tell you guys that my grandfather who is a bit of a drunk, a happy one, but a drunk, called me after Brady’s first night game, I think it was MNF, and told me “Tom Brady is an angel sent by God to take the Patriots to the Super Bowl.” This is a true story that happened and I scoffed at it. Many still had Drew coming back. My grandfather has been laughing for 20 years.

I was with a buddy in maybe 2004 when many thought Manning was going to beat the Pats in the playoffs, this could have been 03, and he was convinced the Colts were going to win, I told him “you don’t get it, Tom Brady is an angel.” He scoffed. We are at a bar for the game. By the end of the game we were both drunk and both of us knew the truth “He is a fucking angel.”
This is funny. I was definitely on the Bledsoe returns to starter as soon as he's healthy bandwagon. I was also on the there's no room for David Ortiz with Kevin Millar and Jeremy Giambi bandwagon, so I'm not a very good judge of talent. Is your grandfather a Patriots or Jets fan?
 

axx

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
8,126
So, like a little less than his wife continues to make every year? $40 million is $40 million, but that’s not going to change the Brady household.

Plus, he’d need to go to a team with a good to great line and supporting cast. Why would he take a chance on getting fucked up or putting up bad numbers? But not a team that’s too good already, otherwise what’s he really proving by being Peyton his last year in Denver. I just don’t see it.
I don't think Brady's legacy would be tainted at all if he spends one random mediocre year with an NFC team. Maybe to him it would be a new challenge or something. Remember next year is the last before the lockout, so if he's going to try something like this it would have to be next year. I would still say it's more likely he retires.
 

Van Everyman

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2009
26,991
Newton
I think Brady just wants to control the endgame here, now that he’s reached an age where he knows the end is coming. If he wants to go year-to-year with the Pats, he can do that (and the Pats will gladly oblige). If he wants a 2 or 3 year deal he’ll either get that, because the franchise tag is off the table, or he’ll move on or retire if the Pats aren’t open to that.

I don’t see him asking for a huge payday from NE. As Marciano notes, that money means nothing to him financially, and he doesn’t need the “validation” that many players associate with a big number - he’s already the GOAT, he doesn’t need a $40M deal to affirm that in his mind or anyone else’s. And where would that leave him if he got it? Playing out his last year(s) for a team that wouldn’t be nearly as competitive because he’d cap hamstrung it? Winning 10 games tops with a decimated roster and putting his health and winning legacy at risk as a result? I don’t see it.

He’ll be back unless he retires or wants a multi-year deal of a length that NE just won’t accept.
This feels about right to me. What is the one thing we know—we *actually* know—about Tom Brady and retirement? That quote from his father: he expects it to end badly. Brady has almost certainly been dreading this moment for years. He knows how competitive he is – but also how competitive and cold blooded BB is.

To this point, Brady has almost entirely relied on his performance to control the endgame. I'm not going to rehash 2014, his return from suspension in 2016 and the Jimmy G stuff in 2017. But if you assume Bill has challenged Brady over the years to prove that the job is his—and it would be out of character if he hasn’t—Brady has repeatedly met the challenge by either winning the Super Bowl or winning the MVP.

I mean, would anyone be surprised if at some point these last few years Kraft had gotten these two guys in a room together to get on the same page and Tom said, "I just feel like I've earned the right to end things on my own terms" -- and then when Kraft kicked it over to Bill he said, "I'm just trying to put the most competitive team I can on the field every day" and Brady just rolled his eyes? Whether or not this type of meeting has actually happened, I would be shocked if that isn't effectively the dynamic at play here.

Where I think Brady and Belichick see eye-to-eye 100% is in their mutual desire to win another Super Bowl -- and I think this is where Kraft has probably tried to keep them both focused. Forget about next year, forget about the end, you have an opportunity to win this year with each other -- so let's focus on that.

For the most part, it's worked. As long as the team remains competitive--and right now, again, they're the favorites--that's going to be a strong pull for both of them -- and for Brady to remain a NEP. But with each passing season, it makes sense that Brady would be taking more steps to increase his leverage to do this on his own terms. And that seems to be what he's doing here.
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
47,083
This feels about right to me. What is the one thing we know—we *actually* know—about Tom Brady and retirement? That quote from his father: he expects it to end badly. Brady has almost certainly been dreading this moment for years. He knows how competitive he is – but also how competitive and cold blooded BB is.

To this point, Brady has almost entirely relied on his performance to control the endgame. I'm not going to rehash 2014, his return from suspension in 2016 and the Jimmy G stuff in 2017. But if you assume Bill has challenged Brady over the years to prove that the job is his—and it would be out of character if he hasn’t—Brady has repeatedly met the challenge by either winning the Super Bowl or winning the MVP.

I mean, would anyone be surprised if at some point these last few years Kraft had gotten these two guys in a room together to get on the same page and Tom said, "I just feel like I've earned the right to end things on my own terms" -- and then when Kraft kicked it over to Bill he said, "I'm just trying to put the most competitive team I can on the field every day" and Brady just rolled his eyes? Whether or not this type of meeting has actually happened, I would be shocked if that isn't effectively the dynamic at play here.

Where I think Brady and Belichick see eye-to-eye 100% is in their mutual desire to win another Super Bowl -- and I think this is where Kraft has probably tried to keep them both focused. Forget about next year, forget about the end, you have an opportunity to win this year with each other -- so let's focus on that.

For the most part, it's worked. As long as the team remains competitive--and right now, again, they're the favorites--that's going to be a strong pull for both of them -- and for Brady to remain a NEP. But with each passing season, it makes sense that Brady would be taking more steps to increase his leverage to do this on his own terms. And that seems to be what he's doing here.
There is still a massive gap between Brady’s performance and a realistic replacement. I don’t see how BB would be at odds with Brady sticking around, especially at a sub-market salary.
 

Number45forever

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 16, 2003
1,970
Vermont
From an article in the Athletic with a bunch of Browns' guys talking about Brady, this is Aaron Shea, Brady's old BFF from Michigan and a former TE and front office guy with the Browns:

Shea said he regularly talks with Brady about when he might retire. Brady’s answer: “Do you like what you’re doing right now?”

“I would tell him, no, there is nothing better than playing,” Shea said. “And he’d tell me: ‘That’s my point. There’s nothing I’d rather do than play football.’”


The hell with Schefter and click-baiting stories, I'll believe Brady is retiring when it happens. Until then, enjoy every single game he plays.
 

ElcaballitoMVP

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 19, 2008
3,932
This feels about right to me. What is the one thing we know—we *actually* know—about Tom Brady and retirement? That quote from his father: he expects it to end badly. Brady has almost certainly been dreading this moment for years. He knows how competitive he is – but also how competitive and cold blooded BB is.

To this point, Brady has almost entirely relied on his performance to control the endgame. I'm not going to rehash 2014, his return from suspension in 2016 and the Jimmy G stuff in 2017. But if you assume Bill has challenged Brady over the years to prove that the job is his—and it would be out of character if he hasn’t—Brady has repeatedly met the challenge by either winning the Super Bowl or winning the MVP.
I was talking with a friend of mine about this yesterday and had a similar feeling. Brady knows he's approaching the end. But so does Bill. Do you think Bill wants to be left with Jared Stidham as his only option at QB? Heck no. He's going to be proactive and try to find another guy he can groom (insert Mo Sanu joke here). That's just who he is. If he thinks trading Brady to get the next great QB is the way to go, he's going to push Kraft to do it.

By doing this, Brady now has the control. He gets to stick around as long as he wants. And I'm fine with that. He's Tom F'n Brady.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2008
42,271
AZ
Hasn't Brady been very specific that he wants to play until he's 45? I heard and saw these quotes and assume he means what he says.

If that's his intention, there is most definitely the possibility that it will end badly. Hopefully not, but definitely a chance. There my come a time when committing $28 million in cap space for a 44 year old QB that you know is not going to stick around very long is not rational for the long-term success of the franchise. Bill will eventually do what's best for the team, unless Kraft vetoes.

Gotta be prepared for it. Schefter positing it's this year is a silly distraction. It's going to come eventually, and it's going to suck.
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,095
Hasn't Brady been very specific that he wants to play until he's 45? I heard and saw these quotes and assume he means what he says.

If that's his intention, there is most definitely the possibility that it will end badly. Hopefully not, but definitely a chance. There my come a time when committing $28 million in cap space for a 44 year old QB that you know is not going to stick around very long is not rational for the long-term success of the franchise. Bill will eventually do what's best for the team, unless Kraft vetoes.

Gotta be prepared for it. Schefter positing it's this year is a silly distraction. It's going to come eventually, and it's going to suck.
He's backed off a bit from the "play until 45" more recently. His tune now is more along the lines of "retirement is something I think about, and it will happen when it happens. But I'm still here".

Granted it's a different sport and body type, but you may recall the effort that David Ortiz said he would go through to get ready to play during his last season when he was 40, and he said it was clear he couldn't do it any more after that season. Avacado milkshakes notwithstanding, there is only so much even Tom Brady is willing to go through to get his body to cooperate.

I do agree that the longer he plays, the more likely his career will end in a fizzle (or an injury) rather than a bang, and the less likely it will be with New England. But there is a non-zero chance he could decide to hang them up before then for the reasons stated.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2008
42,271
AZ
He's backed off a bit from the "play until 45" more recently. His tune now is more along the lines of "retirement is something I think about, and it will happen when it happens. But I'm still here".

Granted it's a different sport and body type, but you may recall the effort that David Ortiz said he would go through to get ready to play during his last season when he was 40, and he said it was clear he couldn't do it any more after that season. Avacado milkshakes notwithstanding, there is only so much even Tom Brady is willing to go through to get his body to cooperate.

I do agree that the longer he plays, the more likely his career will end in a fizzle (or an injury) rather than a bang, and the less likely it will be with New England. But there is a non-zero chance he could decide to hang them up before then for the reasons stated.
Just speculating, but it may very well come down to when it is that he has a very clear picture of what he would do after football. Maybe he already has that. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy where "spend more time with family" or "maybe we'll live on a boat" is going to do it. I would think it's going to take a very clear vision of what his job will be -- whether it's corporate, in football, in entertainment, or whatever -- so that he allows himself the ability to start thinking about the alternative to something he's done his entire adult life. Maybe he already has that. Or maybe he's just too crazy during the extended season to put any effort into that.
 

E5 Yaz

Transcends message boarding
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
90,014
Oregon
If I hadn't always thought of Scheffer as separate from the hitmen at ESPN, I'd think this entire tempest is their annual "let's come up with a 'controversy' with the Patriots to try to knock them off their game" story
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,753
Pittsburgh, PA
From an article in the Athletic with a bunch of Browns' guys talking about Brady, this is Aaron Shea, Brady's old BFF from Michigan and a former TE and front office guy with the Browns:

Shea said he regularly talks with Brady about when he might retire. Brady’s answer: “Do you like what you’re doing right now?”

“I would tell him, no, there is nothing better than playing,” Shea said. “And he’d tell me: ‘That’s my point. There’s nothing I’d rather do than play football.’”

The hell with Schefter and click-baiting stories, I'll believe Brady is retiring when it happens. Until then, enjoy every single game he plays.
This is where I'm at. I think it was on the Facebook Video bits showing the Bradys' private side in an attempt to pitch TB12, where he basically referred to all the amazing blessings in his life and explained that he attributed it all to football. "For me, all of this is football", he gestured expansively. He wants "football" to continue as long as possible.

At age 41, in 1948, Satchel Paige entered MLB for Cleveland. At ages 45 and 46, he was an all-star for the St Louis Browns, as a most-closer and sometimes-starter. When the Browns moved to Baltimore after 1953 they left him behind, but a decade later he came back and at age 58 (!), threw 3 innings of 1-hit ball for Kansas City.

Some legends don't let the game tell them what to do, they have the power to tell the game when they're done.
 

Koufax

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
5,936
I saw those three innings. I had no idea who Satchel Page was by my parents were amazed and highly entertained by the fact that he came back and did that.
 

Al Zarilla

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
58,867
San Andreas Fault
Satchel Paige of course had another thing driving him in his senior for baseball years, and that was of course MLB’s exclusion of Blacks until 1947. He probably felt he had something to prove, since he was hidden from the limelight until he was 41. He still put up 8.9 BWAR in his 5+ years. Tom has nothing to prove, just that he apparently has trouble letting go. We’re lucky he’s that way.
 

joe dokes

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
30,233
I don't think Brady's legacy would be tainted at all if he spends one random mediocre year with an NFC team. Maybe to him it would be a new challenge or something. Remember next year is the last before the lockout, so if he's going to try something like this it would have to be next year. I would still say it's more likely he retires.
I dont know how a season of mediocrity would affect his overall legacy, but the images of Unitas with the Chargers, Namath with the Rams, and Mays stumbling around in CF for the '73 Mets have not been swept away by the rest of their respective careers.


This feels about right to me. What is the one thing we know—we *actually* know—about Tom Brady and retirement? That quote from his father: he expects it to end badly. Brady has almost certainly been dreading this moment for years. He knows how competitive he is – but also how competitive and cold blooded BB is.
To this point, Brady has almost entirely relied on his performance to control the endgame. I'm not going to rehash 2014, his return from suspension in 2016 and the Jimmy G stuff in 2017. But if you assume Bill has challenged Brady over the years to prove that the job is his—and it would be out of character if he hasn’t—Brady has repeatedly met the challenge by either winning the Super Bowl or winning the MVP.
I mean, would anyone be surprised if at some point these last few years Kraft had gotten these two guys in a room together to get on the same page and Tom said, "I just feel like I've earned the right to end things on my own terms" -- and then when Kraft kicked it over to Bill he said, "I'm just trying to put the most competitive team I can on the field every day" and Brady just rolled his eyes? Whether or not this type of meeting has actually happened, I would be shocked if that isn't effectively the dynamic at play here.
Where I think Brady and Belichick see eye-to-eye 100% is in their mutual desire to win another Super Bowl -- and I think this is where Kraft has probably tried to keep them both focused. Forget about next year, forget about the end, you have an opportunity to win this year with each other -- so let's focus on that.


For the most part, it's worked. As long as the team remains competitive--and right now, again, they're the favorites--that's going to be a strong pull for both of them -- and for Brady to remain a NEP. But with each passing season, it makes sense that Brady would be taking more steps to increase his leverage to do this on his own terms. And that seems to be what he's doing here.
I think the bolded is the most likely scenario behind the scenes. They will revisit the whole shooting match in March. If Brady even wants to play; if BB thinks he can, or has divined the cliff; and Kraft's final say. He'll be 43 next training camp. None of the 3 of them know the answers to any of the relevant 2020 questions right now.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,753
Pittsburgh, PA
Satchel Paige of course had another thing driving him in his senior for baseball years, and that was of course MLB’s exclusion of Blacks until 1947. He probably felt he had something to prove, since he was hidden from the limelight until he was 41. He still put up 8.9 BWAR in his 5+ years. Tom has nothing to prove, just that he apparently has trouble letting go. We’re lucky he’s that way.
Well that's why I cited the years involved, figured that went without saying.

From what I've learned of Tom's personality, the inner resentment he harbors and nurtures is probably more comparable to that of Paige, an all-time talent cruelly prevented from shining on the stage he richly deserved, moreso than to basically any of his peers in the NFL. Even Peyton Manning was anointed from birth to be a HOF Quarterback. Maybe Brees getting the shit end of the stick in SD drove him a bit, but there's still no comparison to Brady. It's not "trouble letting go", it's that all those other MFers are coming for HIS job, never believed in HIM, and he's going to Fing SHOW THEM. They will all remember, forever, the day they played the Titans against Tom Brady.

I can think of some parallels in business - Ross Perot's story is a great one, for example - and of course there's some echoes of Pedro Martinez's early career too. But I thought the Paige comparison was instructive, in that he was somehow able to remain productive at the highest level even into his 40s. The age-58 thing was clearly a stunt, but I mean, he also went out there and got 9 major-leaguers out, too. And how many 43+ year-olds have ever gotten MVP votes? In any sport? Kareem's last votes came at age 38, Clemens at age 42 (more valuable than Paige at 43 though), Big Unit at 40. Jaromir Jagr got some Hart Trophy (MVP) votes at age 43, finished 7th actually, that's the only one I can find.

When you're that far off the bell curve, the rules don't apply to you.
 

Reverend

for king and country
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 20, 2007
64,026
He's backed off a bit from the "play until 45" more recently. His tune now is more along the lines of "retirement is something I think about, and it will happen when it happens. But I'm still here".

Granted it's a different sport and body type, but you may recall the effort that David Ortiz said he would go through to get ready to play during his last season when he was 40, and he said it was clear he couldn't do it any more after that season. Avacado milkshakes notwithstanding, there is only so much even Tom Brady is willing to go through to get his body to cooperate.

I do agree that the longer he plays, the more likely his career will end in a fizzle (or an injury) rather than a bang, and the less likely it will be with New England. But there is a non-zero chance he could decide to hang them up before then for the reasons stated.
Corrections officers at max security prisons will tell you that even the most violent, hardened inmates generally start chilling out by around 40 years of age.
 

Super Nomario

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 5, 2000
14,012
Mansfield MA
From an article in the Athletic with a bunch of Browns' guys talking about Brady, this is Aaron Shea, Brady's old BFF from Michigan and a former TE and front office guy with the Browns:

Shea said he regularly talks with Brady about when he might retire. Brady’s answer: “Do you like what you’re doing right now?”

“I would tell him, no, there is nothing better than playing,” Shea said. “And he’d tell me: ‘That’s my point. There’s nothing I’d rather do than play football.’”


The hell with Schefter and click-baiting stories, I'll believe Brady is retiring when it happens. Until then, enjoy every single game he plays.
This is consistent with everything I've read about Brady. It's not about wanting to accomplish something specific or make more money or prove people wrong or prove anything to anybody. He just loves it. Not just playing Sundays, but practicing, watching film, working out, perfecting his craft, etc. His best friend was his QB coach and now his best friend is his personal trainer.

Digression warning: I mean, why does any do what they do? For money, because they like it, because they're good at it. Who wakes up in the morning and thinks about legacy and things to prove? This is nonsense motivation that Hollywood has beat us over the head with because it makes for narrative sense. I think about that Facebook movie and how they completely fabricated the ex-girlfriend storyline because it wasn't enough of a motivation to just want to do something about be able to do it. Or the Johnny Cash movie when they completely fabricated an abusive father storyline to excuse his bad behavior. People don't do things for linear reasons like this that fit into convenient narratives.

Brady loves football and is still great at it. Some day one of those things won't be true and he'll end it. It might be kind of abrupt. I don't think he's got a fixed end in mind he's working towards. He'll get hurt and not want to rehab or his arm will get weaker and he can't make the throws or he'll decide Guerrero's breath stinks or something and decide he's done.

He's backed off a bit from the "play until 45" more recently. His tune now is more along the lines of "retirement is something I think about, and it will happen when it happens. But I'm still here".
Couldn't the not talking about 45 specifically anymore be because, at 42, 45 is very much in sight and he wants to leave open the possibility of playing longer than that?

I dont know how a season of mediocrity would affect his overall legacy, but the images of Unitas with the Chargers, Namath with the Rams, and Mays stumbling around in CF for the '73 Mets have not been swept away by the rest of their respective careers.
Uh, they kind of have? No offense, but only weirdos think about stuff like Johnny Unitas playing for the Chargers. 99.9% of the public thought around these players involves the good stuff that made them legends. I'm almost 40 and I barely know what you're talking about, and I post here.
 

joe dokes

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
30,233
Uh, they kind of have? No offense, but only weirdos think about stuff like Johnny Unitas playing for the Chargers. 99.9% of the public thought around these players involves the good stuff that made them legends. I'm almost 40 and I barely know what you're talking about, and I post here.

Fair enough. But the designated NFL legacy-minders skew older. And the proper term is "old people," not "weirdos. :cool:
 

Deathofthebambino

Drive Carefully
SoSH Member
Apr 12, 2005
41,946
Tom Brady is the best bad weather QB that has ever walked the Earth. This is an undisputed fact.

I beat this drum all the time. The reason why the AFC East teams struggle year in and year out to find QB's that can play is because it's really fucking hard to play QB in New England, Buffalo and New York in October, November, December, etc. Like really fucking hard. Besides Brady, this is the only reason Rodgers is even in the same muted breath as Tom. Today was example No. 141 of this.
 
Apr 24, 2019
1,278
Am I crazy? Too critical? Because I thought Brady played somewhat poorly today. Obviously some great throws here and there, but overall I felt Iike what I watched - even bearing in mind the weather - was an out of sync, frustrated QB who was (understandably) cranky about his offensive line. The offense was erratic, and it seemed not exclusively but no doubt partly on 12. I’m pretty sure it’ll come together eventually, but today has me worried about the offense - again, I am taking the weather into account - in a way I haven’t felt in awhile, despite the fits-and-starts dynamic we e seen most of the season.

Edit typos
 

Deathofthebambino

Drive Carefully
SoSH Member
Apr 12, 2005
41,946
Way too critical. 20/36, 259 yards, 2 td's, 96.9 rating.

But, the single most important stat in a game like this. 0 fumbles, 0 interceptions. That's what makes Tom Brady in bad weather better than everyone not named Tom Brady.
 

Seels

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
4,948
NH
Go watch the replay if you think Brady was bad.

Newhouse is literally the worst tackle I've ever seen. There was rarely a time that Brady had over a second and a half in the pocket. This team gets significantly better when Wynn is back.

Seriously, go watch any 5-6 offensive snaps, and only look at Newhouse.
 

Deathofthebambino

Drive Carefully
SoSH Member
Apr 12, 2005
41,946
If Nugent doesn't shank two kicks (one was blocked, but it was shanked too, guy simply cannot kick from the right hash without hooking the everloving shit out of it), the Pats offense scores 26 points.

With this defense, that's probably good enough to go like 18-1 this year.
 

Ralphwiggum

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 27, 2012
9,824
Needham, MA
The line is garbage right now, and they are struggling to run the ball. Brady was more than fine. When he is given even a little bit of time he’s still very, very good. The throws to Dorsett and Watson today were elite. And the first TD throw to Edelman was unreal considering he was going to Sanu on that play who fell down and quickly found Jules in a tight window.