Tom Brady retires

Ralphwiggum

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Channel 5 just broke into their storm coverage to break the Brady news, and had an interview with . . . Jarvis Green. Loved me some Jarvis Green but that is a fairly random ex-Brady teammate to have on to discuss his retirement.
 

joe dokes

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It is silly. I am a grown ass adult and I actually want this outcome like I am 10 years old. I tend to think that's kind of neat but YRMV.

Tom Brady means a lot to a lot of people. That isn't silly. Its just true
I get it. But he's not "retiring as a Patriot." Or he doesn't need a "contract" to do it. He can show up whenever he wants and say whatever he wants. They can have a giant party. The faux-legal-solemnity of "one day contract" is just...."why?"
 

snowmanny

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We'll agree to disagree. BTW, I do think TB IS the greatest professional sportsman, but you cannot deny Gretzky's near similar longevity (20 vs 22 years) and performance. Also similar to TB, TGO did things - multiple times over - that no-one else in the NHL has ever repeated or come close to. BUT, he was a Stanley Cup champion only 4 times.
I mean, there’s a Gretzky argument, a Ruth argument, a Jordan argument, a Russell argument, maybe a Woods argument, maybe a Serena argument. But the Brady argument is pretty strong.
 

cornwalls@6

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Wouldn’t be surprised if Brady didn’t want this news coming out until after tomorrow’s games, during the off week before the super bowl build up begins in earnest. Probably not thrilled it leaked today, hence the brake pumping by Yee.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Wouldn’t be surprised if Brady didn’t want this news coming out until after tomorrow’s games, during the off week before the super bowl build up begins in earnest. Probably not thrilled it leaked today, hence the brake pumping by Yee.
Agreed, which is consistent with the statement not really being a denial from Yee either.
 

Seels

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I hate the Gretzky argument. There was literally not a moment in time after he left the Oilers that any serious person thought Gretzky was going to lead a team to a cup. Obviously hockey has more going on but the playoff drought in general and the lack of playoff success after the early years should really just kill any serious argument Gretzky has in the GOAT list. Jordan? Sure, but he retired twice. Jordan's the only other one with an argument.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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I get it. But he's not "retiring as a Patriot." Or he doesn't need a "contract" to do it. He can show up whenever he wants and say whatever he wants. They can have a giant party. The faux-legal-solemnity of "one day contract" is just...."why?"
In every other situation, I would be 100% in your camp. But this is Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. They did things together that nobody in sports ever saw before and aren't likely to see again. If that isn't worth a bit of extra pomp and circumstance, I don't know what is.

That said, either way nothing will change. He is a Patriot and always was - he just got loaned out over the last two seasons.
 

Traut

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Wouldn’t be surprised if Brady didn’t want this news coming out until after tomorrow’s games, during the off week before the super bowl build up begins in earnest. Probably not thrilled it leaked today, hence the brake pumping by Yee.
Anything other than a straight denial here is an admission.

My guess is Brady told someone - say Edelman - and the news broke before he had told the Buccaneers.

Whatever the case there’s no question he’s retiring given his brand, Edelman, Scheffter, and the NFL are reporting it.

Maybe he wanted to have a press conference Monday or something but that is form over substance.

The greatest of all time has played his last down.
 

Euclis20

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Obviously injuries involve a tremendous amount of luck, but Brady had a preternatural sense for self preservation. He was not only fantastic at avoiding sacks but he rarely tried to force throws in situations that tend to lead to injuries.
It's largely a function of how long he played, but despite this being 100% accurate it feels somewhat ironic that he'll retire just short of the all-time sack record (sacked 543 times, just 11 shy of the record, held by Roethlisberger).
 

Leather

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Agree. I never understood why anybody cares about this symbolic bullshit. He was a Patriot, first and foremost.
For TB, it’s a sop to the fans and a PR opportunity to quash any chatter about his relationship with New England that would distract from whatever else he wants to say/do immediately after his announcement.

For the team, It costs nothing and gets them on the front page of NFL news for a day when they have no other reason to be.
 

pappymojo

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I hate the Gretzky argument. There was literally not a moment in time after he left the Oilers that any serious person thought Gretzky was going to lead a team to a cup. Obviously hockey has more going on but the playoff drought in general and the lack of playoff success after the early years should really just kill any serious argument Gretzky has in the GOAT list. Jordan? Sure, but he retired twice. Jordan's the only other one with an argument.
Bill Russell: two NCAA championships, gold medal in the Olympics, and 11 NBA championships.
 

Traut

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Also his retirement just makes sense:

1. He went out on top of his game as he said he wanted to;

2. There were no - I’ll be back statements last week. To the contrary, Brady was as non-committal on this when questioned as he’s ever been; and

3. Given the nature of his contract and the NFL he had to come back a Buc. And with or without Brady, they’d face long odds on contending next year.
 

RoDaddy

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GOAT QB or GOAT football player?

Anyway, thanks GOAT!!!! Among a few other things, I'll always remember that perfect spiral when you threw Ted off the balcony to Mark Wahlberg! And glad you didn't win 6 more SBs with Tampa Bay because...
 

Ralphwiggum

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Bill Russell: two NCAA championships, gold medal in the Olympics, and 11 NBA championships.
Russell is the greatest winner by pure counting stats, but you have to acknowledge that there were fewer than 10 teams in the league when he was doing this. 10 Super Bowl appearances in 20 years, winning 7 of them in a 32 team league with a salary cap designed to ensure parity is arguably as impressive as what Russ did with the Cs in the 60s.
 

cornwalls@6

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For TB, it’s a sop to the fans and a PR opportunity to quash any chatter about his relationship with New England that would distract from whatever else he wants to say/do immediately after his announcement.

For the team, It costs nothing and gets them on the front page of NFL news for a day when they have no other reason to be.
I would have no objection to it, just always thought it’s a meaningless thing. There are a myriad of ways for him accomplish PR/perceived relations with the Patriots(being honored at Gillette, Patriots HOF, his official statement when this becomes official, Bill’s statements, etc.). My guess is we see the mother of all ceremonies honoring him next fall, with all parties enthusiastically involved.
 

Ferm Sheller

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I'd be fine with burning a roster spot and letting him be the Sox' third catcher next year, and even letting him get into some games, just so that he can say that he was a two-sport athlete.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Not a huge deal, but why? Seems on-topic in a Brady retirement thread (discussing where his career stacks up against other all-time greats).
That's a different topic and has the potential to have multiple thread-within-a-thread mish-mash here.

So with all due respect, let's have that conversation elsewhere.
 

Mueller's Twin Grannies

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If Brady doesn't see any way for the Bucs to contend next year, I think it's a wrap. He didn't want to go through a rebuild in New England and sure as shit won't waste his last year of high-level play going through one in Tampa Bay. Unless he goes to another contender in a trade to play out his last season under contract for one last shot at an 8th ring and more records, I think this is the most logical point to exit the NFL machine.

On some level I sort of thought I’d die before he retired.
Sounds like there's still time! ;)

Channel 5 just broke into their storm coverage to break the Brady news, and had an interview with . . . Jarvis Green. Loved me some Jarvis Green but that is a fairly random ex-Brady teammate to have on to discuss his retirement.
Maybe they thought he was BenJarvus Green-Ellis?
 

E5 Yaz

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The practical side of me thinks this is just TB12 getting out of the way of the playoff games

But I want chaos