Tom Brady is retiring

[Regan MacNeil]

Figured the NFL GOAT should get his own thread.

 

[playthrough]

"Darlington and Schefter"?

 

[Driftwood]

It's smart. He's got nothing else to win or prove. He has no want of money, a smokin' wife, and kids. Most importantly, he's healthy.
Go to the house. Enjoy your life.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

If the NFL as we know it is considered to have started in 1933 (which it should be), then Tom Brady experienced about one-fourth of its entire history. If we go by the fraudulent 1919 start, then only a mere 21 percent.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

Finally.

 

[TigerVols]

Best professional athlete of my generation.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Bucs have a lot of free agents and there was no way they could keep the team together
With all his success though, my main memory was of Brady coming in for Michigan trailing Michigan State 27-10 in the fourth quarter and scaring the **** out of everyone in Spartan Stadium
MSU held on 34-31 but only win because Lloyd Carr played Drew Henson long enough to throw a game deciding pick
Brady played only the first and fourth quarters and always cited sharing the job with Henson as motivation for his success

 

[TigerVols]

So what changed? And did it change quickly? Seems to me we heard talk going into this season that this was in no way a swan song season, that he was planning to play a few more years, that he was in great shape and clearly he remained near the top of his game.

 

[Splendid Splinter]

Best professional athlete of my generation.

Not sure what your generation is, but is not a better athlete than Jordan, Bo, LeBron, just to name a few.

 

[Scout]

Best professional athlete of my generation.

This can be discussed later. He’s in the debate, which is saying something when you look at the list.

 

[Scout]

**** if he goes in as a Buc.

Douchebag if he goes in wearing his brand hat.

 

[TigerVols]

Not sure what your generation is, but is not a better athlete than Jordan, Bo, LeBron, just to name a few.

He won more of the games that he got paid to win that really matter than Jordan, Bo, LBJ or anyone else did...and the wins could be directly attributed to him. Thus, the greatest professional in sports in the Super Bowl era.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Look for Gronk to re-retire

 

[PCLoadLetter]

So what changed? And did it change quickly? Seems to me we heard talk going into this season that this was in no way a swan song season, that he was planning to play a few more years, that he was in great shape and clearly he remained near the top of his game.

I suspect it's a combo of (a) that team is getting worse going forward and (b) he's 44, and no matter how amazing he is for 44 it has to be one hell of a grind to go through another season at that age.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Look for Gronk to re-retire

Probably made that decision about 30 seconds after Brady announced he's done.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

I suspect it's a combo of (a) that team is getting worse going forward and (b) he's 44, and no matter how amazing he is for 44 it has to be one hell of a grind to go through another season at that age.

Gisele reportedly has been in his ear about spending time with the kids

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

And just like that, Bruce Arians goes back to being just another old man in a fat guy hat.

 

[DanielSimpsonDay]

I suspect it's a combo of (a) that team is getting worse going forward and (b) he's 44, and no matter how amazing he is for 44 it has to be one hell of a grind to go through another season at that age.

Next year had potential to look a lot like his last one in New England. No sense sticking around for that. Bravo to him for knowing it was time and also not doing the Favre forever will he/won't he.

 

[playthrough]

Not sure what your generation is, but is not a better athlete than Jordan, Bo, LeBron, just to name a few.

Not a better pure athlete, obviously, but maybe "best professional" in terms of preparation, smarts, etc. That is sometimes hard to quantify in terms of player vs. player but the rings end the argument if you're talking just football.

 

[Della9250]

Look for Gronk to re-retire

If that's the case, there's only two spots left in the 2028 Hall of Fame Class