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Tom Brady had his 23rd NFL season come to an ugly end Monday night, as he and the Bucs were blown out at home by the Dallas Cowboys, 31-14, in a NFC wild card game that was pretty much over before halftime.
Brady was rattled all night long during the game but then seemed at least a little bit at peace with things when he shook hands with Dak Prescott and other members of the Cowboys shortly after the final whistle.
Now there’s just one thing left for the GOAT to do and it’s a pretty obvious move after watching the 45-year-old QB get trounced at home by a team that was so much better than the Bucs – it’s time for him to retire.
For good.
Brady has obviously done it all in his legendary career. He has seven Super Bowl rings, including one with the Bucs. He holds so many records. And he’s changed the way we’ve looked at aging players and what they can do past the age of 40.
But, as we all know, Father Time is undefeated and remains undefeated because there is just no getting around what happens to our bodies as our numbers of years on this planet mount up. Especially if what your trying to do as you grow older is playing quarterback in the National Football League.
Brady will turn 46 in August and he should do so with no practices or training camps to attend.
He should do so on a beach, with a cocktail in hand, and maybe some buffalo wings on the table next to him, because he’s earned all of that… and the TB12 diet has to be getting old.
But in all seriousness this NFL thing is no joke and the young fellas in this league are only getting better and they’re only getting bigger. Brady has been built for this for a long time but if you watched him last night then you saw that he just isn’t built for it anymore.
There will, of course be rumors of where he should play next year if he doesn’t retire. The Raiders have popped up recently but the AFC – with Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson (if he stays in the AFC), and even Trevor Lawrence – is not a good place for a 46-year-old QB to go. That will not end well for him.
In the NFC the Saints have been mentioned but does Brady really want to try to make something happen with a team that won’t really be a contender?
The 49ers, Brady’s childhood team, have Brock Purdy doing incredible things right now and don’t need No. 12.
Also, if you’re a team looking for a QB do you really want to sign a guy who could maybe just play one more season? What’s the point of that for your longterm success?
The decision here is a simple one, but also a difficult one. Brady is a fierce competitor and probably would love to play until his 50s.
But that’s not going to happen, no matter how much avocado ice cream he eats.
This should be the end of the road for No. 12. And he should do it with no regrets.
Quick hits: Jerry Jones’ classic Jerry Jones answer on kicker… Tom Brady’s dirty move against Cowboys… Hilarious fake Al Michaels/Tony Dungy video… And more.
– Jerry Jones gave the most Jerry Jones answer when asked about Cowboys kicker Brett Maher and his four missed PATs against the Bucs.
– Tom Brady really should have been flagged for this dirty move from last night.
– This video of a fake Al Michaels and Tony Dungy calling the Bengals’ fumble return is too funny.
– Charles Curtis ranks the top 10 possible Super Bowl matchups after wild card weekend.
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