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You guys are all trying to use examples of older quarterbacks being done at a certain age but it's not relivent to today's game. Why does is matter how old Montana/Aikmen were when they retired? Quarterbacks 15 years ago were done at 36. The way the league is now, they will be playing till mid 40s if they choose to. Drew Brees is on record saying he wants to play until 45 and it's more than clear that Brady is going to have to literally get dragged off the field against his own will. I think Manning's neck makes his situation different, but if not for that injury, the dude would probably go to his mid 40s. Even with the neck injury, he still might.
Players all say that. Sure, the rules are more favorable to them now, but the defensive players are bigger, stronger and faster as well. Look at how Tony Romo got crushed on MNF. Anyway, as I've said before, it isn't necessarily big injuries that get you as you grow older. It's the little nagging ones that you can't come back from as fast and that cause a drain on your performance. TB is a pretty imobile QB (although he's been tryng to change that). As he continues to get older, IMHO, it will get harder and harder to protect him effectively enough for him to do his job.
I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Football, at the NFL level, is not a game for the oldsters. I have no doubt a QB in his forties could be a great backup and come in and be outstanding for a few games. I have a lot of doubt that a QB in his forties can survive the 19 (or 20 or 22 if they up the regular season schedule) games it takes to get to the SB.