If this is the final game for Tom Brady the GOAT….

[stcjones]

I would like to thank Tom for EVERYTHING he brought to Massachusetts and the entire New England area but also the entire world!!!…..I remember the first SB win in 2001 I was in Hong Kong celebrating with a large group of Hong Kong, Brits, Aussies, and Swedish folks that ALL loved what Tom Brady had accomplished and were CHEERING for him and the Pats. This happened many times in my career in foreign countries…. Tom has made the average player look like a superhero and has made coaches look like geniuses. He made EVERYONE STEP UP and play to the BEST (even exceeding) of their ability!!! Tom Brady brought an amazing and incredible amount of NFL Championships to the New England area and made us a DYNASTY!!!… and he was and is the GREATEST OF ALL TIME and gave all of us SO MUCH ENJOYMENT!!….. so If the end of your career is coming up soon….I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, MY FAMILY, THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, and THE NEW ENGLAND AREA!!!!!

 

[farn]

Brady : “hmm, 4th and gotta have it ? Hold my beer.”

aR : “boohoo, STs.”

Stats freaks say there is nothing to ‘being clutch’ but that’s hogwash. Brady made so many key plays at key times it is almost comical how improbable it was at times.

Best winner ever.

 

[Toofy]

I thought he stayed a lot more on the field after the loss talking a lot and exchanging pleasantries . That means he might not be coming back. Besides they can't keep the entire pack next year . If he is not winning why would Tom come back.

Thanks for the memories Tom. Can he retire as a patriot?

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I thought he stayed a lot more on the field after the loss talking a lot and exchanging pleasantries . That means he might not be coming back. Besides they can't keep the entire pack next year . If he is not winning why would Tom come back.

Thanks for the memories Tom. Can he retire as a patriot?

if it's over, they'd be able to maneuver a 1-day deal or whatever even if he's under contract. However he retires I am sure he's coming back for some local retirement ceremony. Meh. I am sure I'll get emotional. I won't have a really good ex-Patriot to root for in Tampa Bay. It's good to have been watching him in a NE uniform for his best years. Can't blame him for wanting a ton of weapons in his later years--it got his chances and his numbers back up there. That said, it would have to be personal reasons if he steps away now. To me, he still has more than enough to stay in the arena. But then, he knows best whether he's feeling "cliffy" yet.

He should have a day to wave a ball cap at the stands and stuff. Glad he did for us what he did. I put up his jersey in my window like a total Stan when he left, so that's sort of out of my system. I'm pretty much over players of other teams. But nice memories.

 

[‘Mondre]

Brady : “hmm, 4th and gotta have it ? Hold my beer.”

aR : “boohoo, STs.”

Stats freaks say there is nothing to ‘being clutch’ but that’s hogwash. Brady made so many key plays at key times it is almost comical how improbable it was at times.

Best winner ever.

But he lost tonight!

 

[TheRainMaker]

No. He’s under contract for one more year. That will be his last year.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

It's tough to grasp just what he did for the Pats. Especially if you're not from here. Pats were an afterthought for most here. Dead last in the big four. Pats weren't cool in their own state. Certainly no one was buying Pats merch outside of NE. Or very very few were. Now we're like a top 3-5 most expensive ticket even after he left.

It's tough to put into words what he did for this team. Personally I don't even include him in any QB debate anymore. He's that far above the rest from any era when you look at the collective of what he's done / meant and context of how much better today's game / athletes are.

The QB position is a barter system - a give and take. For example you accept pressure and sacrifice in other areas - INT, Sacks, explosive plays, YPA ... The best manage in most. Are good in 3/4 or even 2/4. You'll get explosive plays but also have huge sack #'s. YPA for safe plays.

It's ironic and even funny that Brady was called a game manager but really did manage the position better than anyone else.

@Ice_Ice_Brady had a great thread recently on all-time QB play but I think it's Brady and a small / decent gap until we see #2 on that list. Which is crazy when you consider how outstanding Montana, Otto, Manning, Young and others actually were. Again looking at collective and including context he's arguably twice as good as anyone else.

Selfishly I hope he plays until he's not an elite QB anymore. It's nuts but there really isn't 5 guys in the entire world as good or on that level - give or take. Even if it's with another team. As painful and F'd up as it is he's easily one of my all-time favorites to watch.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Nkeal Harry super nice guy

that’s all that matters

 

[‘Mondre]

Give it a rest!

 

[Patriot Missile]

6 Superbowls won

9 AFC championships won in 13 appearances

17 Afc east titles.

3 MVPs. Although he probably deserved a couple of more, but were given away as consolation prizes.

Thats just in a Pats uniform.

 

[MahomestoKelce]

Can someone please answer what would happen to his 2022 salary if he retired. Would he just not get paid? Owe everything back?

I don't think he's done.

What's incredible is he's never had a losing season in his 20 years as starter.

 

[gtfanboy]

He's coming back.

 

[scott99]

6 Superbowls won

9 AFC championships won in 13 appearances

17 Afc east titles.

3 MVPs. Although he probably deserved a couple of more, but were given away as consolation prizes.

Thats just in a Pats uniform.

There will never be anyone as great as Tom Brady. There is no QB in the history of football that can come back from 28-3 and 27-3 to tie the game. Sure, Mahomes is the master of the quick strike, hardly needs any time to get down field for a tying FG/TD (13 ****ing seconds). But he’s never done anything like what Brady has done in those 2 games. That’s why todays loss is heartbreaking, another top defense (when healthy), chokes away a chance at, at least overtime. When you come back from 27-3, if they had won the toss, you know Brady would’ve won it. Therein lies the heartbreak.

To think you are down 28-3 and 27-3, there’s no other QB that can come back to tie it. Look at Mahomes last year, down 21-6 at the half and couldn’t come back. Just Tom Brady. Just wish he could’ve pulled it off.

Greatest player in team sports history. And no matter what his decision is, I’ll always love TB12 and will always feel honored that he was the QB of the greatest Dynasty ever, and he was the biggest reason for that success. He’s given me more joy than any athlete ever could. Truly the GOAT.

 

[VectorPrime]

He’s coming back for one last year. Bucs cap situation is still very friendly and he’d have to give back $15 million if he retired. And a bunch of their free agents are deadweight they can improve on. Like JPP and Suh. Sorry you’re just cooked.

 

[Ivan]

It’s tough to say. I have been of the mindset that this was it for him, but after that loss he may feel compelled to give it one more year. The truth is, however, that winning the Super Biwl is really really hard to do, and going out on a loss is almost always the way it will be for the vast majority of players, and although they lost there would be no shame whatsoever in Brady hanging them up after bringing the Bucs back in a game reminiscent of the Patriots 28-3 SB win. Either way he’s the GOAT, and no one is ever going to break his playoff records, even when the owners go to their much desired 52 week schedule.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

TB12 brand will not look good with him quitting with a year left on his contract. That's how it will be spun by the media.
TFB is smart enough to take time off with the family and make a decision with minimal emotion. It's one year, not a lifetime.

 

[VectorPrime]

I truly don’t care if he comes back and everything goes wrong and he goes 9-8. Obviously I’d infinitely rather him win the super bowl but ultimately I want him to give another try. Besides good chance Rodgers and Russel Wilson are out of the NFC next year. The AFC is the conference now absolutely stacked at QB. NFC is Bucs and the Rams.

 

[aluminum seats]

I hope he keeps playing and keeps adding to his records. One thing I've never cared about, that sportswriters always seem obsessed with, is how someone "goes out." They talk about it all the time. This or that guy should retire now. Go out on top. What a great way to go out. What a sad way for it to end. Blah blah blah. Who cares? The end is the end and not really that important to a career.

If Brady doesn't feel it anymore, then no problem. But if he does--he freaking led the league in yards and TDs this year! Keep it going I say.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

TB12 brand will not look good with him quitting with a year left on his contract. That's how it will be spun by the media.
TFB is smart enough to take time off with the family and make a decision with minimal emotion. It's one year, not a lifetime.

Brees retired with a year left...teams can create an extra year on the books for quarterbacks in order to spread out cap hits, and we don't know what type of discussions he's had with the team. But if a team wants to create cap space for roster flexibility, the best way to do it is to keep an extra year on the books every season in order to kick the can down the road; this is one way the Saints were able to avoid severe consequences for like five years, continually extending Brees, knowing at some point he'd retire despite having an extra year left.

 

[skinnydog]

Brees retired with a year left...teams can create an extra year on the books for quarterbacks in order to spread out cap hits, and we don't know what type of discussions he's had with the team. But if a team wants to create cap space for roster flexibility, the best way to do it is to keep an extra year on the books every season in order to kick the can down the road; this is one way the Saints were able to avoid severe consequences for like five years, continually extending Brees, knowing at some point he'd retire despite having an extra year left.

He already has a contract with a couple of voidable years after 2022