Tom Brady | Young retiree back to work

(Los Angeles) Two months after saying he was stepping down so he could spend more time with his family, Tom Brady has announced he will finally be playing a 23^and season in the NFL in 2022, his third in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform. What a surprise !

Miguel Bujold
The Press

If it’s not clear, yes, it’s irony.

The more time passed, the more it became clear that Brady was going to return to the game, whether this year or in 2023. “You must never say never”, he had also commented a few days after the announcement of his retirement in February. Not quite the speech of a person convinced of his choice.

It was Sunday night on Twitter that the quarterback confirmed that he would not be taking a year off.

“Over the past two months, I have realized that my place is still on the pitch and not in the stands. That day will come, but it’s not now. I love my teammates and I love my family who continue to support me. It is thanks to her if all this is possible. I’m coming back for my 23^and season, in Tampa Bay. There is unfinished business,” Brady commented.

On Saturday, the 44-year-old quarterback watched Manchester United win 3-2 against Tottenham Hotspur in England. Chatting with Ronaldo, who incidentally netted all three of ManU’s goals, after the game, Brady smiled when the football’s all-time top scorer asked if he was indeed retired. A reaction that was interpreted as another proof that Brady would make a return to the game.

Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family, who also own the Buccaneers. Brady’s presence in Manchester had therefore caused a stir. Some observers believed Brady tried to convince the Glazers and Buccaneers to release him so he could continue his career with another team.

According to some rumors circulating in recent weeks, Brady and Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich felt that head coach Bruce Arians interfered a little too much in the club’s offensive game plans last season. The relationship between Brady and Arians has been rumored to be rocky.

Brady has one season left on his contract, and the Bucs clearly wanted him to honor it. Arians had previously indicated that the team would not release Brady even if he asked him to do so. The head coach even said jokingly (half…) that a team wishing to obtain the illustrious quarterback should agree to get rid of five first-round picks. In other words, Brady was going to play in Tampa Bay and nowhere else in 2022.

unfinished work

Whether Brady ultimately wanted to play for another team in 2022 or whether he really thought it was time to hang up his boots after the Bucs’ elimination to the Los Angeles Rams in January will likely never be known. But let’s remember that he led the NFL with 5,316 passing yards and 43 touchdowns last season. His decision was therefore curious.

Did Brady want to join his former offensive coordinator and friend Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas? McDaniels is the Raiders’ new head coach. Would he rather have liked to wear the colors of the team of his childhood, the San Francisco 49ers? Has he agreed to return to Tampa Bay largely in order to complete the last year of his contract and be able to play where he wants in a year?

One thing is certain, it will not change Brady’s motivation in 2022. It will be optimal as it always has been. This thirst for victory, this sacred fire, call it what you will, is precisely this element that has always been at the heart of Brady’s unparalleled success. It will be the same next season, regardless if he wants to be with the Buccaneers or not in his heart.

In fact, Brady made it clear he loves his teammates in his Sunday post. If only for them, he will continue to “lose his soul” to win as he always has.

But to say it’s unfinished business? Brady ended his message with these two words (unfinished business, in English). Really ? After 22 seasons, 10 Super Bowls, including 7 victories, a book of records completely rewritten, or almost, and it’s still not enough? Will there ever be an end to this story?

The Gronk and the others

We will now see over the next few days if Brady’s decision will convince some Buccaneers free agents to stay in Tampa Bay. Tight end Rob Gronkowski, running back Leonard Fournette, center Ryan Jensen, defensive backs Carlton Davis and Jordan Whitehead, and defensive linemen Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh could all officially become free agents on Wednesday. at 16 o’clock. We suspect that the Gronk will want to continue playing with his buddy, but the others? To be continued.

Brady remained with the Bucs; Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers opted for the status quo, too; Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz were traded to the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders, respectively; the portrait is becoming clearer day by day among the quarterbacks. However, there are still some big pieces of the puzzle to fall into place.

The next quality quarterbacks to move should be Deshaun Watson and Jimmy Garoppolo. The Buccaneers also seemed interested in getting Watson before Brady’s return.

Do not do like Favre

If he did indeed believe the time was right to bow out a few months ago, let’s hope handsome Tom takes a bit more time to mature his decision next time around. It would be a bit of a shame if he made a Brett Favre of himself by retiring three times rather than once. Or was it four?

While the two Mannings, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers will take it easy after their fine career, Brady will try to stay at the top among young leaders like Pat Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson, players who were learning the alphabet when he was taught the New England Patriots playbook in 2000. Unless he suffers a serious injury or his game unexpectedly falters, Brady will likely be back in 2023. Same thing for 2024, and probably in 2025, too. Indestructible.