Tom Brady Flirting With Retirement?
January 21st, 2022
Could Sunday be it?
There seems to be a bunch of chatter the past few days from the chattering class that Sunday could be the final game of Tom Brady’s unprecedented NFL career.
Joe isn’t sure why this is a thing. More on that later, but this is one of many deep discussions on the soon-to-be-published edition of the “Ira Kaufman Podcast.”
The gang at “Good Morning Football” decided to weigh in today. Closet Bucs fan Peter Schrager thinks it is logical Brady could throw in the towel if the Bucs lose Sunday. Schrager doesn’t sound as if he believes the Bucs can contend for a Super Bowl next year and because of that, Brady will hang it up.
Joe believes this is really jumping the gun. Schrager rattled off all of the Bucs free agents. Who is to say the Bucs cannot afford to bring most back? The salary cap goes up next year big time. Joe fully believes the Bucs will franchise Ryan Jensen if the team cannot sign him, for example.
Among key free agents leaving that may push Brady into retirement, Schrager mentioned O.J. Howard. Seriously? This is a guy who has had two targets since Nov. 1 (10 games). C’mon, that’s like saying Brady may retire because Scotty Miller could leave.
Joe hates to be harsh but oward is a goner or should be a goner. Joe was willing to give Howard a full pass because he suffered such a massive injury last year due to his damaged Achilles. Howard claims his Achilles is fine.
And guess what? Rams running back Cam Akers had an Achilles injury this summer and he’s back at it looking like the same ol’ Akers. Howard is now nothing more than a name, and his contract cash would be much better used feathering Chris Godwin’s salary.
Joe sees readers here typing, “Now would be a good time for O.J. to step up.” Really? What makes anyone think that can or will happen? We are in the final month of Howard’s five-year contract and we are still waiting for him to make a difference?
It ain’t gonna happen, folks.
Anyway, you can see and hear Schrager’s take on Brady possibly playing his final game on Sunday in the NFL Network video below.
“What are we doing at age 44 if we’re not winning Super Bowls?”
@PSchrags says Tom Brady is the QB with the most at stake on Divisional Playoff Weekend. pic.twitter.com/mdxtI9fQ0q— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) January 21, 2022
January 21st, 2022 at 12:02 pm
They have to talk about something, right? What is more interesting and gives more discussion than Brady’s retirement?
January 21st, 2022 at 12:05 pm
LOL, boy, this article quickly went from the topic of Brady’s retirement to a savage beatdown of OJ Howard!
January 21st, 2022 at 12:07 pm
Yes the salary cap goes up, but there’s only $19.7 million in available cap space for Tampa Bay net of a projected cap increase. That’s not a lot of money when you consider the number and quality of the Buc free agents.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:10 pm
I hate to say it, but I can see this Sunday being Brady’s last game, if we lose.
We have a much harder schedule next year, and several players will be leaving, and maybe some coaches.
Brady does not need the money, and has a new clothing line he might want to devote full time to.
I don’t want to see this, but I can see this happening, if that makes any sense.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:11 pm
I sure hope it isn’t Brady’s last game Chris. I think he’ll give it a go for one last season. But his contract will need to be restructured, with the hit coming after next season.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:16 pm
Tom cheater Brady will look like he is 54 years old this Sunday. Rams will role the Bucs up, This is not the bubble, asterisk season anymore. And the Rams are not the lowly Philly team that had no business being on the field. Dark times will be ahead for buc fan.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:19 pm
@Chris, I think what’s far more important is our likelihood of winning the division than anything else… all NFC South teams will play the NFC West and AFC North next year. Beyond that, we have unique matchups with Green Bay and Dallas, but we’ve fared well against these two teams the last two years, haven’t we?
January 21st, 2022 at 12:21 pm
If the Bucs lose on Sunday it may very well be Brady’s last year . . . as a Buc. In that case I see him going to the 49ers to play with his childhood favorite team and to chase a SB win with a 3rd team. Besides Gronk I wonder who else would follow him to SF?
If the Bucs win the SB this year then Brady will be back next season for the chance to 3-peat.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Aww “Proud Bucs Fan” learned the password of his parents computer in that cold & dampy basement up in that shiptown of Gloucester, get used to being a loser blimpy, GO BUCS
January 21st, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Who cares. We won the superbowl. We can suck again now. All this was worth it we got two amazing seasons that most teams will rarely experience. Enjoy it and thank you Tom.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:27 pm
Ben Green, you and I maybe cynics and no one is listening, he will NOT come back if BA & BL are coaching. They made it too much work for him. Brady thrives on discipline and focus, these coaches have neither. The fact that two coaches are interviewing today and one again tomorrow the day before the biggest game of the season is without a distraction the team doesn’t need. Ya couldn’t wait until Monday when the team is done or resting? Brady said it in his interview, he is in his bunker it’s no distractions, no movies, no other extracurricular activities, it’s all football. He probably thinks the focus should be on protecting him so he lives to see another day. The staff is to lax for him. BA stays Brady goes.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:31 pm
It’s January. Isn’t that the topic of Brady chatter for the last ten years? lol
Every September Father Time whooped his butt
Every January he going to to retire
Every February he the GOAT
January 21st, 2022 at 12:31 pm
Nattering nabobs of nonsense.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:32 pm
I’d say he’d more likely retire if the Bucs win a ring.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:32 pm
I think most of the NFL is more excited for Brady to retire than to win anymore games.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Stop the presses. 44 year old NFL football player considering retirement.
They’ve been talking about this for a half decade.
As to OJ Howard. He is what he is at thus point. Not sure why anyone thinks he is suddenly going to develop into a new player 5 years into his career. He has a living legend QB that has made a career out of throwing to TE’s, and Howard can’t get on the same page with him. He’s a stiff, figuratively and literally.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:45 pm
OJ, Rojo will likely be gone. Their salaries, + AB’s, can be applied to Godwin. NO amount of money is too much for a guy like him, even if he’s still collecting a paycheck in 15 years
January 21st, 2022 at 12:53 pm
OJ Howard has been none existent since he has been in the league. Dude should have been traded years ago. As far as Brady is concerned I still think he comes back for one more year.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:53 pm
O.J. cant “step up” if he’s not thrown the damn ball.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:57 pm
Beej
ROJO has been gone for a while. His salary doesn’t amount to much, neither does AB’s…
Godwin can be retained, I’ve got faith in Mike Greenberg. As far as TB and his contract, if he wants to stay, I’m sure he’d redo his deal. If Garropolo blows it, I could see Lynch working a trade so TB could play his last year at home, where he wanted to be in the first place.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:05 pm
Godwin’s not going anywhere, and that’s why Brady’s coming back: he said he was talking to the competition committee about that hit. You don’t say that if you’re out of here.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:09 pm
@Beej
Overthecap came up with the Buc salary cap projection. They already netted out OJ and Rojo, since they were not part of the roster. In other words, the savings are already part of the $19.7 million cap projection. That isn’t much, though some contract restructuring could produce another $15 million to $20 million (super aggressive) or so. And any re-signings of guys like Carlton Davis, Godwin, Jensen, Whitehead, and Gronk would have to pay upfront huge signing bonuses in order to spread over null years. And that is before any decision is made on Fournette, Suh, or JPP.
The Bucs are going to lose guys, even after delaying the financial pain to future years.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:09 pm
I agree that bucs have few chances next year, this year draft and free agency was a disaster. The biggest problem is the defensive line next year, also WR and probably new coordinators.
But Brady could have not extended for one more year if that was a real problem for him, so he could sign with another team.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:11 pm
Trading Brady? Did someone actually say that? Man it’s early in the day to be so hammered that such an idea seems worthy to post. That’s literally the most insane idea yet.
It’s so stupid it needs no further ridicule.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:13 pm
i’m more concerned that tom brady is secretly crushing on sara walsh like a high schooler 🙂
January 21st, 2022 at 1:18 pm
I’m hearing this is his last year. Giselle has been in Costa Rica for the past 4 months to only fly back for the games. The kids and pets are also in CR. He has committed to her that this is his last year. My company manages some aspects of their family matters.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:18 pm
i think you guys are getting crazy…
TB wanted to finish his career with one franchise – the pats…
didn’t happen…
so he came here and it’s his last stop…he will not bounce off for another restart elsewhere imho…
this is tom’s final team before retirement…
unless belichik and tom reunite to have one last season together and one last hurrah…
otherwise i think he remains a buc into his retirement
January 21st, 2022 at 1:20 pm
JmarkBuc with the dumbest take of all. We are not trading Brady moron.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:22 pm
Wow completely uninformed take by Shrager to suggest OJ Howard leaving would prompt Brady’s retirement. Just when you think there’s a talking head who knows the Bucs he drops that baloney. Godwin? Maybe….OJ Howard not a chance in the world!!!!
January 21st, 2022 at 1:25 pm
If we aren’t able to bring a bunch of our guys back, I guess the only silver lining is that it should set us up pretty for some nice compensatory Draft picks (although I don’t FULLY understand how that all works since the League doesn’t release it’s formula….I get the +/- part of it to qualify, but have no clue how they place their value on the picks and decide what round it will be in)
January 21st, 2022 at 1:35 pm
I love it when people tell us they are into his personal life and know what he is going to do. I think someone like Joe would know before you do.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:45 pm
My secret agents tell me that Tom knows he’ll be better off playing with the Bucs than being under the heal of Horsie Gisele the Amazon. He would much rather wear a helmet and shoulder pads instead of a ball gag. I know this because I do family business with a dominatrix provider.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:48 pm
If he retires then hopefully we can sign Aaron Rodgers
January 21st, 2022 at 1:55 pm
Antiono Brown walking off the field, Gronk with a punctured lung, Arians bopping Adams on the helmet…Regardless of how this season turns out I can see Brady having his fill and hanging it up.
I can see Arians leaving too.
It’s been a great ride though and I’ll always appreciate what these guys did and that includes Antonio Brown.
January 21st, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Aaron Rodgers????????????
Bwaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa.
Mr Meltdown Choke Artist — Mr Me ? He hates the warm weather. Stupid boobs are amazing.
January 21st, 2022 at 2:05 pm
I stopped posting during training camp because, though I love football, I can’t mentally contribute or keep up with the complexities of the sport and the knowledge level of other posters. Especially since the evolution of the Brady era. I do read most of the articles and comments On the JBF site however and found this particular one interesting. Schrager’s take on Brady’s future makes sense. If we lose to the Rams, why come back for another season on a team presumably rebuilding and several seasons from another Super Bowl? I hope we win it all this year and repeat but in the event we don’t solely from a Brady perspective at 44, Why?
January 21st, 2022 at 2:05 pm
Do disappointed Dirk K. had him going pretty good and theN BU, BU, BU, BUST!
January 21st, 2022 at 2:11 pm
Joe! You just insulted Scotty Miller!
January 21st, 2022 at 2:18 pm
I agree with you Joe that OJ is a goner when this season ends, regardless of what happens with Brady & Gronk. All you have to do is look at his last 8 regular season games (and he was healthy for those) to see that he’s in BA’s doghouse & he’s not getting out.
In the 8 games since the Washington game (last half of the season), OJ has gotten LESS than 100 offensive snaps. He was targeted TWICE in all those games by Brady, and caught one of those for 10 yards. For a TE making $6 mil this year that’s a VERY poor return on investment. He’s gone.
January 21st, 2022 at 2:19 pm
A lot of IF’s. This is just a nonsense talk to fill-up space. Even Giselle does not know what Tom will do. Don’t put any negative vibes right now, we need all the positive vibes we can get to support our BUCS this Sunday. WE need all the fans in the stadium. GO BUCS !!!
January 21st, 2022 at 2:22 pm
No chance he retires if they lose, or if they win the SB this year. He’s back next year either way. Bank on it.
January 21st, 2022 at 2:27 pm
He could retire after this season. Nobody really knows what brady is thinking.
With that said, as fans we should cherish every minute he is out there for our team because these moments are probably limited at this point. Think about where this team was 2-3 years ago and now we have the GOAT and fighting for back to back superbowls!
And yes OJ should be gone.
January 21st, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Don’t think he’ll retire. He wants the chance to finally wear the orange next season for the throwback game.
January 21st, 2022 at 3:26 pm
I think he would be more apt to retire if the Bucs lose and then lose too many free agents and can’t financially replenish the cupboard. If he wins there is no chance he retires because his competitiveness want let him retire when there is a possibility of winning three straight. He is not going to the West Coast because of his son Jack. All those saying San Fran need to think about his past statements on that issue.
January 21st, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Hey “anonymous “
I’m not suggesting we would seek to trade Brady.
People get so hyped..
Actually, I don’t even know what his contract status is for next year.. completely spit balling..
If and I mean IF Tom Brady said he wanted to go and finish one more year in SF no one is going to hold his contractual feet to the fire. And if the way to get him out of that contract was to work a trade, The Bucs have enough respect and gratitude to do that, and would get something (albeit probably not a lot).
These are all suppositions on Brady wanting to chase another ring in his hometown, for the team he grew up idolizing. Brady has a helluva bucket list in case you haven’t noticed. Absolutely unlikely.. but not out of the realm of possibility. Personally, I think he hangs it up after this year.
January 21st, 2022 at 3:48 pm
If we have to field a team of our drafted players next year…..
Let’s enjoy the run/ride boys
Kyle trask…..
January 21st, 2022 at 3:49 pm
No way he retires. If Brady were to go out, I think he makes it known well in advance and each remaining week, all will be reporting on his games and overall final season. I think he plays the full season at 45 and will let us all know mid season his retirement plans. That is my thought anyway.
January 21st, 2022 at 3:52 pm
Wouldn’t surprise me if brady retired. It wont have anything to do to with free agents. He can just walk away to spend more time with his kids
January 21st, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Click bait.
January 21st, 2022 at 4:32 pm
FYI, Brady is older than all the remaining NFC coaches in the playoffs except Cobra Kai Arians.
January 21st, 2022 at 4:47 pm
Of course, no one knows what Brady is gonna do, and I hope and pray he comes back next year.
January 21st, 2022 at 5:00 pm
I just wonder if Brady calls it quits if Arians would too. Would Arians really want to enter next season with Kyle Trask as his starting QB? If Arians retires and Bowles moves on look for Leftwich to be gifted the HC job.
January 21st, 2022 at 5:33 pm
I think at this point in the season most older players would be contemplating retirement. Thier bodies have taken a beating and they are sore and in pain. Thier families are tired of watching them take hits and be in pain. Brady is in a good position financially. Which is the usual driving force for players to play past the time to hang it up.. I don’t think he has anything to prove at this point. I wouldn’t be surprised if he retires. I’m pretty sure Gronk would retire too. And Maybe Arians. And I would be ok with all of it. This has been fun.
January 21st, 2022 at 5:42 pm
The tabloid idiots have to talk about something
January 21st, 2022 at 6:11 pm
I’ll believe it when I see it. While not a bust, Howard was a meh pick, like a lot of players in the first round of 2017.
January 21st, 2022 at 6:14 pm
Rand, of course BA retires, he would have no one else to cover his arse and make him look good.
January 21st, 2022 at 6:20 pm
If ever Todd Bowles and Byron Leftwich decide to be a HC somewhere else, I hope and pray that in their resume they can brag about back-to-back SUperbowl Champs 2020-2021, 2021-2022. GO BUCS!!!
January 21st, 2022 at 7:02 pm
If the Bucs lose Sunday, it will be Brady’s last game. He had an awesome season, likely MVP, and there’s zero shame in losing to the Rams with such a depleted Bucs team. In other words, TB goes out on top. A fantastic way to end a legendary career.
January 21st, 2022 at 7:10 pm
newsflash… TB12 will retire when he has 3 more rings…LFG
January 21st, 2022 at 9:23 pm
Brady is playing football not for the money he gets paid but for his love for the game, He will do everything he can to win the game on Sunday and strive once again for the Super Bowl. I enjoy so much watching a football game that Brady plays in but will be very disappointed when he retires. He is by far the greatest Quarter back ever to play the game and is outstanding leader for any team he places for because he motivates all the players on his team do work together to win every game possible for everyone’s complete happiness.
January 21st, 2022 at 10:05 pm
But a poster here swears he’s got the inside scoop on Brady and Gisele, the $500 million force of nature. I’m sure a poster at JBF has the privileged insights into the inner workings of the Horsey-Brady empire and knows better that the top experts in football and the movers and shakers of business.
Nice try, in case it happens this boob is going to be all “Look at me I called it!”
Doofus Baggus.
January 21st, 2022 at 10:06 pm
He is usually pretty good but this is a horrible take. OJ means absolutely nothing on this team. He’s going to be gone. Like you said Joe, the salary cap goes way up. They will sign Godwin to a long-term deal , they will secure Jensen & Davis. They will also bring in a little bit of youth on the D line.
The way I see it, if they don’t get it done this year Brady will come back for one more year because odds are it’s going to be a much healthier year next year.
If they do get it done this year, why wouldn’t he want to come back to be the only quarterback to ever 3 peat? That seems like a lot of incentive right there. Plus he said multiple times he thought of playing until he’s 45 – next year is 45.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:53 pm
I’m not an OJ hated like 90% of the idiots on this board who just want him to fail, but Brady doesn’t give a damn about OJ and his being here or not will have no effect on the team going forward, in particular since he’s almost always used a blocker now (don’t know why, but that’s how he’s used).
As for the FA’s, Godwin is going to be hard to keep, but they can structure his contract to put all the hit in the post-Brady era. The Bucs will have to sign another guy though, and that’s where the Brady factor should help bring someone in on the cheap. Maybe Allen Robinson Jr, coming off an injury and a completely garbage offense, maybe he takes a one year deal just to win. Juju is another guy who, as a #3, would be very productive I believe – although he’s not the kind of WR that Brady likes. Heck, I’m not a Humphries guy, but I’d take him over the other guys we have down the roster to play that AB spot — and he’d be dirt cheap.
January 22nd, 2022 at 7:44 am
brady is done. thank god patriots fans do not want to share the legacy with the bucs, and arias looking like chewbacca with his stupid headset across his chest
January 22nd, 2022 at 7:50 am
godwin going to patriots this year
January 22nd, 2022 at 8:38 am
Wow, come on Joe… You keep teasing that the cap is going up next season, but you never take into account the Buc player payroll. Overthecap is a very good, reasonably accurate resource. Look at the Buc payroll for 2022; even without their potentially expensive free agents (Godwin, Davis, Whitehead, Fournette, Gronk, JPP, Suh) plus assorted castoff free agents (like OJ Howard), there is only $19.7 million in cap space. Even with NFL-creative accounting, you cannot create the cap space to bring many back.
That’s why the entire “$6 million savings” from not re-signing OJ Howard is silly. No OJ Howard is already factored into the $19.7 million of available cap space. It’s like that inanely funny “Peace Dividend” political talk from the early 1990s. In both cases there was no money to spend.
January 22nd, 2022 at 9:37 am
Brady will be back next year !!
January 22nd, 2022 at 11:21 am
Well click bait articles have done their job! Everyone talking like this is his last year now, 2 weeks ago we weren’t. These rumors start this time of year to try and cause distractions. The Bucs are the Champs and other teams/ fans/media love to make things bigger than they are to cause distractions. This all started with Nikovich running his mouth, which by the way he has said for a couple years now thar Brady may retire anytime. Old news, Brady playing the best football. Bucs will be all in again in the offseason even if we lose.
January 22nd, 2022 at 3:49 pm
Swampbuc that would be the most likely scenario
January 22nd, 2022 at 8:33 pm
Who Cares!!! We got a SB win I’m happy with that more than many teams can say!!