NFL legend Brady ‘calls time on glorious career’

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is retiring, multiple outlets reported on Saturday.

The 44-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback said he would consult with his family and mull the decision perhaps “a month or longer” following the Buccaneers’ NFC divisional playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday, but he apparently didn’t need that much time.

However, Brady’s camp disputed the reports. Long-time NFL journalist Michael Silver, reporting for Bally Sports, said Brady contacted Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht and told him he “has not yet made a final decision on retirement.”

Brady led the Bucs to a Super Bowl championship in his first season in Tampa in 2020 and signed a restructured contract that included 2022, leading some to believe he might make a return next season at age 45. He also had spoken about potentially playing until the age of 50, never ruling out the possibility.

Instead, the three-time league Most Valuable Player will hang it up after 22 NFL seasons. He cited family and health as being reasons for stepping away, according to ESPN.

Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians told The Tampa Bay Times on Saturday that he hadn’t been notified of the decision by Brady or his agent, Donald Yee, though ESPN’s sources indicated the organization knew he was leaning in that direction.

After reports surfaced, Brady’s own Twitter feed, @TB12sports, posted a retirement tribute but then pulled it down, replacing it with a recipe for protein-packed muffins.

Yee released a statement Saturday afternoon that said only Brady could address his future.

“I understand the advance speculation about Tom’s future,” Yee said. “Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what’s being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy. He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon.” (Reuters)
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Last updated: 2022-01-30 HKT 05:42