TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jason Licht, general manager, had a feeling it was coming.
It was Super Bowl Sunday in February and he was at home celebrating his birthday with his family. He glanced down at the phone to see a message from quarterback. Tom BradyHe had 12 days earlier officially retired.
Licht stated to ESPN that “you could feel the passion,” on Friday. “I just said.” [my wife] Blair: “He really enjoys this game. It is obvious that he longs to play in this game. I don’t — I don’t think the fire has died.”
Brady wanted to discuss the eventual champion Los Angeles RamsThree weeks prior, the Bucs had narrowly defeated Brady in the divisional round. At 44, Brady lost in that loss and it ended one of his greatest statistical seasons.
Two weeks later, Licht said to reporters at the NFL Combine, “We’ll keep a light on” for Brady, knowing that there was a good chance Brady would return.
Clyde Christensen was a Quarterbacks coach and had experienced the same feeling Facetiming Brady during his transition into the NFL. However, he wasn’t sure whether it was wishful thinking or if it was a result of watching Brady do household chores.
Christensen stated, “I was kinda suspect.” “I felt like he wasn’t done playing football. He played well last year,” I said.
Brady called it “Unfinished Business”, and it has brought him back for a 23rd year. When he takes to the field against the Dallas Cowboys This Sunday8:15 p.m. ET, NBC) he’ll become the first quarterback in NFL history to start a game at age 45. It’s even more unbelievable that this happens on the heels a MVP-caliber season.
Brady took an unprecedented 11 day break at the beginning of the 2022 football season. This was unheard-of for any player in the training camp, let’s not even for a starting quarterback, to attend to what were described as “personal items.”
Brady declared, “I am 45 years old man.” “There are many s— going around.”
Brady will enter the season with a sense of mystery. This will apply to his on-field prospects, as well as the possibility of when the future Hall of Famer will retire. The team of ESPN NFL analysts and reporters answered all the questions about Brady as he begins his third season at Tampa. — Jenna Laine
Why didn’t Brady retire?
Brady stated that he fell in love with the sport as a young child and that he still has a deep love for it. “I believe I will always
Brady’s friend and longtime throwing coach Dr. Tom House wrote a PhD thesis about the challenges professional athletes face when they let go. It is often difficult to integrate back into society after a professional athlete has forged an identity with his sport at such young ages. He called it the “terminal adolescent Syndrome”.
Troy Aikman, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, said, “When my time was up, people would ask me, “Hey, are you missing it?” Are you missing playing? I don’t. I miss winning. I miss those big games. It’s obvious that I miss the championship game. It’s hard to imagine not playing in the Super Bowls.
Brady could be differing.
“He loves the whole process as much he loves football.” Licht stated that Brady is in love with football’s whole process. He meets with the pro scouting team every week to review opponent players, and sometimes brings in notes from players 15 years ago.
Licht stated, “I believe he’s gone onto record saying that he has a sickness. He just loves throwing the ball.” – Laine
How does this Bucs roster compare to Brady’s best ever, going all the way back to New England.
Last year for ESPN I did a ranking of Tom Brady’s best supporting casts Ever and the 2020 Buccaneers were ranked second to the 16-0 Patriots in 2007. While the 2021 Buccaneers were as strong as ever, this year’s support cast would have to be lower than in 2007.
Russell Gage Gage is a skilled receiver. It is impressive that he managed to post a positive receiving DVOA last year in Atlanta. Gage is not a Hall of Fame candidate. Antonio BrownHe was still giving a stellar performance, even though he had to stop for the Buccaneers last year.
We don’t know what Julio Jones WR4 really left the tank, and the tight end space is much weaker than it was without. Rob Gronkowski.
The offensive line is where the real change takes place. Shaq Mason This is a good replacement for Ali Marpet. Ryan JensenThe All-Pro center candidate for the past several seasons, he will be out of action due to a knee injury. It is safe to assume that even a highly-drafted rookie like, will be a rookie. Luke GoedekeWhile they will face some challenges, they won’t be as successful as the solid veterans. Alex Cappa Last season, he was at left guard.
This Buccaneers support cast would be ranked seventh in Brady’s career. It is behind the Buccaneers last year and the five teams in my article from one year ago. — Aaron Schatz, Football Outsiders
What is your projection of Brady’s stat line going into the season
My projection is for 4,535 yards passing, 34 touchdown passes, and 12 interceptions.
Brady just completed a season that saw him attempt 719 passes, which is the second-most attempts in an NFL regular season. Brady also led the league in dropbacks (749), completions (485), passing yard (5,316), and touchdown passes (43). You can expect lower pass volumes this season, particularly with Bruce Arians no longer coaching.
Brady’s yards-per-try projection (7.1), is also down, which makes sense considering he lost Brown to Gronkowski and Brown to targets. He could be without receiver. Chris Godwin For a few more games.
Even though Brady is projected to see a decline in passing yards and attempts, he still has the best record in attempts, touchdowns, yards, and touchdowns in 2022. Brady is the heart of Tampa Bay’s offense. He is set for another productive statistical campaign. Mike Clay
What do executives from the league have to say about Brady’s 2022 season.
Many in the league wondered if Tom Brady had lost his arm after his last season in New England. These executives will not repeat the same mistake after two years and 83 passing touchdowns.
An NFC executive stated that “you just can’t count he out.” “I believe that New England last year had problems protecting him, and his receiver weaponry wasn’t very good. He now has plenty of weapons and is well-protected. He also wins with his mind before snapping so that any loss in arm strength doesn’t appear like it would with other people.”
It’s because most league players expect Brady will have another strong season. This could complicate his outlook for 2023 as a free agent. Some question whether Brady, regardless how talented, will have a harder time committing to playing the game after his brief retirement and 11-day absence from Bucs Camp.
There’s also the threat of Fox becoming an NFL analyst. Multiple execs pointed to the fact that Brady has more leeway than he did under Bill Belichick. A new team may not want the headache. – Jeremy Fowler
Is Brady going to retire in 2022?
I don’t see him continuing to play beyond this season. Brady has had a very strange year, and there is still much of the football schedule. He’s been a model of clarity and reliability for more than 20 years, in both his play and his plans. Brady has experienced an unprecedented amount of awkwardness, despite his remarkable longevity.
He was clearly unhappy with Tampa’s coach Bruce Arians. Even though he loved the coach, there were signs. Then there was his retirement and then a week of waffling. His return was followed by Arians’ move into the executive suite.
His massive post-playing broadcasting deal. There was also the tampering which led to the suspensions of Stephen Ross, Dolphins owner, and Bruce Beal (minority owner). Then, there was his 11-day vacation to training camp.
This should not affect his abilities as a player in a sport he has been so close to mastering than he is as a quarterback. It’s not hard to wonder where his head is as he enters his third season at 45.
He’s been acting like a man tired of being pulled in many directions since last season. Even if he made it all. Although it’s understandable and relatable to any driven person in their late 40s, it still points out the unsustainable nature of his life.
Brady has been talking for years about the growing gap in his life between how he approaches the game and how it affects him as a father, husband, son and friend. This gap has become Brady’s defining characteristic.
Each year it grows wider and the game will finally give out after this season. — Seth Wickersham