The Buccaneers drafted Kyle Trask in the second-round a couple weeks ago, but don’t count on him seeing the field any time soon. Tom Brady continued to defy father time once again this past season, and as far as the Bucs are concerned there’s no cap on when he can keep playing until.
Tampa GM Jason Licht recently appeared on the Rich Eisen Show (Twitter video link), and made it clear he’s not going to force Brady out the door. For starters, Eisen asked Licht whether Brady gave any indication that the extension he signed back in March would be his last. Licht immediately said “none.” While Licht said he’d keep most of their conversations private, he said Brady gave “no inkling at all” that this would be his last go-round.
Most notably, Licht said “I told him if he wants to play until he’s 50, and he feels like he can still play, he can play until he’s 50.” Brady, born in August of 1977, would turn 50 right before the start of the 2027 season. Trask’s rookie contract will have already been long done at that point.
While Licht obviously wasn’t making a firm commitment right there, it’s yet another sign that Brady isn’t going to ride off into the sunset as long as he’s playing at a high level. His most recent extension keeps him under contract through the 2022 season.
The 43-year-old had knee surgery this offseason, although he said recently that he’s hoping to be ready to go by the time the team opens minicamp in June.
Father Time will tell him how long he can play. Could be a while since you can’t touch the quarterback anymore.
I know Peyton and him are buds, but it’s gotta drive Manning nuts that Tom’s still going!
If Manning didn’t have that neck injury, he probably would have played a few more years. It really hampered him and he looked brutal in that final season. Dealt with the neck thing for a long time, too.
Brady has been super lucky to not have any major injuries aside from that ACL over a decade ago.
Manning drive was money. Brady was all about the next ring and being in shape. TB12 method works.
Okay, I don’t blame them for thinking this. Today, Everybody (except Bill B.) wants to be loved & they are not the GB Packers, bla bla bla. And, this year is TB’s window & KC’s window. Makes sense, for now.
Starting next year, however, the Bucs & KC will have 3-4 years of Cap issues where the supporting cast (you know, super star D players, OLmen, WR’s etc) expect to get paid. The Patriots needed a reset after paying out 2016-2019. Lets see how they handle things with a QB’s $30+ mill/year deal.
My prediction? Brady moves on to the next team with young and under paid superstars ready to win a SB.
He just bought a mansion in Miami. They’re loaded with players, picks, and cap space.
The Bucs only have 5M remaining in cap space. Hardly flush will money
think he was referring to the dolphins
If Brady is merely playing at an average level, I’d argue it actually helps the Bucs retain their players. Tom has taken a huge discount, giving them a QB for cheap. Usually the cap crunch comes when the QB gets paid. If you’re saving 20m+ there, that’s two supporting players signed.
I take zero pleasure in defending Brady’s case, and am not a Bucs fan. Even if a guy or two leaves though, can you name a better situation out there for say the next 3 years?
I understand the benefits, but I can’t see Brady fans support him going to a third team.
Why? If you’re a “Brady fan,” him going to another team could just solidify his reputation as the GOAT if he can win a Super Bowl with a third team. And if you’re a Bucs fan, hell, he just helped you win only your second Lombardi, so he’s still got a lot of credit in the bank.
I don’t think there’s another team that will support him as much as Tampa has. They already had a pretty good supporting cast, and then they added a lot of other pieces (two of whom, Brown and Gronk were just for Brady) to help them win. Certainly, other teams would support Brady, but Tampa literally followed up every lead they could to get that ring.
I’m not sure another team would go that far, except maybe Arizona, and they’ve already drafted their guy. Brady can obviously still play, but he knows he needs a lot of help, and he knows Tampa is where he’ll get it. That’s why left New England, to get that help. I don’t think he’ll leave, and if he does, it’ll likely be worse than what he has.
You may be right, but the question was whether Brady’s fans would support him going to a third team, not whether another team would do as much to support him as Tampa Bay did.
TB12 forever
It doesn’t help that once a week, about 20 weeks a year, there 11 guys lined up across from him a few dozen times who are trying to inflict brute force upon him and his ever-aging body.
I really don’t want Tom Brady to depart the field for a final time in ignominious pain. But, if he insists on playing til he’s 50, that may be what’s destined to happen.
Either that, or in February, 2051, we’re going to read about 73 year old Tom Brady rallying his team to victory in the Super Bowl for his 18th ring. “Brady had a mediocre game by his lofty standards, but still completed 61% of his passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns…”
Just like his NFC Championship game?
Somewhere sits Rob Parker yelling at a padded wall while donning a straight jacket, “NO WAY! NO HOW!”
I neither hate or like Brady but I think when he loses it, it’ll go fast. Manning did. Farve did. Marino did
I sadly think so too. It took Peyton Manning roughly 1.5 seasons to go from concerning to diminished.
Didn’t Manning have a neck injury?
He did.
Agree. Everyone thinks they’re special and unless he goes out on top, it could be a sad decline to the end
can’t wait for him to get mamed and carried off on a stretcher.
That’s a despicable comment. You should be ashamed of yourself.
What kind of psycho are you?
You’ll probably say something like “Oh I HAVe a DaRk senSe OF hUMor1!11”, but that is so screwed up.
Perhaps Goodell should give up his wet dream of expanding the NFL into foreign countries and instead create a exclusive league for seniors.