NFL-Brady retirement talk shifts into high gear after Buccaneers loss By Reuters

(Reuters) – The Tom Brady ‘will he, will not he?’ retirement debate shifted into excessive gear on Sunday as NFL followers puzzled if the long run Corridor of Fame quarterback had performed his final recreation after Tampa Bay’s 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in a NFC divisional playoff.

Even within the days main as much as the assembly in Tampa it appeared everybody was attempting to learn the tea leaves about Brady’s future.

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians instructed The Tampa Bay Instances that he could be “shocked” if Brady didn’t return for subsequent season whereas ESPN reported that sources near the NFL all-time passing chief mentioned he’s non-committal about taking part in.

The 44-year-old has mentioned he needs to play till not less than 45 and has supplied no trace that he doesn’t plan to honor the ultimate yr of his present deal that may pay him $25.4 million.

Based mostly on his efficiency this season there would appear little motive for Brady to not return.

He performed in all 17 video games and led the NFL in passing yards with a profession excessive 5,316 and threw 43 landing passes.

Requested about his future, Brady instructed reporters: “I have not put numerous thought into it. We’ll simply take it day-to-day and see the place we’re at.”

Brady added that he felt nice bodily and dismissed a query on whether or not he thought the sport is perhaps his final.

“I used to be simply enthusiastic about profitable. That is simply form of my mentality to go on the market and attempt to win, give my crew the most effective likelihood to win,” Brady mentioned.

Brady’s fierce competitiveness, that has helped him earn seven-Tremendous Bowl rings, together with one final yr with Tampa, was on full show on Sunday as he engineered a second-half struggle again towards the Rams.

Trailing 27-3 within the third quarter, the Buccaneers rallied to tie the competition with 42 seconds remaining on a Leonard Fournette nine-yard landing run.

However that was nonetheless sufficient time for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to work the ball deep into Tampa territory the place kicker Matt Homosexual sealed victory with a 30-yard subject objective.

The Rams superior to the convention title recreation subsequent Sunday towards the San Francisco 49ers.