Tom Brady is considered the quarterback GOAT in the NFL, but his father believes his son doesn’t know when to call it quits. Hall of Famer Cris Carter detailed his conversation with Tom Brady Sr., where the elder statesman of the Brady clan revealed his opinions about his son’s penchant to continue his 23 years and counting career in the NFL.
Tom Brady’s Dad Said He Doesn’t Know When To Quit
Carter spoke to Kay Adams on the “Up And Adams” podcast about his conversation with Brady’s dad the night before Super Bowl LV in Tampa, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9.
“The night before the game, I happened to meet up with Tom Brady’s dad; he said the only thing he’s worried about is the kid won’t go home,” Carter said to Adams. “He said, ‘The kid is outside still playing and he won’t come in. It’s raining, everything; I’m only afraid the kid won’t stop playing even if he wins.’ He won that game, and he’s still playing.”
“The kid is outside still playing, & he won’t come in. It’s raining. I am only afraid the kid won’t stop playing even if he wins”⁰⁰Cris Carter shares Tom Brady’s Sr.’s concerns about the GOAT’s ability to walk away from the game⁰⁰📺: @FanDuelTV | @heykayadams | @criscarter80 pic.twitter.com/DtUwkKObmp
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 12, 2022
Football At All Costs
That sentiment became a reality as the seven-time Super Bowl champion announced he would unretire for the Bucs 2022 season less than two months after announcing his retirement. He even stayed active at the cost of his 13-year marriage to his estranged wife, Brazilian model supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
“So it is a problem. The NFL is a drug, man. And there is no other office job, there is no other partnership, there is no other relationship,” Carter continued. “We’ve got great (former) players broadcasting, running teams. It’s nothing like the NFL. And it’s not a close second.”
The NFL season is practically over, and the Bucs have had a disappointing 6-7 season. Their 35-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 14 saw Brady connect on a short middle pass to Russell Gage for 8 yards in the third quarter for the Bucs’ only touchdown. Fans have called for ex-players like Rob Gronkowski to rejoin the team and make the last four weeks of the regular season great again, but Gronk has another potential solution for Brady, and he told USA Today.
He has said that even though losing sucks he would rather play & lose than not play at all. It's hard because I love @TomBrady but this year is painful to watch I just hope he goes somewhere next year & has success, preferably back "home" in New England.
— Jack Brokenshire (@JackBrokenshir2) December 13, 2022
The Gronk Way
“That would be a great team to have him here at Fox,” Gronkowski said to USA Today reporter Mackenzie Salmon. “You know, he’s a commentator, I’m an analyst. We’re going back and forth a little bit to each each other. That would be a lot of fun.”
However, Brady is known to be in tip-top shape, and, per Cris Carter, unless his body tells him differently, the chase for another chip is always an option.
“Everyone remembers Michael Strahan walking off, everyone remembers Ray Lewis walking off. But the truth of the matter is they couldn’t play no more. Their bodies were wrecked and everything,” Carter continued.
“If they could, they could keep going. Tom is healthy enough to continue going, but there is no exit strategy. His career will end just like Dan Marino, it will end just like Joe Montana, it will end just like Walter Payton. Everybody’s still wanting another drink at the cup, but realizing, ‘Man, time has passed me by.'”
Brady’s contract expires after the 2022 season, and he will review his options. Whether he goes the way of Gronk to the commentators’ table or continues to validate his father’s fears of not calling it quits, Brady will be connected to the gridiron somehow.
