Tom Brady says his thoughts on leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoffs are not his own future

TAMPA, Fla. – Tom Brady said Sunday night that it was too early for him to think about his future and that his feelings were still tied to the heartbreaking, last-minute playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. which happened just minutes earlier.

“Sure, guys, I’m thinking about this game,” said Brady, who collected Bucs from the 27-3 deficit in the second half just to see them fall 30-27. “I’m not thinking about anything in the last five minutes.”

Brady’s comments came after ESPN announced earlier Sunday that the 44-year-old quarterback is uncertain about his future and that while he could return for another season, it’s far from self-evident. Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington that Brady plans to take time – a month or more – to assess how he feels physically and mentally while assessing his family’s desires.

Brady expressed the same after Sunday’s defeat.

“I haven’t thought about it much, so you know, we just take it one day at a time and kind of look where we are,” said Brady, who has a year of contract left.

The seven-time Super Bowl winner replied that he was asked if he thought Sunday might be the last game of his career as he ran out of the South End Zone tunnel at Raymond James Stadium.

“I was thinking of winning,” he said. “It’s kind of my mentality – always go out and try to win. Give my teammates the best chance to win.”

Eventually, he ran out of weapons they could throw for this season. Not Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, Breshad Perrimania or Cyril Graysonia. Tyler Johnson was injured in the rib and Jaelon Darden had a concussion. Tight-headed Cam Brate was lined up in the slot game at the end of the game on Sunday, and at some point Brady had a right-wing substitute to fill in the right-hand rigging as his right-hand gear received an ankle injury in addition to a four-legged injury.

“It’s a reality in football,” said Brady, who lost the division round only for the fourth time in his career. “Every team is really qualified when it comes to the finals, then the four finals, then the last two, and it doesn’t feel good to lose any of these games, and I’ve lost every single one of those stages. After all, there’s only one team that’s going to be happy. It feels good to move on. , as it progresses, and of course when you don’t, whether it’s last week or this week or next week, next week, two weeks after that – if you’re a loser in that game, it’s sad to lose in the end. ”

Coach Bruce Arians said there is no timetable for discussing his future with Brady.

“It’s totally up to Tom,” Arians said.

Bucs does not have a successor to Brady on his current list.

Teammates, many of whom faced questions about Brady’s future last week, acknowledged the reality of the situation.

“I know Tom is a competitor. He always says he has something to prove, but what else can he do?” interior defender Lavonte David said. “He’s a GOAT. He’s done his best. If he comes back, we’ll naturally welcome him with open arms. But we have to let him decide for himself.”

Wide-range receiver Mike Evans said he’s not going to score any kind of goal for Brady.

“I don’t have to tell him anything,” Evans said. “He’s self-motivated. He knows what he wants. Hopefully we’ll get him back next year. The best player ever, one of the best teammates and one of the best leaders I’ve ever seen.

“I’ve said over the last two years: I’m very grateful he came to Tampa Bay. No one knew he would even leave New England. I’m just very privileged to play with him.”

Bucs has 24 players to become unlimited free agents, including older veterans who, like Brady, have decisions to make – outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul, defender Leonard Fournette, tight-lipped Rob Gronkowski and Jensen to name a few.

It may not be possible to re-sign all 22 starters as last year.

“It’s so hard. Many of these guys have their contracts in their final year,” David said. “I was the last to walk in [the locker room]. When he saw it in everyone’s eyes, it was like, “This is a tough thing.” You hate going out that way. After all, you know the locker room won’t be the same next year.

“You build relationships with friends and you see them go the way we did – some people have to move to certain places. It’s going to be hard because this is the toughest locker room I’ve ever been with. The best chemistry with friends on and off the field. Great leadership, when the young guys and the old guys just jelly together … It’s like a real family-like atmosphere. Luckily you build bonds with these guys to wish them all the best for their future endeavors, but we all know that next year the situation will be different. “

Pierre-Paul, who just turned 33, undergoes surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff he’s played all season. When asked if he wants to continue playing, he replied, “I don’t know. Let’s see after my surgery.”

Fournette, the 2017 fourth draft pick who found her career recovery in Bucs after leaving Jacksonville Jaguars before 2020, added: “I’m proud of this group – I’m proud of these guys and me. I’m happy to call myself a Buccaneer.”

Many players stayed in the locker room long after Sunday’s game.

“You need to nurture the relationships you have with this team,” Fournette said. “They don’t come that way too often. One of the best groups of friends and coaching assignments I’ve ever had. We went out like we didn’t want to go out, but at the end of the day I’m just blessed to be part of this organization because I have guys like Tom Brady, Gronk and Mike [Evans], Scotty [Miller], [Ryan] Jensen … guys like that … It’s hard, it’s hard. “