At the very least, New England Patriots icon Tom Brady has earned the right to announce his future plans himself.
Of course, Adam Schefter, Jeff Darlington and ESPN had to attempt to ruin the party by launching a report about Brady’s impending retirement on Saturday afternoon, taking Pats Nation by surprise.
After all, didn’t Brady intend to play until the age of 45? He’s only 44. Something didn’t add up.
Perhaps he wanted out of Tampa, but planned to end his career with … one final season in New England, mentoring Mac Jones before closing the door on his own terms? A fan can dream.
Regardless, if Brady is retiring, he doesn’t have all his ducks in a row yet.
TB12 has spoken with his current GM, Jason Licht of the Buccaneers, and informed him he has yet to make an official decision on his future.
Report for @BallySports: Tom Brady contacted @Buccaneers GM Jason Licht and told him he has not yet made a final decision on retirement, disputing the ESPN report. Licht is respecting Brady's process and waiting for a definitive answer, whenever it comes, from the QB.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 29, 2022
Patriots icon Tom Brady isn’t ready to announce his retirement just yet.
This report follows a statement from Brady’s agent Don Yee that wasn’t a denial, per se, but also didn’t give any real indication TB12 would be staying active, either.
According to Yee, Brady “knows the realities” of the football calendar, and won’t announce anything until he is ready to.
That seems to indicate you can expect to wait until after the Super Bowl hubbub settles down to hear from Brady himself.
Statement from Tom Brady’s agent Don Yee: pic.twitter.com/vbUhSToYtT
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 29, 2022
With Yee’s statement came the scrubbing of Brady’s own controlled social media channels.
TB12 Sports, which should theoretically have its finger on the pulse of its boss’ behavior, deleted their tweet commemorating the GOAT’s retirement.
Something tells us Tom was not very happy about having to do this.
The TB12 Sports account deleted this tweet around Tom Brady’s retirement… 👀👀👀
— PFF (@PFF) January 29, 2022
One more year? pic.twitter.com/WSAaUamiCK
Is that enough for you? If not, maybe you’ll believe Tom Brady’s father!
This saga isn’t over yet.
JUST IN: Tom Brady Sr. tells @kron4news that his son is not retiring. Brady Sr. says an online publication started circulating an unsubstantiated rumor. However a number of NFL insiders are now reporting it. @kron4news #TomBrady #NFL
— Kylen Mills (@KylenMills) January 29, 2022
Patriots legend Devin McCourty — who we know wants to play next season, wherever he calls home — might’ve said it best.
Hasn’t Brady earned the right to announce his own fate, instead of having the control of the situation wrestled from him? The disrespect, yet again…
22yrs and you can’t announce your future plans yourself lol (Dmac)
— Devin&Jason McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) January 29, 2022
For now, at least, Brady’s “We’re Still Here!” chant rings truer than ever.