Former teammate of Tom Brady suggests quarterback may come out of retirement...again

If you thought we have heard the end of the Tom Brady retirement saga, you thought wrong.

Despite the quarterback reiterating his plans not to return to the football field, one of his former Tampa Bay teammates has alleged that it isn't out of the question to see him return this upcoming season.

Because of his failed attempt to stay on the sideline last year, the debate about whether Brady will actually stay retired remains a topic of interest. His dedication to the game and his passion for winning has made many believe he can't be done, especially with how his last season with the Bucs ended.

But it may be time to accept that he will be hanging up his cleats.

According to cornerback Antoine Winfield Jr., that may not be a good idea.

He mentioned the topic during a recent "The Richard Sherman Podcast" appearance, and, of course, Brady was brought up in the conversation. Winfield revealed he wouldn't rule out the possibility of seeing the greatest of all time change his mind about retirement again.

"I’m sure we’re still reaching out to him trying to see if he’s trying to come back to the team. Hey, it could happen. Anything’s possible ... It’s up in the air, man."

Considering Brady's first retirement lasted just forty days, it's not surprising that some believe this time will go similarly.

However, Brady has taken more opportunities to shut down the idea of making a comeback, which he didn't do the first time. And his personal life has seen a dramatic change since his original attempt at retirement, making it seem more likely that he will enjoy the good life with his family in sunny Florida.

On top of that, his recent purchase of partial ownership of the Las Vegas Raiders puts a roadblock up for him to return to the field. Active players are not allowed to play and own a team simultaneously due to the financial implications, forcing every team in the league to vote to allow him to return unanimously.

Would a league that was dominated for over twenty years really do that?

Plus, Patriots fans have his return to Foxboro to look forward to in week one. If he comes out of retirement, the event won't happen.

That wouldn't be fun, right?

We'll have to wait and see what happens, but given Brady's consistent denial of returning to football, it seems best to assume he's telling the truth.