Page 15 - aruba-today-20230202

A15
SPORTS Thursday 2 February 2023

Tom Brady retires at 45, insisting this time it’s ‘for good’

By FRED GOODALL league over the past three
AP Sports Writer seasons behind Kansas City
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — This (46) and Buffalo (41).
time, Tom Brady says he’s “I think I’ve been on the
done for good. record dozens of times say-
The seven-time Super Bowl ing there’s no quarterback
winner with New Eng- I’d rather have than Tom
land and Tampa Bay an- Brady, and I still feel that
nounced his retirement way,” Belichick said in 2021
from the NFL on Wednes- shortly before Tampa Bay,
day, exactly one year after with Brady, came to New
first saying his playing days England and beat the Pa-
were over, by posting a triots in a game dubbed
brief video lasting just un- “The Return.”
der one minute on social “I was very lucky to have
media. Tom as the quarterback, to
Unlike last winter, though, coach him, and he was as
the most successful quar- good as any coach could
terback in league history, ever ask for.”
as well as one of the great- Brady set league single-
est athletes in team sports, season records for comple-
said his decision was final. tions (490) and pass at-
“Good morning guys. tempts (733) while throwing
I’ll get to the point right for 4,643 yards, 25 touch-
away,” Brady says as the downs and nine intercep-
message begins. “I’m retir- tions in his final season.
ing. For good.” Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) smiles during warmups before an NFL football The Bucs, however ranked
game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Atlanta.
He briefly retired after the Associated Press dead last in rushing offense
2021 season but wound and, forced to rely almost
up coming back for one tors. I could go on forever. forget the wins or the acco- ing into the NFL he was solely of Brady’s arm, strug-
more year with the Bucca- There’s too many. Thank lades, and his influence will picked 199th in the 2000 gled to get the ball into the
neers. He retires at age 45, you guys for allowing me be felt for years to come.” draft by the Patriots, be- end zone.
the owner of virtually every to live my absolute dream. Brady announced his retire- hind six other quarterbacks, After scoring 61 touch-

meaningful NFL passing re- I wouldn’t change a thing. ment one day after attend- three kickers and a punter downs in 2021, Tampa Bay
cord in an unprecedented Love you all.” ing the premiere of “80 for Brady certainly wasn’t ex- slipped to 31 last season
23-year career. Brady is the NFL’s career Brady” which comes out pected to become synon- and averaged just 18.4
A year ago when he retired, leader in yards passing Friday in Los Angeles. The ymous with greatness. He points per game down
it was in the form of a long (89,214) and touchdowns movie tells the story of four played in one game as a from over 30 in Brady’s first
Instagram post. But about (649). He is the only player lifelong friends, played by rookie, completing one of two seasons with the Bucs.
six weeks later, he decided to win more than five Super Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, three passes for six yards. At 8-9, Brady’s only los-
to return for one more run, Bowls and has been MVP Rita Moreno and Sally Field, The next year, it all ing season in over two
citing “unfinished business” of the game five times. He who went to a Super Bowl changed. decades as a NFL starter,
after an early playoff exit. also holds marks for regular- to see Brady play. Brady took over as the Patri- the Bucs became just the
The Buccaneers with season wins (251), He was asked Tuesday night ots’ starter, the team beat fourth team in league his-
whom he won a Super Super Bowl appearances whether he felt a connec- the St. Louis Rams in the Su- tory to earn a postseason
Bowl two seasons ago (10), playoff games and tion working with women per Bowl that capped the berth with a losing mark in

made the playoffs again wins (48, 35), as well as the four stars range in age 2001 season and he and a non-strike year. The of-
this season, losing in their playoff yards (13,400) and from 76 to 91 who don’t New England coach Bill fensive struggles continued
playoff opener. And at the TDs (88). want to retire. Belichick were well on their during a lopsided loss to
time, it begged the ques- “Tom’s legacy is un- “They’re working hard and way to becoming the most Dallas in the NFC wild-card
tion about whether Brady matched in the history of they love it. So good for successful coach-QB duo round.
would play again. this game. All the Super them,” Brady told The Asso- in football history. Brady won three NFL MVP
Only a couple of weeks Bowl titles and statistical re- ciated Press. “You know, it’s More Super Bowl wins came awards, was a first-team
later, he has given the an- cords speak for themselves, just that’s what life is about. after the 2003 and 2004 All-Pro three times and was
swer. but the impact he had on You got to, you know, wake seasons. The Patriots re- selected to the Pro Bowl 15
“I know the process was a so many people through up every day with a pur- turned to football’s moun- times.
pretty big deal last time, so the years is what I appreci- pose. And when you find taintop for a fourth time in Brady and model Gisele
when I woke up this morn- ate the most,” Buccaneers something you love to do, Brady’s era a decade later Bündchen finalized their di-
ing, I figured I’d just press general manager Jason Li- you know, it’s hard to stop. to cap the 2014 season, the vorce this past fall, during
record and let you guys chet said. You really enjoy it. And start of three more titles in a the Bucs’ season. It ended
know first,” Brady says in “His imprint on this organi- there’s a lot of aspects that span of five years. a 13-year marriage be-
the video. “I won’t be long- zation helped take us to you do enjoy. So they still He signed with Tampa Bay tween two superstars who
winded. You only get one the mountaintop. We will bring it at this age. It’s re- in free agency in 2020 and respectively reached the
super emotional retirement certainly miss him as our ally unbelievable to watch added a seventh Super pinnacles of football and
essay and I used mine up quarterback, but I will also them on set and how much Bowl ring to his collection in fashion.
last year. miss him as a leader and energy they have. And I his first season with his new It was announced last year
“I really thank you guys friend,” Licht added. “Our certainly was inspired by team. that when Brady retires
so much, to every single entire organization is in- them and learned a lot of The Bucs and won 37 from playing, he would join
one of you for supporting debted to him for what he lessons on this whole experi- games (including postsea- Fox Sports as a television
me. My family, my friends, provided us over the past ence.” son) with Brady at quar- analyst in a 10-year, $375
teammates, my competi- three years. We won’t ever Famously underrated com- terback third most in the million deal.q