Brady Retiring

[Doctor]

I think this is the right move for him. Everyone liked to talk about where he should go next, but I just didn’t think swapping teams at 46 for one more long shot at a ring was worth it. Dude has nothing to prove and I’m glad that Donovan Smith and Luke Goedeke didn’t get him seriously injured this past season.

I think he would disagree and it would be worth it. Also think SF may have said no thank you.

[Navybuc]

So in the end the choice came down to retirement or returning to Tampa…and he chose retirement. Sounds bad for Licht/Bowles and what he prolly thinks of our chances next year, but in the end, I think it was the right call. His mobility is completely gone.

[Snake]

He was never mobile. He’s just really good at navigating the pocket. The entire interior of the o-line was turned over in one year if you include TC injuries. Brady - and all pocket QBs - struggle with interior pressure. Especially in 3rd and long situations. Where the team was historically awful.

I will die on the hill that he wasn’t physically done.

[King Bootz]

He wasn't physically done. Mentally he was never here in 2022 if we're being honest with ourselves.

[Cheb]

He wasn't physically done. Mentally he was never here in 2022 if we're being honest with ourselves.

Agreed.

And maybe it's more important to spend time with your kids, safe in a broadcast booth without the aches and pains of the daily grind, than it is to struggle to not have a second losing season on your insurmountable resumè.

[Snake]

My Patriots fan friend is convinced this is another short-lived retirement.

[Buc2]

So in the end the choice came down to retirement or returning to Tampa…and he chose retirement. Sounds bad for Licht/Bowles and what he prolly thinks of our chances next year, but in the end, I think it was the right call. His mobility is completely gone.

Is that just your opinion or is that some insider info you read somewhere?

[Brazen331]

Going back to that video of the team ignoring Brady in San Francisco: maybe he is just tired of playing with an entirely different generation, being the dad, the old man.

There are no other football players born in the 70’s. It’s not his league anymore. When you think about it, how do you continue to relate and be relevant when playing a game with guys who were born after you entered the league?

[Bahamian:bucfan]

[Navybuc]

So in the end the choice came down to retirement or returning to Tampa…and he chose retirement. Sounds bad for Licht/Bowles and what he prolly thinks of our chances next year, but in the end, I think it was the right call. His mobility is completely gone.

Is that just your opinion or is that some insider info you read somewhere?

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... -bucs/amp/

[Buc2]

Is that just your opinion or is that some insider info you read somewhere?

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... -bucs/amp/

So, speculation it is...

Brady had reportedly “implied” to people close to him...
.
.
Given past machinations, it’s a bit hard to believe that Brady didn’t do a little digging...

Do you believe this to be true? I'm not trying to start a fight. I'm just curious.

[Four Verticals]

My Patriots fan friend is convinced this is another short-lived retirement.

I don't think he actually said "retired" last year. He kind of talked around it.

I think this is final

[Navybuc]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... -bucs/amp/

So, speculation it is...

Brady had reportedly “implied” to people close to him...
.
.
Given past machinations, it’s a bit hard to believe that Brady didn’t do a little digging...

Do you believe this to be true? I'm not trying to start a fight. I'm just curious.

I always kinda thought that if he was to come back, it was likely going to be here…and that playing here or retiring were the two big options. He may have done a little digging…but In the end he didn’t want to go to a whole new situation and learn a whole new system at this stage in his career.

[Digital_Damage]

What a ride.

I think if he saw the perfect fit out there, he may have stuck around. I just don't see any "if only we had a QB" situations like the Bucs presented. He was certainly not going to play for this HC again...

San Fransico was the closest situation, but they are not built for his style.

Glad he came on board... Thanks tom.

[Buc2]

So, speculation it is...



Do you believe this to be true? I'm not trying to start a fight. I'm just curious.

I always kinda thought that if he was to come back, it was likely going to be here…and that playing here or retiring were the two big options. He may have done a little digging…but In the end he didn’t want to go to a whole new situation and learn a whole new system at this stage in his career.

I can buy that.

[The Outsider]

All I'm saying is that, statistically speaking, 100% of the time Brady retires from the NFL he unretires that year.

[King Bootz]

All I'm saying is that, statistically speaking, 100% of the time Brady retires from the NFL he unretires that year.

Read the room: You're the only one really implying he could possibly not actually be retired once the season rolls around.

[The Outsider]

All I'm saying is that, statistically speaking, 100% of the time Brady retires from the NFL he unretires that year.

Read the room: You're the only one really implying he could possibly not actually be retired once the season rolls around.

I think you're probably the one who should 'read the room'.

[Selmon Rules]

It's a statistical fact!!!

[Nobody]

Not surprised in the slightest.

He still has all the physical tools but he was not all-in upstairs in 2022 for a number of reasons (some of them understandable).

When your career is built upon being the most detail-oriented and driven player you can possibly be...and that suddenly fades (and the fade was sudden...clearly)...its time to hang 'em up.

Appreciate getting the chance to root for not only Elite QB play, but MVP-caliber QBing play for the first time. Appreciate giving LVD and Mike the opportunity to put in their special brand of Canton work (as players, teammates, and good dudes) and have it pay dividends.

[BucsNBills]

Now that Brady is gone for good, I'm wondering, how close to Prime Brady do you think we got during his tenure here?

I mean obviously his last year wasn't very close, but do you think 2021 and 2020 were pretty close to Prime Brady?

If not, it's just incredible what kind of performance we got out him in the twilight of his career and Patriots fans were obnoxiously spoiled for two decades with Brady leading the way.

[Snake]

Now that Brady is gone for good, I'm wondering, how close to Prime Brady do you think we got during his tenure here?

I mean obviously his last year wasn't very close, but do you think 2021 and 2020 were pretty close to Prime Brady?

If not, it's just incredible what kind of performance we got out him in the twilight of his career and Patriots fans were obnoxiously spoiled for two decades with Brady leading the way.

Basically his prime imo. He hit his prime post-30 and just never fell off.

[mdb1958]

Even the GOAT couldn’t make Goedeke look good

May be the most snaps given by the Bucs to the o-line to establish them as veterans.

[Doctor]

I'd put the 2020 Bucs up against the 2017 Pats any day

[Max]

Now that Brady is gone for good, I'm wondering, how close to Prime Brady do you think we got during his tenure here?

I mean obviously his last year wasn't very close, but do you think 2021 and 2020 were pretty close to Prime Brady?

If not, it's just incredible what kind of performance we got out him in the twilight of his career and Patriots fans were obnoxiously spoiled for two decades with Brady leading the way.

16 games, W12 2020 - W7 2021 (including playoffs)

YDS - 5014
TD/INT - 46/9
EPA/play - 0.337
Passer Rating - 109.2
PPG - 33.0

That's only second to his 2007 season.

[BucsNBills]

Now that Brady is gone for good, I'm wondering, how close to Prime Brady do you think we got during his tenure here?

I mean obviously his last year wasn't very close, but do you think 2021 and 2020 were pretty close to Prime Brady?

If not, it's just incredible what kind of performance we got out him in the twilight of his career and Patriots fans were obnoxiously spoiled for two decades with Brady leading the way.

16 games, W12 2020 - W7 2021 (including playoffs)

YDS - 5014
TD/INT - 46/9
EPA/play - 0.337
Passer Rating - 109.2
PPG - 33.0

That's only second to his 2007 season.

That is a pretty insane stretch of games.

So I guess we did pretty much have prime Brady for the most part. Now imagine having that for like 10+ years...

[BucsNBills]

I'd put the 2020 Bucs up against the 2017 Pats any day

Yeah I don't think too many teams would've beat our Super Bowl team. Especially with the way we played that night. It's for sure one of the best Super Bowl rosters in a long time.

[Max]

16 games, W12 2020 - W7 2021 (including playoffs)

YDS - 5014
TD/INT - 46/9
EPA/play - 0.337
Passer Rating - 109.2
PPG - 33.0

That's only second to his 2007 season.

That is a pretty insane stretch of games.

So I guess we did pretty much have prime Brady for the most part. Now imagine having that for like 10+ years...

He also did it in an offense without a schematic floor. With a more innovative scheme, I think he could've put up 2007 type of numbers with this supporting-cast.

[Nobody]

FBO DYAR and DVOA to compare Brady's best years vs each other. For reference:

Quarterbacks are ranked according to DYAR, or Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement. This gives the value of the quarterback's performance compared to replacement level, adjusted for situation and opponent and then translated into yardage. DYAR (and its cousin, YAR, which isn't adjusted based on opponent) is further explained here.

The other statistic given is DVOA, or Defense-adjusted Value Over Average. This number represents value, per play, over an average quarterback in the same game situations. The more positive the DVOA rating, the better the player's performance. Negative DVOA represents below-average offense. DVOA (and its cousin, VOA, which isn't adjusted based on opponent) is further explained here.

The simple version: DYAR means a quarterback with more total value. DVOA means a quarterback with more value per play.

2020

DYAR - 1518 (3)
DVOA - 25 % (4)

2021

DYAR - 1,892 (1 - by a titanic amount)
DVOA - 26.5 % (2)

vs best PATS years:

2007

DYAR - 2,674 (1 - by forever)
DVOA - 54.1 % (1 - by forever)

2010

DYAR - 1909(1 - by forever)
DVOA - 46.7 % (1 - by forever)

2017

DYAR - 1595 (1)
DVOA - 27.8 % (2)

vs MANNING 2013

DYAR - 2475 (1)
DVOA - 43.2 % (1)

vs MAHOMES 2018

DYAR - 2031 (1)
DVOA - 39.9 % (1)

+++++++++++++++++

So. During "the analytics era", evidence suggests that Brady's 2007 was by far the greatest QBing season of that period...even significantly better than the 2nd best of that era; Manning 2013...and vastly better than the 3rd of that era; Mahomes 2018.

In terms of his own performance, 2020 ranks behind 2021. And both of them are obliterated by Brady 2007 (and Manning 13 and Mahomes 18) and 2010. Ranking Brady's greatest years in terms of FBO's DYAR and DVOA would be:

2007
2010
2021
2017
2020

+++++++++++++++++++

And the answer is "yes...we absolutely got prime Brady." Physically, he was as capable as he ever was (in some ways more...I swear, the juice and arm talent he had displayed on particular throws was better than his younger years...and his athletic profile was at least, if not better, than "chubby Brady years").

Last year, he was suffering all the physical duress from his personal life issues (lost weight, surely unslept, miserable...all of it). And then the Center and Left Guard issues (because we were playing the wrong LG and we didn't gameplan for that, obvious going into it, issue) through week 7 harmed his cognitive loop. And he had already (relative to his history) checked out mentally and with his dedication and preparation but that clusterfuck just served to amplify things dramatically. Guy was a "mental shell of himself" (which is the greatest mental game in the history of the position for sure). IMO, he had all but retired long before the season came to an end.

Again, and with incredible irony, it wasn't Father Time that caught him...it was a mental collapse.

[13F11B]

We were lucky to get Brady when we did. It was the right collection of guys at just the right time. I think the team was better in 2021-22, but injuries at the end of the season derailed things.

[Buc2]

16 games, W12 2020 - W7 2021 (including playoffs)

YDS - 5014
TD/INT - 46/9
EPA/play - 0.337
Passer Rating - 109.2
PPG - 33.0

That's only second to his 2007 season.

That is a pretty insane stretch of games.

So I guess we did pretty much have prime Brady for the most part. Now imagine having that for like 10+ years...

Hell. We don’t have to imagine it. We witnessed it when was playing in New England.

[Babeinbucland]

[Doctor]

Imagine if Brady would've gotten a Reid or Arians from the start.

[Snake]

Imagine if Brady would've gotten a Reid or Arians from the start.

Yeah, he might have 3-4 rings.

[Doctor]

I've always said just 2.
The irony is how being a better QB would've made him less of the GOAT.