Every Buccaneers fan was hoping that Tom Brady would be back from retirement and on fire to play. It seems more like that fire is waning.
What Tom Brady has done during the past two decades as a competitor is nothing short of spectacular. Being able to get yourself ready to play at a high level year-in and year-out despite winning everything, and we mean everything, is no easy task.
Guys lose the fire. They grow complacent. Not Brady. Even in his later years with the Buccaneers, Brady has been able to win and perform at the highest level because he wants it more than every other person in the sport.
Is that still the case? Tom Brady’s retirement and his recent comments on the subject might show the first cracks in this persona as one of the fiercest competitors professional sports have seen.
Jenna Laine was able to summarize the key point from Brady in an article for ESPN.
The one thing that stands out the most is Brady likening his return to preparing for a marathon and using the word “ugh.”
Training for any sport or competition at that age is tough. It is difficult and jarring and it takes a mountain of your time and physical effort to ready yourself for the task. A marathon is not an easy task for most people, especially someone like Brady, and the GOAT being open about not being completely on fire to start the season and comparing it to a multi-hour run says a lot.
Many athletes love the perks associated with their sports far more than they actually love playing the sport. Guys like Brady, Michael Jordan, etc. show you (during their careers) that money comes secondary to winning. Many would argue that this love for winning is what made them so great at their sports.
Tom Brady in this quote does not sound like a guy who is in love with the idea of going out there and winning, and while Brady at less than 100% is still better than most of the league when they are all the way up, this does show bring a bit of concern about Brady into the start of the season.
We all know that the captain for the Bucs is going to give his everything when he is on the field and preparing for the year, but could that look different this year after Brady has tasted retirement and obviously still wants to be there in part?
Time will tell.
Want to write about the Buccaneers? Apply below!
Want your voice heard? Join the The Pewter Plank team!