Ah yes, it’s that time of year again … Rumors of a potential Tom Brady comeback are beginning to swirl.
It’s no secret that Brady’s broadcasting debut was met with many harsh reviews.
While it’s unfair to judge him on one game, there are insiders who believe he still has an itch to return to the field and wouldn’t mind putting his 10-year, $375 million FOX deal on hold.
After Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered yet another concussion in Miami’s loss to the Buffalo Bills last night, speculation is mounting that the Fins may consider making another run at Brady.
With just three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Tagovailoa sustained a brutal hit that left him motionless on the field, reigniting fears about his long-term health and future in the league.
While Miami just signed Tagovailoa to an enormous four-year, $212 million contract extension, some feel the troubled quarterback should retire due to his reoccurring concussion problem.
Interestingly, polarizing personality and famed Boston sports fan, Bill Simmons, recently spoke about the chances of Brady making yet another NFL comeback.
“If there’s a team that has a chance to win a Super Bowl and there’s a Heaven Can Wait situation where something happens, I think he would come back,” Simmons said.
“I think up until he turns 50 years old, I will always believe there’s a chance he will come back because I think these guys are all wired the same way, boxers, actors, rappers, these dudes that have really achieved great stuff, once that switch gets turned off the only way you stop doing it is if your body is not cooperating anymore. If you feel like literally can’t do it.”
Simmons pointed to Brady’s impressive physique as a reason he might still be able to compete at the highest level.
“He’s in shape because he got super skinny there for a little bit. But, he’s not super skinny anymore,” Simmons added. “I never believe that guys are done unless their body definitely tells them they’re done.”
While some are sick and tired of the Brady-comeback rumors, Simmons revealed that the legendary quarterback was much closer to joining the San Francisco 49ers than people realize.
“I know that he was ready to comeback for the Niners, that was a true story. I’m 100% positive that that happened,” Simmons said. “He was like, hey, Shanahan, if anything happens to Brock Purdy, I’m right here.”
Brady, who grew up in San Mateo, California – just 19 miles from San Francisco – was a lifelong 49ers fan, making that opportunity even more enticing.
Shanahan admitted there was a time where Brady was on the top of their minds. However, with Purdy establishing himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, it’s safe to say that the TB12 ship has officially sailed.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be other teams who might interested.
“Listen, the odds of a quarterback on a top 5 team getting hurt in November or December are pretty low, but it does happen,” Simmons added. “I’m just saying for the rest of the 2020s until he hits 50, I’m not counting him out from coming back, and it’s not a take; I genuinely believe this.”
Of course, there’s the whole Las Vegas Raiders ownership situation. That has been a saga in its own right.
Brady has stated numerous times that he is done playing for good and won’t be making any more comebacks. However, most fans are smart enough to take those comments with a gallon of salt.
While the odds of it actually happening are extremely low, do you think there’s ANY chance the Dolphins go after Brady?
He lives in the Miami area and has shown plenty of interest in playing for the Dolphins in the past. As much as he wants to downplay it, we know how extreme the competitive itch is for Brady.
Adding to the intrigue are the rumors that he would love to extend the Super Bowl cushion between himself and Patrick Mahomes.
Hey, crazier things have happened…