Stop worrying about how long Brady will play

For the past few weeks it has been my goal to avoid watching or listening to any NFL talk. Particularly talk about my New England Patriots. It really has been a sobering experience. If you have been keeping track of NFL chatter you would think the Pats have some really tough decisions ahead of them. The only tough decision I’m worried about is where they put the 5th banner.

For whatever reason the media has turned a recent comment by Brady’s wife Gisele into a wildfire. According to Gisele, Brady was concussed at one point last season. I don’t know if this is true. I will never know if this is true. I will never care if this is true. Why? Because it’s football. At one point in every players’ career he will experience some sort of head injury. Minor or major. Risky down the road? Absolutely. But it’s why they get paid the big money. Besides, if Tom really was concussed then how good would he be healthy? The man went 14-1 as the starter last season.

Don’t listen to the next Einstein that tries to tell you the Patriots broke NFL rules by breaking the “concussion protocol” and should be punished. I guarantee you they are not trying to unleash their inner Will Smith from the “Concussion” movie, they just really hate the Patriots.

Now I really want people to think about how stupid they sound when they fish for headlines about this so called “concussion.” You are completely overlooking what this dude did, probably playing through pain, so you bash him and the organization for not putting his name on the injury report. At age 39 he led a 25-point comeback in the Super Bowl. You already know that. The media already knows that. They just don’t have the guts to keep talking about it. I get it, there are 31 other teams that exist. I’m sure talking about how great the Patriots have been does get old. But if you don’t want to talk about their success then simply don’t talk about them. Doesn’t bother me. When you start reaching to the point where your top story is about the potential future dilemma between an aging Brady and the organization? That’s a very low point.

Brady wants to play until he’s 45. That’s another comment that has sparked controversy even with other NFL players. Brady calls the shot here. When he is ready to step away he will step away. This is not a Favre-Rodgers situation. I will say it louder for the people in the back. This. Is. Not. A. Favre. Rodgers. Situation. Jimmy Garoppolo could be the Tom Brady of Tom Brady’s and he still wouldn’t be the starter. Tom could have 6 straight losing seasons and it still would be his decision. Nobody is walking through the door telling Brady he lost the starting job. Could you imagine? “Hey Tom, thanks for the 5 rings but it’s time we give the starting job to Jimmy.”

I will be the first one to admit it, I am spoiled rooting for this team. You need to be able to admit that in order to root for them.  But I urge every Patriots fan to take a step back and appreciate where this organization is right now. They just had the best 3-month stretch in their history. They are poised for another Super Bowl run. Enjoy it! This team will not last forever. So for now if you need me I will be studying all possible locations for banner #5.