Tom Brady (here January 4, 2020) announced on March 17 that he was leaving the New England Patriots. – Elise Amendola / AP / SIPA
Tom Brady and New England, it’s over. The NFL star, often touted as the greatest American football player in history, announced Tuesday that he is leaving his long-standing team, the Patriots. According to several journalists, he would have found a tentative deal with Tampa Bay at $ 30 million a season.
“My adventure in American football will take me elsewhere,” wrote the 42-year-old, who spent 20 seasons in New England with six Super Bowl wins, in a long message posted on Twitter. absolute for a professional league player (NFL).
FOREVER A PATRIOT pic.twitter.com/QSBOJBs4uy
– Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 17, 2020
“I have just lived the happiest two decades that I could have imagined,” wrote the man who played 285 games in the Patriots’ jersey, for which he thanks “the supporters, the coaching staff and his teammates, current and former “
Nine finals, six wins
Brady has competed in nine Super Bowl editions, won six and been crowned four times best player (MVP) in these finals, an all-time record in all three categories. He was also named the MVP three times in the regular season.
Brady’s departure also puts an end to his association, the most prolific in history in terms of titles, with Bill Belichick, who until now has been his only coach, at the head of the “Pats” when the young Brady’s draft franchise in the 6th round (199th position) in 2000.
Known to be talkative and even less demonstrative, Belichick hailed “the greatest quarterback of all time” in a statement. “It is a privilege to have coached Tom Brady for 20 years,” said Belichick. “He didn’t just do well. He didn’t just win (matches). He won championships over and over again. Sometimes in life, it takes time to really appreciate something or someone, but that’s not the case with Tom. “
Brady was also very close to the billionaire owner of the Patriots, Robert Kraft, who said on Tuesday that he considered him “like a son.” “How can I express my gratitude for what he has given us for the past 20 years, or the sadness I feel in knowing that it is ending? I love Tom as a son and I will always love him. “, he said.
Up to 45 years old?
The 42-year-old Californian, born at the end of the Patriots’ contract, has not indicated where he will play next season. For several weeks, the rumor had presented the departure of N.12 from the “Pats” as possible, the discussions between Brady and the management of the Patriots having led nowhere.
After the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers, which would have all given up, the press now mentions the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Chargers as a possible destination.
Brady remains on a very high season, although he has shown signs of slowing down. And, an unusual event, his team, which was putting its title at stake, was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Tennessee Titans.
In 2017, Brady, husband of former top model Gisele Bündchen, said in an interview with ESPN that he saw himself playing until the age of 45, but also that he did not rule out d ‘go further if his physical condition permits. Quarterback George Blanda holds the record for the oldest player to play in an NFL game, aged 48, in 1976.
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