Is Tom Brady, heading into Year 13 of his remarkable run with the New England Patriots, entering the twilight zone of his career?
Not in his mind. Patriots owner Bob Kraft told USA TODAY Sports that his quarterback indicated recently that he hopes to play for another decade. "He says that whatever he does -- I know it'll be great things out of football -- it'll be a downer," Kraft says, "compared to how he feels about football."
Brady, who turned 35 this month, is the longest-tenured Patriots player. Although Kraft can see the GQ quarterback flinging passes well into his 40s, Brady won't publicly flirt with a defined timeline.
Just two current quarterbacks have been in the league longer than Brady -- Peyton Manning (15th season) and Matt Hasselbeck (14th). "I hope I play as long as possible," Brady told USA TODAY Sports. "I don't know how long that's going to be.
"Honestly, in '08, when I had that knee injury, that really makes you appreciate what you're doing on a daily basis. Because there was a year that I missed, and I was like, 'Damn, I wish I was out there practicing every day.' To not have that opportunity was very frustrating. I love the game."The two-time Super Bowl MVP said that the neck injury that sidelined Manning last year also hit home as a reminder of football mortality.
"Things always change quickly," he said. "We're certainly not entitled to anything in this league. And it's always going to move on without us. That's why you have to work hard at it. That's why you've got to earn it, why you've got to appreciate it. And there's some luck that plays into it."
Brady sounds like a guy who hasn't let his enormous success change the basic approach to the game. Like pleasing the coach. Mindful of performance, he maintains that ultimately he might not hold the decision of when to hang up his cleats.
He insisted -- with a straight face -- that maybe it will be Head Coach Bill Belichick's call. "So I'm still working hard, doing my job, because that's what he's looking for," Brady said. "And the day that's not what he's looking for, there comes a time for everybody. I hope to make that decision hard on him for a very, very long time."