BRADY BOWLS OVER PATS AS HE MOVES ON
TOM BRADY revealed he’s quitting the New England Patriots after a glittering 20-year career in which he won a record six Super Bowls.
Brady was among the first players drafted by Pats head coach Bill Belichick when he was selected a lowly 199th out of the University of Michigan in 2000.
Together the pair forged a dynasty to rewrite record books.
The quarterback has played in nine Super Bowls, winning the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016 and 2018 showpieces. The last of those made him the oldest player to win a Super Bowl at 41.
Brady’s latest contract expired this off-season, leading to fevered speculation about his next move.
Pats owner Robert Kraft revealed he was ready to offer his poster boy £25million a year to stay for the rest of his career.
But while his plan for next season is unclear, the 42-year-old will not be in Foxborough.
In a statement posted on social media, Brady turned his focus to team-mates, coaches, executives and staff, Kraft and his family, plus the entire organisation.
He said: “I want to say thank you for the past 20 years of my life and the daily commitment to winning and creating a winning culture built on great values...
“Pats Nation will always be a part of me. I don’t know what my football future holds but it is time
BY ROBBIE REED for me to open a new stage for my life and career.”
NFL teams were able to speak to free agents from Monday and can begin signing them today.
However, Brady has already seen two doors slammed shut.
The Tennessee Titans, coached by old team-mate Mike Vrabel, gave Ryan Tannehill a £97million four-year deal on Sunday.
And the San Francisco 49ers have committed to Brady’s former understudy Jimmy Garoppolo despite his lacklustre show in their Super Bowl loss to Kansas City last month.
Brady continues to be linked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – who are keen to move on from Jameis Winston – and the Los Angeles Chargers, who axed veteran Philip Rivers last month.
Whichever team does sign him will be getting a four-time Super Bowl MVP and 14-time Pro Bowl selection. He is second all-time in regular season passing yards and touchdowns, trailing New Orleans’ Drew Brees.
But he holds the NFL records when regular-season and postseason stats are combined.
New England are left with 2019 fourth-round selection Jarrett Stidham and 26-year-old Cody Kessler, who has played in just 17 NFL games with Cleveland and Jacksonville.