Tom Brady on Andrew Luck's retirement: 'Everyone has the right to choose what they want'
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Tom Brady has made no secret of the fact that he wants to play until he’s 45-years-old, which would be three more years.
Brady has endured one major injury in his career, a torn ACL in the 2008 regular-season opener, and of course numerous smaller ones. But thanks to a usually-strong offensive line, his own attention to his body and likely some good luck, Brady hasn’t had to make the painful decision Andrew Luck did, retiring because his body had simply failed him.
The NFL’s elder statesman weighed in on Luck’s situation Monday.
‘Everyone has the right to choose’
Making his weekly appearance on Boston station WEEI, Brady was supportive of Luck’s decision.
“It is his life. Everyone has the right to choose what they want to do,” Brady said. “He had a great career and he was a great player. Everybody wishes they could be healthy all the time. It is a contact sport and he’s certainly had his fair share of injuries, so guys retire at different times. Some at the end of the season, and I have seen a lot of guys retire before the season gets going and this is just one of those examples.”
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Luck cited the cycle of injury and rehab he’s seemingly been stuck in the last few years as having taken its toll on him mentally and physically.
‘It takes a lot of support’
Drafted in 2000, Brady is beginning his 20th NFL season and was asked what it’s taken for him to be able to play for so long and cited his support system.
“I think it’s everything. There’s definitely a physical element. There’s definitely an emotional element,” he said. “I think there is a mental element. Everything in my view really has to come together for you to be the best version of yourself as a player, and it takes a lot of support. It takes a lot of people.
“You see certainly, you can see me as an individual doing that. I have the support of my teammates, my coaches, my family, my friends, Alex [Guerrero], my training system. All those things really need to come together in order to continue to achieve.
“It feels great when you have that support because a football season is like a marathon. There’s moments where it is very challenging whether it’s physically, emotionally, or mentally — you need somebody to help you push through the hard parts because it’s not all easy. It’s a great challenge, but it is very rewarding when you meet the challenge, too.”
‘We are emotional beings’
Indianapolis hosted the Chicago Bears on Saturday night and as word spread in Lucas Oil Stadium that Luck, who has been battling a calf/ankle injury that kept him off the practice field for nearly all of training camp, had decided to retire, he was booed as he walked off the field with teammates.
Luck reportedly had planned on telling teammates of his decision on Sunday, and then meet with media after, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the story of his decision on Saturday night, killing that plan.
Luck said he heard the boos and they hurt to hear.
Brady believes those who heckled the quarterback won’t hold that emotion long.
“I think emotions are just that. They come and go,” he said. “In the moment, I try and not make any decisions on emotion. We are emotional beings. They just ebb and flow. That is just part of life in my view.”
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