Former NFL star Rob Ninkovich believes Tom Brady should retire at the end of the 2022 season amid reports he could sign with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers agonised to a 19-16 win over the Cardinals in Arizona on Sunday, with kicker Ryan Succop making three field goals - including the winning kick. In the Christmas Day clash, Brady completed 32-of-48 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown to go with a pair of interceptions in a performance to forget for the GOAT.
Brady is certainly used to winning and reaching the postseason with relative ease, but the 2022 season has seen the seven-time Super Bowl champion falter following a tumultuous offseason in which he reversed his decision to retire. Earlier this year, Brady originally retired but sensationally returned just 40 days later amid much fanfare.
The 45-year-old instead returned for a 23rd season in the NFL - and it has appeared to be an ill-advised decision. However, Brady and the Bucs could still remarkable make the playoffs as they sit atop the NFC South despite their lowly 7-8 record.
Brady will be a free agent in the upcoming offseason for just the second time in his iconic career and there is no guarantee he will return for 2023 with the Buccaneers, particularly after their poor performances this season. He will undoubtedly be one of the most coveted free agents available - particularly for quarterback-needy teams amid rumours he could return to the New England Patriots or move back home to his boyhood San Francisco 49ers.
After their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels announced the team would be sitting longtime quarterback Derek Carr for the rest of the season, with the 31-year-old even stepping away from the team to avoid being a distraction. Naturally, Brady has been linked with a move to Sin City to reunite with his former offensive coordinator in Foxborough.
However, Ninkovich - a former teammate of Brady’s on the Patriots as they won two Super Bowl titles together - believes the move would be a mistake and instead the GOAT should consider retirement. Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, Ninkovich said: “Tom Brady doesn't need to play football at 46 years old.
“I’m being honest, I want to see him ride off into the sunset, go do something else, man. If he goes to the Raiders, he's putting himself in another position where everyone is looking at you to come in and take them to a place they haven't been in forever.
“I don't see it happening. Not only do I see it happening, I don't see Tom having this miraculous recovery to this 46-year-old self that he didn't have at 45 this year.
“Yeah you can say the offensive line had issues, the receivers were hurt early, the defence wasn't great in Tampa, the new head coach wasn't able to get the most out of the players... But at the end of the day if a receiver is wide open and the ball isn't getting to him, that's gotta be on the quarterback.”
The Buccaneers will secure the NFC South title and book their place in the playoffs if they defeat the 6-9 Carolina Panthers on Sunday before Brady and co. wrap up their regular season against the Falcons in Atlanta on January 8.
