Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
(Foxboro, MA) – After NFL legend Tom Brady cracked open the door on a possible return to playing during a recent podcast appearance, many have taken notice.
That includes Jerod Mayo, a former teammate of Brady in New England and now the Patriots’ head coach. Addressing the idea of a Brady comeback, Mayo told WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” that he “(loves) Tom. The door is always open if he wants to come in here and coach. But as far as going on the field, I don’t know.”
It’s a crowded QB room in New England these days. The Patriots just drafted Drake Maye third overall out of UNC. Joe Milton III was taken out of Tennessee in the 6th round. And veterans Jacoby Brissett, Bailey Zappe, and former CFL standout Nathan Rourke are also on the roster at present.
Mayo alluded to that depth in responding to the Brady talk. “If (he) comes in here, going back to the ‘best player will play,’ you have to come here and compete. He loves competition. But I doubt he’s going to be walking through these doors any time soon,” Mayo admitted.
Brady even noted during his appearance on the “Deep Cut” podcast that any return to active play would be complicated by his bid to become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. Team owner Mark Davis and Brady reached an agreement in May of last year to make that happen, but the NFL has yet to grant approval.
It’s also highly possible Brady is not realistically considering ever playing again – as he puts down the football and picks up the microphone. At 46-years of age, he’s set to begin working as a broadcaster this summer with Fox Sports. In the same podcast appearance that generated “comeback” buzz, Brady sounded satisfied with being done as a player:
“My career and all that, that’s a thing of the past in my mind. I was a gladiator out there, and now my time has moved on. Now it’s, ‘OK, how can I deliver for my next group of teammates?’”
