Joe Montana's advice to Tom Brady after latest Super Bowl victory: 'Play as long as you can'

[Procus]

If you ask me, Montana's advice is spot on.  Love him, hate him, don't care about him - whatever, Brady is good for the game.  I agree he should play as long as he is able to productively do so.  Don't listen to the Brazilian wife.  When you peak like he has in his career and you can build on top of unmatched excellence, you keep going.  The NFL is more interesting with Tom Brady playing QB than with Tom Brady retired.  And I get a certain amount of pleasure seeing Bill Belichick being reduced to a mere mortal sans having Brady on the squad.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/joe-montana-tom-brady-advice-latest-super-bowl

 

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Joe Montana's advice to Tom Brady after latest Super Bowl victory: 'Play as long as you can'

'Joe Cool' on Brady's career: 'It’s been great for football'

By Daniel Canova | Fox News

 

Long before Tom Brady won a combined seven Super Bowl titles for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana was widely regarded as the greatest quarterback to walk the face of the Earth.

Montana, who led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl championships in the ‘80s, played 16 years in the NFL. The Western Pennsylvania native was the first player ever to take home three Super Bowl MVPs in addition to his two regular-season MVPs in ‘89 and ‘90. 

Montana was a perfect 4-0 in Super Bowls, he has the Super Bowl record for passer rating [127.8], and he had 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in those four games, which included head-to-head matchups against John Elway and the Denver Broncos, and Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins.

Like many NFL fans across the country, Montana witnessed Brady win his seventh Super Bowl championship during this first season with the Buccaneers in 2020. Brady, who just finished up his 21st season in the league, has already said that he will return to Tampa Bay next season, even though his wife, Gisele Bündchen, said to him after the big game, 'What more do you have to prove?'

Even though Bündchen may be right, Montana’s advice to Brady is to continue playing.

"Play as long as you can," Montana told Fox News on Wednesday. "Because once it’s over, it’s over. And if you try to get back to it after you retire especially at a later age, it’s hard to get that motivation back again. So, as long as you can keep it going, and if people want you to play, keep playing."

Brady, a Northern California native grew up idolizing Bay Area superstar Montana. His idol was a third-round NFL draft pick. Brady, who was drafted in the sixth round, was seen in the same vein as Montana. Neither was projected to Hall of Fame greatness coming out of college.

Brady became the starter for the Patriots during his second season. Montana did the same with the 49ers. But Brady has now exceeded the quarterback he cheered in his youth.

To go along with his seven Super Bowl titles, Brady also earned five Super Bowl MVPs. Brady is a three-time NFL MVP, three-time first-team All-Pro, 14-time Pro Bowler, and holds a number of NFL records in the regular season and playoffs combined, including most wins (264), passing yards (91,653), touchdowns (664), game-winning drives (61), and fourth-quarter comebacks (48).

"I think it’s been great. It’s been great for football," Montana said of Brady’s career.

The University of Notre Dame alum also noted that Brady is "not the first (player) to move around and go to a Super Bowl."  And Montana knows from experience. Brady was able to accomplish with the Bucs a feat that Montana was unable to achieve after leaving San Francisco.  

With another Hall of Fame quarterback, Steve Young, waiting in the wings in San Francisco, in 1993 Montana asked for a trade and was sent to the Kansas City Chiefs. In two seasons he did lead the Chiefs to the playoffs but was unable to carry the team to the Super Bowl.

The quarterback, who became known as "Joe Cool" for his comeback heroics, is simply impressed with Brady. He’s had a "tremendous, tremendous career," added Montana. 

While Montana may see some of himself in Brady, he did see one potential difference. "I don’t know if I would have thrown the [Lombardi] trophy to another boat or not," said Montana, "Who knows? I guess tequila will make you do something crazy. But he’s been fun to watch."

 

 

 

 

[EricAllenPick6]

Brady could play another 5 years.  He shows no signs of slowing down.  

 

[Procus]

6 hours ago, EricAllenPick6 said:

Brady could play another 5 years.  He shows no signs of slowing down.  

 

If he continues, it very well may be that injury cuts Brady's career short before decline in play does

[Madriver]

I agree it's good for the game.

Watching Brady go up against Mahomes was like watching two top gunslingers in the Old West go at it. The storylines are fascinating.

[paco]

Tom Brady:  I think I may hang it up soon.

Joe:

 

[toolg]

It's Tom Brady's decision whether he keeps playing or not. But Joe is right: Once he retires, it's over. He is never coming back. It's tough to relight that fire once it's put out.

[Mike030270]

On 3/4/2021 at 8:59 PM, Procus said:

If he continues, it very well may be that injury cuts Brady's career short before decline in play does

Yup. The older he gets the bigger chance he gets injured on a sack

Though the league will of course make sure he never gets hit