Month: February 2022

Days after reports first broke that veteran quarterback Tom Brady was retiring, Brady himself confirmed the news in a lengthy statement on social media.

Alongside a photo of himself playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 43-year-old Brady wrote: “This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”   Later in his statement, he thanked his teammates, coaches, and loved ones, saying: “My playing career has been such a thrilling ride, and far beyond my imagination, and full of ups and downs. … I will remember and cherish these memories and re-visit them often. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.  The future is exciting.”

Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2000 and spent the first 20 seasons of his career with the team, winning six Super Bowls. His final two seasons in the NFL were played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who Brady led to his seventh Super Bowl victory in 2021.

Brady finishes his career a five-time Super Bowl MVP, and three-time league MVP. He’s also the oldest player to be named Super Bowl MVP and win a Super Bowl as the starting quarterback, which he achieved at age 43.

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The Players Association and Major League Baseball’s bargaining representatives held another face-to-face meeting on Tuesday in an effort to bring an end to the ongoing owner lockout. The meeting, taking place at MLB headquarters in New York City for roughly 90 minutes, marked the second time in the last eight days that the two sides have discussed the “core economic issues” facing baseball.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that there was “little progress” made, saying: “The meeting between the Major League Baseball Players Association and MLB is over. Little progress was made. The on-time opening of spring training at this point is in grave danger and, frankly, would take a miraculous deal coming together to rescue. A delay feels inevitable.”

In a meeting last week, the two sides discussed the parameters of a bonus pool for players with 0-3 years of service time as a way to address the union’s concern for getting younger players paid sooner. The two sides remain far apart on key economic issues such as the luxury tax and minimum player salaries.

Teams are scheduled to report to spring training in two weeks; however barring any last-minute resolutions, the chance of starting spring training on time looks remote.

Editorial credit: Piotr Swat / Shutterstock.com