'Absolutely Wrong!' Did ESPN Goof? Is Tom Brady NOT Retiring?

Tom Brady Sr., the quarterback’s father, says that his 44-year-old son is not retiring at all.

FRISCO - So, we are right back where we started regarding Tom Brady's retirement decision. Right?

Multiple NFL insiders, led by ESPN's Adam Schefter, reported on Saturday that the legendary Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback intended to retire this offseason. 

It was "official.''

But shortly after that, Brady’s long-time agent Don Yee issued a rather confusing statement in which Yee seemed to be putting a tap on the brakes of the "official'' nature of the decision.

Confirming Tom Brady has called #Bucs GM Jason Licht to inform him he has NOT made up his mind about retiring or playing in 2022. @MikeSilver reported it first.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) January 29, 2022

And then came a report from the reliable reporter Mike Silver noting that Brady (apparently still on Saturday) went so far as to call Buccaneers GM Jason Licht to inform him that these announcements were premature and that he had not yet made a decision on retirement.

JUST IN: Tom Brady Sr. tells @kron4news that his son is not retiring. Brady Sr. says an online publication started circulating an unsubstantiated rumor. However a number of NFL insiders are now reporting it. @kron4news #TomBrady #NFL

— Kylen Mills (@KylenMills) January 29, 2022

And then one more statement coming from none other than Tom Brady Sr., the quarterback’s father, telling a media member that his 44-year-old son is not retiring at all.

Brady Sr. later said, "This is conjecture ... Tommy has not made a decision ... Anybody that says he has is absolutely wrong.''

Brady, for all of his accomplishments (including being "The Ultimate Teammate''), deserves some elbow room - not only a little time for him to make a decision that impacts his career and his family, but also a little time to make it without the foolish journalistic race to "be first.'' (Or, truth be told, to "be first'' to reiterate the original reports and to attempt to advance the ball on the news, as normal as that may be ... when, at least, the original reporting is actually accurate.)

It may remain a likelihood. It may remain a done deal, as CBS (wrongly?) reported early in the day.

But it needs to be Tom Brady's deal. Not ESPN's. Not anyone else's.

Follow FishSports on Twitter

Follow Cowboys / Fish on Facebook

Subscribe to the Cowboys Fish Report on YouTube for constant daily Cowboys live-stream podcasts and reports!