Rinse and Repeat? Ex-Teammate Hints at Another Unretirement for Patriots Tom Brady

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Antoine Winfield Jr. has once again kick-started the Tom Brady rumor mill, hinting that his team might try to lure the New England Patriots legend out of retirement.

Much like a fourth quarter featuring Tom Brady, a comeback seems never out of the question.

The legendary New England Patriots quarterback has made his intentions to stay retired and not play a 24th season quite clear. (And his status as the newly-minted -part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders precludes him from playing, anyway.)

That hasn't stopped Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Antoine Winfield Jr. from trying to lure Brady back out for a fourth season in Florida.. Brady's final NFL days were spent with the Buccaneers and Winfield Jr., appearing on "The Richard Sherman Podcast," appears to believe they're not over.

"I’m sure we’re still reaching out to him trying to see if he’s trying to come back to the team,” Winfield said. “Hey, it could happen. Anything’s possible ... It’s up in the air, man.”

Sherman, the lauded former defender and Brady's Super Bowl XLIX opponent when New England faced Seattle, agreed, saying he'd "put nothing past" a "crazy guy" like Brady. 

Like many most modern fans and players, Winfield Jr. doesn't know what the NFL looks like without Brady: the former Patriot's first season in Tampa Bay coincided with Winfield Jr.'s arrival as a second-round pick out of Minnesota in the 2020 draft. The two collaborated on a Super Bowl run, Brady's seventh and final title, in Winfield Jr.'s rookie year. Brady earned MVP honors while Winfield Jr. had six tackles and an interception in the 31-9 win over Kansas City to cap off the year.

Tampa Bay trying to coax Brady out of retirement isn't out of the realm of possibility considering their current passing situation: as it stands, the Buccaneers' post-Brady picture is headlined by the rollercoaster veteran affairs of Baker Mayfield and 2021 draft choice Kyle Trask, who has thrown nine passes in his NFL career. Even with Brady clearly showing signs of aging at 45 last season, he was still able to guide the Buccaneers to an NFC South division title with an 8-9 record. 

In any case, Brady is set to return to Foxborough whether he suits up or not, as he will be honored at Gillette Stadium during the Patriots' opening weekend tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles.

---

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

Follow Patriots Country on Twitter and Facebook

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Patriots? Click Here

More Patriots coverage from Sports Illustrated here.