TOM BRADY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
Playing on the gridiron is war. You go to battle with your brothers and fight until the clock runs out. Nobody is negating that football is a physical sport, and at the highest level, it takes you away from friends and family. These are analogies used in a variety of spaces, but every once in a while, someone with way too much money and reach says it, causing us to pause and ridicule. The latest celebrity to put their foot in their mouth? An NFL quarterback who goes by the name of Tom Brady. Read next:10 NFL Veterans That Defended Their Turf and Our Country
How Old Is Tom Brady?
As of this writing, Tom Brady is 45 years old. An impressive age, whether you love him or hate him, to still be playing football at a high level. It’s also old enough to know better. Even the lowest-paid NFL player, which he certainly is not, isn’t facing the same conditions of the American Armed Forces. While players may feel like they got hit by a bomb on Monday (or Tuesday… or Friday), troops are literally at risk of facing such harsh environments. This is in no way, shape, or form to discount the physical toll and long-term effects these men can suffer for our entertainment. Dear NFL, take care of these titans a bit better, but it’s also not a fair comparison to say getting tackled by Roquan Smith equates to fighting insurgents.
Did Tom Brady Retire?
Tom Brady retiring after 22 seasons could have dominated the headlines last offseason, but there were a number of eye-popping headlines. Including the fact that Tom Brady came out of retirement only 40 days later. For the record, the average length of deployment in the military can be between 6 months and 12 months. No NFL season lasts as long.
How Many Rings Does Tom Brady Have?
This is a tricky question. If you ask him, Brady will likely tell you seven. One for each of the following years: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. But there are some important things to remember:
- 2007 was the infamous Spygate scandal, so anything before that can’t be fully trusted.
- 2015 was the also infamous Deflategate scandal. You’d think people would learn, but here we are.
- There’s no way you’re telling me something WASN'T up with the 2017 implosion by Atlanta… it’s sus guys.
- 2019 was the year Julian Edelman won MVP in the really, really big game that everybody knows we’re talking about but no one can say because of a potential lawsuit.
Larger Platforms Lead To Bigger Mistakes
Surely there've been many others who've said much worse. Maybe a slip of the tongue, an uncomfortable opinion, or just an honest mistake. But with 12.8 million followers on Instagram alone and monthly online searches reaching over 2.7 million, your voice is going to carry. This is why Tom Brady comparing playing in the NFL to serving in the military is making headlines in the sports world and elsewhere. Tom Brady made disrespectful remarks, and people were always going to have feelings about it. However, this is America. The land of second chances. And by all accounts, this was more of a misguided comparison rather than anything malicious. We’d all do well to let this go and cheer against Tom Brady on the football field rather than make personal attacks against him. Besides, Brady has already apologized.
How Much Is Tom Brady Worth?
Tom Brady net worth is estimated to be around $250 million, so no matter how you feel about him, I’m sure he sleeps quite well at night. Tom Brady made a mistake and is going to have to hear it from fans tired of seeing him in the (insert the game WE ALL KNOW I’M TALKING ABOUT). But at the end of the day, to err is human, to forgive, divine. Suggested read:The Army Navy Game Is a Rivalry Unlike Any Other
Image: Yakima Herald-Republic
TAGS: