Tom Brady ‘seemed too sentimental’ after playoff loss, says Bills’ Josh Allen

Josh Allen didn’t believe Tom Brady when the seven-time Super Bowl winner announced his retirement in February of 2022. But after seeing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback’s postgame press conference following Monday’s season-ending loss, the Buffalo Bills star thinks this could be it for Brady.

‘The way that he talked in his press conference last night, it seemed a little too sentimental for my liking in terms of, you know, holding onto the belief that he’s going to continue to play,’ Allen told Kyle Brandt on his ESPN podcast.

‘But, we’ll see. It’s up to him and the people in his life around him, and how he’s going to take that decision into his own hands, but I know there’s gonna be teams calling.’

Brady followed Monday’s playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys by sidestepping retirement questions, saying he would make the decision ‘one day at a time’

Josh Allen didn’t believe Tom Brady when the seven-time Super Bowl winner announced his retirement in February of 2022. But after seeing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback’s postgame press conference after Monday’s season-ending loss, the Buffalo Bills star thinks this could be it for Brady. ‘The way that he talked in his press conference last night, it seemed a little too sentimental for my liking in terms of, you know, holding onto the belief that he’s going to continue to play,’ Allen told Kyle Brandt on his ESPN podcast

Brady followed Monday’s playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys by sidestepping retirement questions, saying he would make the decision ‘one day at a time.’

But Brady also addressed media members directly – something Allen and others perceived as a ‘farewell’ statement.

‘I just want to say thank you, guys, for everything,’ Brady media in Tampa on Monday. ‘I really appreciate all your efforts. I know it’s hard for you guys, too. It’s hard for us players to make it through. You guys have got a tough job. I appreciate all that you guys do to cover us.’

Brady also address the Buccaneers franchise, thanking the team for his last three seasons in Tampa: ‘I love this organization. It’s a great place to be. I thank everybody for welcoming me. All you regulars [in the media], I’m just very grateful for the respect. And I hope I gave the same thing back to you guys.’

A year ago, Brady seemed resolute in his decision to step away from the NFL following the Bucs’ 13-4 season and playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

‘This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes,’ Brady wrote on Instagram. ‘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.’

om Brady and Josh Allen talk during Capital One’s The Match VI – Brady & Rodgers v Allen & Mahomes at Wynn Golf Club on June 1, 2022 in Las Vegas

Forty days later, Brady was back with the Bucs, not that Allen was surprised.

‘When it happened last year and he retired, I told people ‘I’ll believe it when he’s not playing the first game,” Allen told Brandt.

Brady’s comeback proved unsuccessful. The soon-to-be free agent suffered through his first losing season of his 23-year career, but that hardly precludes another return, with or without the Bucs.

Yes, he will be 46 next season, but there are more than enough teams in the NFL that see themselves as contenders with Brady under center.

Whether or not he agrees with that assessment, or chooses to begin his impending broadcast career, is anyone’s guess.

‘It’s always tough,’ Brady said of his disappointment on Monday. ‘But we didn’t earn it. [The Cowboys] did.’

Was this Tom Brady’s final farewell? The 45-year-old is pictured leaving the field at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium after Monday’s playoff loss to the visiting Dallas Cowboys