The news of Tom Brady’s retirement has largely been overtaken by the Brian Flores lawsuit against the NFL. But from last Saturday into Tuesday, Brady managed to create tremendous drama (and great content for sports TV and radio) by denying the initial report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington of his retirement decision.
Schefter and Darlington stuck by their story and they were unlikely to back off, especially with their reputations at stake and reporting for such a major outlet. Brady’s father and agent, then the quarterback himself, denied that a decision had been made. But perhaps the main reason Schefter and Darlington didn’t buckle was that their source was rock-solid.
On WFAN, Evan Roberts wondered who that source might be and how close that person was to Brady. Maybe very close. Maybe it was someone who had a vested interest in the quarterback finally retiring.
“Over the last 72 hours, it seemed as if they were so confident,” Roberts speculated. “They never backed down. I don’t know where they got that story from on Saturday, but they knew. It was almost like there was this quiet confidence. Maybe the source was Gisele. Maybe that’s why they were so confident.”
That’s not an outlandish theory, right? There are other people in Brady’s circle that could’ve leaked the news to Schefter and Darlington. But it’s no secret that Brady’s wife, Gisele Bündchen, has wanted her husband to retire for a few years now.
And with a variety of factors — age, health, the Buccaneers having to retool their roster — surely influencing the decision, Gisele knew the time was right. But just to make sure, maybe she leaked the news to make sure Brady wouldn’t waver.
We may never know, though let’s hope — as Roberts and on-air partner Craig Carton said — that a book reveals the truth someday.
