Tom Brady retires ... "for good"

[Octave]

I've never read or heard anything Brady said that had meat on the bone.

Listen to his 'Let's Go!!!!!!!!111' podcast for a preview of his searing insight. Co-hosted by Jim Gray. Presented by Chase.

 

[da man]

Aikman has gotten better as he has gone along. He's an example of how former players' candor tends to grow as the guys they competed with/against leave the scene. His longevity (by far the most amazing stat of his career IMO) means almost everyone Brady's played with or against has left the scene. He had five games against Mahomes and two against Hurts, for example. He barely knows them. So he has a shot, but his always-smiley public face makes me doubt Brady will give his true opinions on the air. Besides, he probably has to be extra-nice to any current players he led down the FTX drain.

Again, did you see him with the Mannings? Granted it's not close to the same setting, but he sure wasn't shy about giving his opinions on national TV.

 

[dixiehack]

I was surprised Tom Brady is doing a podcast with Jim Gray (and Larry Fitzgerald). My permanent impression of that pairing is the God-awful pregame spot they did on Westwood One broadcasts (brought to you by Macy's!) Brady's sheer contempt for the unctuous Gray was the only thing allowing him to pash a Turing test on air.

 

[da man]

Listen, I'm not saying Brady's going to be great. He could well be a disaster.

Just saying there's no way to know at this point. It's a whole different ballgame than when you're a player.

 

[Octave]

He's made half a dozen documentaries about himself. He'll do fine.

 

[DanielSimpsonDay]

I think Olsen is very good. He's a little dry, but he gives you something other than a regurgitation of what you already saw and he knows when to let the game do the talking (HMMMMM JIM WOW I DON'T KNOW). I also thought he did a terrific job in that dog of an NFC title game, asking about what effect suspensions could have on the Super Bowl along with anything else he could pull from that inexorable march to 00:00.

We've discussed ad nauseum that no one chooses to watch or look away due to the announce team. If Chris Myers was the biggest obstacle preventing you from watching the late-season NYJ-SEA game, seek help. Similarly, if you muted or, more extremely, didn't watch KC-CIN due to Tony Romo, goddamn you are a man of principle and not to be forked with.

Most of us prefer Uncle Al to Tirico, but the preference is stylistic (and partially nostalgic). Tirico is a pro and good at what he does. He doesn't suck. A big reason so much praise was heaped on Romo is that Phil Simms was so brutally banal. The bar was so low it was subterranean. It's clear that Romo has stopped doing the prep (or never really did and relied on a knowledge base that has a short half-life). Olsen knows the situation and doesn't sound like he's quite there yet...

My only option right now to make a career out of this is to be good. That's it. I didn't play quarterback. I didn't play for the Dallas Cowboys. I don't have a gold jacket on. I didn't play in New York City. The only way I can do this is if I'm good. Whether that's good enough in the long run, I don't know. All I can control is going out there and having fun and giving a fun broadcast.

This may get weird if the next guy who takes the seat is noticeably worse and the audience is supposed to be happy because he is teh goat suck it haterz.

 

[BTExpress]

I don't mute games, but I'm in the habit of keeping the sound extremely soft because my wife gets up at 4 a.m. for work and thus goes to bed early. If there's something going on I don't understand (i.e. the Chiefs' do-over play), I'll turn it up a bit. But for the most part, the cameras and graphics tell the story, and the announcers are a non-entity.***

***And I STILL noticed Tony Romo was goddamn awful with his shrieking

 

[HanSenSE]

And if he comes out flat, no four-game suspension.

Well played, sir.

 

[Regan MacNeil]

 

[Justin_Rice]

I hope playing last season was worth losing Gisele Bundchen over.

Maybe that was the plan.

 

[Slacker]

Way over the line.

 

[Justin_Rice]

Everyone knows nuking it from orbit is the only way to be sure.