Buccaneers QB Tom Brady: 'I know I don't have a lot left'

Much still remains unknown about all that happened from the time a report emerged in late January claiming that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was retiring to his decisions to first ride off into the sunset and then return to the Buccaneers roughly one month later. 

While speaking with ESPN's Tom VanHaaren for a piece published late Monday night, the 44-year-old seven-time Super Bowl champion did not sound like a man who envisions playing another six years or so. 

"I knew my body, physically, could still do what it could do and obviously I have a love for the game, I think I'll always have a love for the game," Brady explained. "I do think physically I'll be able to do it. I just felt like there was still a place for me on the field."

The G.O.A.T. added that he had conversations with individuals such as former Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians about his original call to retire and his desire to continue competing at the highest level. Brady didn't want to walk away with the "bitter" taste of the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams still looming.

"I know I don't have a lot left, I really do. I know I'm at the end of my career," Brady admitted. "I wish you could go forever, but it's just not and football comes at too high of a cost now. My kids are getting older and it's just getting harder and harder to miss these things.

"But, I wanted to give myself and my teammates and our organization another incredible opportunity to accomplish something that we'd all be very proud of."

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and others continue to insist Brady could ultimately play for one more team, specifically the Miami Dolphins or San Francisco 49ers, before he retires. Brady hasn't yet publicly addressed such speculation.