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| Although Patriots QB Tom Brady is 35, he’s still in command of his game. (US Presswire) |
Tom Brady has reached an age where people spend more time counting the minutes to his demise than they do tabulating what the future may hold.
It doesn’t matter that he came fewer than 200 yards from reaching the 5,000-yard mark in consecutive seasons or that he has the New England Patriots in position to make another Super Bowl run. He’s 35, and 35-year-old’s are supposed to be in visible decline.
“Well, from the day we’re born, I think we’re always one day closer to dying,” Brady said through a smirk. “But I don’t look at it like that.”
Brady isn’t pondering his mortality just yet, though he admitted during last year’s Super Bowl that he took a little more time to enjoy the scene and appreciate where he was. He’s taking the same approach this year.
“You don’t take these things for granted,” Brady said. “It’s a privilege to be in the position that we’re in.”
Ray Lewis announcing his retirement also caused a little bit of introspection for players like Brady, who have spent their careers running from or being run over by the Baltimore Ravens linebacker.
Brady also said it was a privilege to compete against Lewis and recalled a quarterback sneak from last year’s AFC title game where he managed to leap over the pile for a touchdown before Lewis could close in on him.
“I always enjoy beating the Ravens,” Brady said. “So, yeah, anytime I can beat those guys. They got us once this year.”
If the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Houston Texans and the Ravens handle the Indianapolis Colts this weekend, then Brady will get his shot at redemption.
Nick Underhill covers the Patriots for MassLive.com. Follow him on Twitter @CBSPats or@Nick_Underhill.
