Thursday, September 09, 2021
“Can throw like I’m 24”
Brady makes a clear announcement to NFL competition
The younger ones want to finally get the title in the NFL. But superstar Tom Brady is still playing at the age of 44, feels in top shape – and if you want to go to the Super Bowl, you have to pass him and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That much is already certain at the start of the season.
Even at the age of 44, Tom Brady is far from thinking about the end of his career as the most successful football player in history. Instead, ahead of the new NFL season kicking off this week, the quarterback superstar issued a warning to the competition. “I can still throw the ball like I was 24,” said the seven-time Super Bowl winner. “I love to play football. It’s an absolutely imperfect game that you try to play as perfectly as possible. I hope this will be my best year.”
After his spectacular move from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before last season, Brady led his new team straight to great triumph – despite having a torn knee ligament for a long time. After an operation during the break, the exceptional expert now feels as fit as he has not for a long time. “If I become a burden for my team, there is no way I will go on. But if I think I can win a title, I’ll play,” Brady announced before the Bucs kick off against the Dallas Cowboys on Friday night (CEST) with a view to the longer-term future.
Biggest challenger again Mahomes
And for his former teammate Sebastian Vollmer, the playmaker with the Bucs is again one of the big contenders for the title. “Since I know Tom well, I know that his team will now be even better than last season,” said the 37-year-old ex-professional. “Back then everything was new, the squad was a bit thrown together. Now they have played together for a year and have found each other.” For the first time since 1979, a Super Bowl champion was able to keep all 22 starters on the team. “For me, the Buccaneers and Kansas City are the big favorites,” said Vollmer.
One of the biggest challengers for the way to the 56th Super Bowl on February 13th in Inglewood, California near Los Angeles are the Kansas City Chiefs. The team around star quarterback Patrick Mahomes got clearly shown the limits in the previous final with 9:31. The 25-year-old is the bookmakers’ hottest contender for the most valuable player award in the season in which each team will play 17 instead of 16 main round games.
Only two Germans left
Shortly after the title celebration after defeating the Chiefs last February, Brady tested positive for the coronavirus. In his view, how the pandemic is dealt with will have a significant impact this season as well. “I think it’s going to be a bigger factor this year than last year,” said Brady. “I definitely think guys will be out at different times and we have to deal with that.” The NFL Network had reported that 93 percent of players were vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The league has also relaxed its corona rules due to the vaccination progress. Only 1.2 million viewers came to the arenas last season compared to 16 million in 2019. A sold out Raymond James Stadium with more than 65,000 spectators is now expected at the start of the Bucs.
Three days later, the two remaining German professionals start the season. Jakob Johnson has fought for a squad spot with the New England Patriots, as has Amon-Ra St. Brown with the Detroit Lions. The brother duel between the rookie and Equanimeous, who is three years older, will not happen, at least for the time being. The ball receiver had been removed from the roster by the Green Bay Packers. “It’s a shame and bitter for him, unfortunately that’s the NFL business,” said Amon-Ra St. Brown at Sport1. “But I am sure that he will find a new team quickly – and then we will catch up with the duel.”
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