Troy Aikman 'Wouldn't Rule Out' Patriots Legend Tom Brady Unretiring ... Again
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Troy Aikman is slated to work with Tom Brady in one way or another in the near future. Logic dictates that Brady's bust will sit next to Aikman's at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But the voice behind the biggest NFL games of the new century isn't fully convinced that he has called his final contest starring the former New England Patriot.
Even with NFL rules stacked against Brady's return thanks to his new ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, major names around the league still believe there's a chance he could don a helmet and shoulder pads again. Those questions have only been amplified with medical questions surrounding his new employee and fellow New England alum Jimmy Garoppolo.
Count Aikman, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current lead analyst for ESPN's "Monday Night Football," among those who feel Brady's place is the sideline rather than the owner's suite.
“Maybe (he’d be) involved (with the Raiders) to the point where he’s actually suiting up,” Aikman, promoting his new beer company EIGHT, said in an interview with TMZ. “I don’t want to speak for Tom. (But) I wouldn’t rule anything out."
Aikman believes that Brady's relationship with Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels could draw him back to the field. He reiterated that he believes Brady "is done playing ... but you just never know.
"He obviously has a relationship with the head coach, he knows the offense, he’ll keep himself in great shape," Aikman continued. "I would bet that nothing’s off the table, as far as what may occur during the season, or what Tom’s role may be."
Garoppolo, once seen as the heir to Brady's Foxboro throne, signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Raiders and is set to replace Sin City's former franchise face Derek Carr. However, issues linger thanks to Garoppolo's recent foot surgery, one that has kept him out of the Raiders' organized team activities. Pro Football Talk recently obtained Garoppolo's contract, which includes an injury waiver that was signed in place of a passed physical but allows Las Vegas to terminate his deal at no cost for any reason related to it. Other quarterbacks on the Raiders roster include another former Patriot in Brian Hoyer, as well as undrafted sophomore Chase Garbers and 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell.
Even at his advanced age, Brady sounds like an attractive option compared to that group, so expect the never-ending Brady saga to live up to its name.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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