New York (AFP)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tom Brady admitted on Wednesday that he had suffered a concussion during his 20 NFL seasons with the New England Patriots, but that that wouldn't stop him chasing a seventh Super Bowl.
"I certainly had concussions, yes," admitted the 42-year-old quarterback on "The Howard Stern Show" on Sirius XM radio.
"I could sit and stop playing American football, worry about what's going to happen, this or that, instead of saying to myself: + why don't I live my life the way I want wish? + ", he said.
"For me, it's about doing what I love to do. You don't tell a singer to stop singing at 42. You don't tell a great painter to stop painting at 42" , he argued, drawing a parallel with two activities which a priori do not cause serious cranial or brain injuries.
"If you want to stop, stop, do it. But I feel like I can still play. I just shouldn't stop playing because that's what everyone tells me to do," persisted. Brady, who signed a two-year contract last month with the Buccaneers.
The NFL has introduced rules in recent seasons to protect players from the risk of concussion after a crash.
If Brady was never officially diagnosed with concussions by the health services of the League, his wife, the model Gisele Bundchen, said in May 2017 that he had suffered from it.
In an interview with Howard Stern, Brady said he was pretty sure he had his last season with the Patriots last year. "I knew that our (common) adventure was coming to an end", after twenty seasons with New England crowned with six titles in nine finals disputed.
"It was just time to leave," said Brady, saying he had no feelings for Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who didn't keep him on the team. "I think he has a lot of loyalty. There have been so many false assumptions about our relationship. I really know what he thinks of me."
© 2020 AFP