Bob Lobel: Tom Brady Has Every Reason to Walk Away, But…

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Assume the universe presents you with the perfect moment to step away from your job and simply say, “my work is done here.” 

Put another way, does Sunday's Super Bowl for the ages deliver the message that “it can't get any better than this?” Seriously, I ask you, can it get any better than this?  For all concerned- fans, coaches and most importantly the quarterback- can there be a moment that would possibly eclipse what took place in Houston? 

Yes, the Patriots were very responsible for the greatest comeback ever, but allow yourself to admit the truth that Atlanta was just as responsible for the greatest loss ever in a Super Bowl. Both statements are dead on true.  One did and the other didn’t. 

Welcome to the world of sports in America. Being on the side of the parade, trophy and MVP, it does beg the question of, "why not leave now?" Why not leave when it can't get any better than Sunday? I mean, when you get to the mountain top as so few do, would you know it? Could you look at the situation and say, WHAT MORE IS POSSIBLE? 

Well, of course, but that doesn’t mean you would admit that you got to the defining moment and end the career that got you there. Even when you know it can't get better. Amazing comeback, amazing individual performance, amazing career and a fist full of rings, should make you walk away. 

As obvious as it is, with the universe putting the perfect moment to quit and go out really at the very top, it's not something very likely to happen. The teaching moment here is that, just because you embarrassed your nemesis (Roger that), and got the 5th ring, it's time to walk away. 

Why not? 

Why would Tom Brady want to be something other than Tom Brady? Yes, he could go gently into the night with every accolade possible without risking injury and deterioration of his legend. With a young family and more cash than is countable, why not go? Because, why would you want to be anyone other than Tom Brady right now? 

Most athletes stay too long anyway, so why wouldn’t this one? Because he can still be Tom Brady for a while longer. Be that for as long as you can, no matter what the downside is. No, it probably can't get any better, but it really doesn’t have to.  In the big picture of things, I totally agreed with Dan Shaughnessy about this Super Bowl win and the 2004 Red Sox post season. 

They stand alone, with the caveat that to forget the performance by Tim Thomas for the three weeks during their last Stanley Cup, would be a grave injustice to that Bruins goaltender. 

The stupid management decisions of firing the coach when they did aside, Thomas, wherever he is now, must not be forgotten.  

What more can Brady do to enhance his status around here, or anywhere for that matter? Nothing. 

And the cherry on the sundae on Sunday was the Shields MRI 5th ring commercial. Whomever was behind that was genius. It all seems so simple to  shoot the extra ending, but to think of it and actually do it, and actually pull it off was remarkable. 

Let's add this extra thing to the weekend past. The best part of Super Bowl 51 were the things that conspired to allow that commercial to be aired. A lot of things had to happen to make that possible. They did, and that’s all we need to know.