Skip Bayless Explains Why Tom Brady Playing For Six Or Seven More Years Isn’t Completely Ridiculous

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft surprised scores of NFL fans Monday by stating that Tom Brady, who will be 40 in August, plans to play in the league for another six or seven years.

Skip Bayless Reacts to Robert Kraft’s Announcement about Tom Brady

“As recently as two, three days ago he assured me he’d be willing to play six, seven more years,” Kraft said of Brady. “And at the level he performed, there’s no one that would be happier than I, and our fan-base.

“I think Tommy’s sustained excellence is just unbelievable, and it’s a lifestyle. He’s in training now, it’s not like he’s stopped.”

The quarterback, who helped lead the Patriots to a 34-28 Super Bowl LI comeback victory against the Atlanta Falcons in overtime in Houston in February, has won five national titles in his NFL career, something which led many fans to call him the “G.O.AT.” (Greatest of All Time) after the 2017 Super Bowl victory. Most fans expected him to play pro football for one or two more seasons, maximum.

If Brady played seven more seasons, he would retire at age 46, which would make him the oldest-retired QB in NFL history:

Kraft also cited former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre as an example of a QB who retired with at least one good season late in his career.

“When you think about it, there’s one player at the age of 40 who had one good year: Favre.”

On Tuesday’s episode of ‘Undisputed,’ Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe discussed Brady’s plan to keep playing in the NFL for several more years, and Bayless explained why he believed the QB’s plan isn’t completely crazy, citing how different he is from other passers in the league. After hearing his argument about how difficult it is to root against him because of his uniqueness, Sharpe seemed to agree with Bayless, and mentioned Brady’s particularly strict diet, which is limited to organic and gluten-free foods, whole grains like brown rice, quinoa and millet, and lean meats like organic steak, duck, chicken and wild salmon. Brady’s diet, which he shares with supermodel wife Giselle Bundchen, also excludes white sugar, white flour, caffeine and dairy. The couple’s training regimen is “80 percent vegetables,” according to their personal chef Allen Campbell. 

“If Tom Brady says six or seven, I’m going to bet on seven,” said Bayless. “This is the one guy you don’t bet against. You know what, Tom Brady is unlike any quarterback I have ever followed or covered. He is shattering every mold of how a franchise quarterback should be on and off the field. He’s just different. He is completely different in every area of his life than any quarterback I’ve ever been around, and I don’t know, maybe you could correct me on this.”

Shannon Sharpe: “No, I think his nutrition, his training regimen, and the way he takes care of himself …”

Skip Bayless: “Just the way he handles himself. The way he carries himself. … He’s saying that he not only wants to just build the greatest ever legacy, he wants to build the greatest, longest legacy — and I’m just not going to be against him, because the fire still appears to be burning in him.”

Bayless then added: “He eats to win.”

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross also commented on Brady’s plan: “Good luck,” Ross said. “I love Tom Brady. He’s a Michigan guy. It’s OK. I don’t worry about them. We have to worry about my team.”

Ross continued to praise Brady, but added he wants to focus on strengthening his team.

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)