“This is it” – Stephen A Smith makes bold claim on Tom Brady’s career amid Bucs’ woeful run

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady had a brief 40 day retirement from the NFL before deciding to return to the game. However, his return to the league isn't exactly what he or the Buccaneers had anticipated. After leading Tampa Bay to the Super Bowl in his first season with the team, expectations were high for Brady. Last season, the Buccaneers lost to the eventual Super Bowl-winning Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs.

So far this season, a 3-4 record after seven weeks is where the team currently stands. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith discussed the situation on "First Take" on Monday morning. He believes that Tom Brady should retire after this season. Here's how he put it:

"Tampa Bay looks awful, on both sides of the ball. They look absolutely awful, okay, that's number one. Number two: Tom Brady looks like a shell of himself and I will tell you this much, he is done. Tom Brady after this season, this is it."

He continued:

"You look at a guy and a certain moment arrives, that even if he turns things around and they look better this season, you look at him and you say, 'alright bro, you did it, this should be it.' Go into that television booth and collect that $375 million."

The idea that he could decide to call it a career after this season has been a consistent rumor over the last few weeks. However, Brady has continuously reiterated that he is there to help the team win and that he doesn't have plans to walkout midseason. This is the final year of his current contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but no one is certain if it's going to be his last.

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Tom Brady is already preparing for his post-NFL career path. In May (after he came out of his short retirement stint), FOX Sports announced that it had signed him to be the lead color commentator once he officially retires from the NFL.

The contract is for ten years worth $375 million, which would make him the highest paid analyst in all of professional sports. That surpassed the contract that Troy Aikman had been paid by ESPN just months earlier. Brady, however, seems to have no intention of retiring just yet. It will be interesting to see what he has planned for his future and if he can turn the Buccaneers around in this campaign.

If you use any of the above quotes, please credit First Take and H/T Sportskeeda.