Rick Stroud Tampa Bay Times

The last image of Tom Brady playing in the NFL will be of his team relying on his right arm to rally back from a 24-point deficit and tie the Tampa Bay BuccaneersB次元官网网址� NFC division playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams with less than a minute to play.

Brady did everything he could but the Bucs eventually would collapse on defense and lost 30-27 on Matt GayB次元官网网址檚 30-yard field goal as time expired.

Well the clock has finally drained on the remarkable career of the NFLB次元官网网址檚 greatest quarterback, just when football fans B次元官网网址� especially in Tampa Bay B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e clasping their hands in prayer for a Brady comeback, if only for one more season.

Brady announced his retirement on Instagram on Tuesday morning, saying heB次元官网网址檚 not going to B次元官网网址渕ake that competitive commitment anymore.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 have always believed the sport of football is an B次元官网网址榓ll-inB次元官网网址� proposition,B次元官网网址� Brady wrote. B次元官网网址淚f 100 percent competitive commitment isnB次元官网网址檛 there, you wonB次元官网网址檛 succeed. And success is what I love so much about our game.

B次元官网网址淭here is a physical, mental and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximize my highest potential. And I have tried my very best these past 22 years. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no shortcuts to success on the field or in life.

B次元官网网址淭his is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now itB次元官网网址檚 time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.B次元官网网址�

The announcement comes on day after Brady said on his B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 Go!B次元官网网址� podcast he was still undecided about his future. Brady goes out on his own terms and on top.

While the final season of his illustrious career didnB次元官网网址檛 end with confetti in his hair, he led the NFL in passing yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43), making the case that even at 44 years old, he was the best to do it at his position.