Tom Brady sparks speculation over Patriots future with cryptic social media post
There was renewed speculation about Tom Brady's future with the New England Patriots on Thursday of Super Bowl LIV week after he posted a cryptic photo on social media.
For the first time in four years, Brady is not involved in a Super Bowl after defending champions New England were knocked out by the Tennessee Titans on Wild Card Weekend.
Yet that has not stopped their 42-year-old quarterback being the subject of plenty of focus in Miami given he is due to be a free agent this offseason.
That chatter intensified on Thursday evening when Brady posted an uncaptioned black and white image of himself walking in the tunnel at the Patriots' stadium.
Perhaps thinking this could be the precursor to a departure announcement, New York Jets Pro Bowler Jamal Adams wrote on Twitter: "Please leave the AFC East!"
The possibility of 20-year veteran Brady playing anywhere other than New England for the first time in his career appears a more realistic possibility than it ever has in the past.
The six-time Super Bowl winner has hinted he would like to continue playing and not retire yet.
This week his former Pats team-mate Rob Gronkowski suggested Brady test the waters in free agency to see what he could command on the open market.
"I truly believe that he deserves the opportunity to go explore, to see what's out there, he's been playing for so long," Gronkowski said.
"The way that he's been playing, the level that he's been playing at, he deserves an opportunity to go out there and test the market.
"Why wouldn't you? You've never done it before in your career and he's going to be a free agent for the first time ever. Good for him. Go test out the market and do what's best for himself.
"That's the decision he has to make – what's best for himself, what's best for his family, what he feels like he's going to love.
"That's all up to Tom, he's a grown man and he can make that decision on his own."