Tom Brady is Retiring. The GOATest Story Ever Told Finally Comes to an End.

Shocking. Even though this has been out there for a few weeks and seemed to be more than just speculation, it's still shocking. 

Tom Brady had for years said he planned on playing until he was 45. Then suggested he would play well beyond that, possibly even to age 50. He also famously once said, "When I suck, I'll retire. Well he doesn't turn 45 until August. The word "suck" couldn't apply any less to his current status. 

After turning around the losingest franchise in North American sports and winning his fifth Super Bowl MVP, he led them to a division title while leading the NFL in attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns. And aside from getting a cut lip in his final game (and I didn't realize he was capable of bleeding), seemed every bit as healthy at the end of the season as he was when he reported to Bucs training camp. 

All of which begs the question: Why? And why now? It would be impossible to say this about any other 44 year old athlete, but he still had a lot in him. 

The time for tributes will come. The look backs and retrospectives are about to blow in like the massive blizzard currently burying the place where Brady became the GOAT. But for now it's just shock and dismay. 

Brady decided to go out the way he lived his entire career: On his own terms. It's hard to imagine anyone else in his position, with his talent, and his remaining capabilities to walk away like this. This is Jim Brown retiring to make movies after leading the league in rushing and winning the MVP. It's Barry Sanders calling it quits just short of the rushing record. Hell, it's Washington stepping down after two terms in office, a move that stunned the world because no leader had ever done so before. 

The 199th pick who became the greatest team sport athlete in the history of North America. In the words of one of his favorite teammates ever, it's a hell of a story. And somehow, even 22 years of it wasn't enough.