Tom Brady is just stating obvious when he says retirement is coming 'sooner rather than later'

Tom Brady, who's nearly 41 years old, told Oprah Winfrey retirement is "coming sooner rather than later." 

Somehow, this is news.

Brady's sleepy conversation with Oprah didn't cover any original ground. The Patriots quarterback talked about his search for spirituality and the reason why he adheres to the TB12 Method –– his shoulders hurt when he was 25, he used to eat poorly, NFL training staffs are "systematic," his body is his temple, etc. The closest thing to a new revelation was when Brady said he "respects" the players who knelt during the national anthem last season to protest racial injustice. The pseudo-endorsement came at the end of a long answer about the diversity of NFL locker rooms and importance of listening to others. It was perfectly milquetoast and inoffensive. 

The retirement comment was, too. When Oprah asked Brady about his oft-discussed football future, he vowed to play for as long as he enjoys it, while acknowledging even the TB12 Method won't keep him on the field forever. 

"I think about it more now than I used to. I think I'm seeing there's definitely an end coming sooner, rather than later," Brady said. "(I'll keep playing) as long as I'm still loving it. As long as I'm loving the training and the preparation and willing to make the commitment. But it's also, I think what I alluded to a lot in the docu-series (Tom vs. Time), there's other things happening in my life, too. I do have kids that I love, and I don't want to be a dad that's not there, driving my kids to their games -- my kids have brought a great perspective in my life. Kids just want the attention. You better be there and be available to them."

It's different to hear Brady talk like this. In Episode 5 of "Tom vs. Time," which was filmed prior to the start of the 2017 season, Brady says he still feels like he's in the first half of his career. At the end of the final episode, however, Brady delivers a soliloquy about his supposed lost conviction. 

So yes, Brady's outlook on football has seemingly changed over the last year. Perhaps not coincidently, his new outlook coincides with his reported rift with Bill Belichick and Alex Guerrero's banishment from Gillette Stadium. 

But it's not shocking that Brady, a 41 year old football player, acknowledges he's close to the end of his career. Denying that is arguing against reality, despite what Stephen A. Smith was ranting and raving about on "First Take" Monday.

.@stephenasmith takes issue with Tom Brady's comments hinting at retirement. pic.twitter.com/WA0Ose1SZ3

When the Patriots traded Jimmy Garoppolo last season, there's no way they thought Brady was going to be around for the next decade, as Smith infers. Garoppolo's contract was up this year. The Patriots needed to make a decision. 

As we've learned, Belichick might be miffed about the Garoppolo deal for other reasons, beginning with the fact that it reportedly wasn't his decision. But feeling duped because he thought soon-to-be 41-year-old Brady was going to be around for the long haul?

That's ridiculous.