You can’t really blame people for speculating about former Patriots/Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and his retirement from the NFL. Goodness knows it was left hanging in the air in January 2022, leading many to wonder “is he or isn’t he?” Of course, in the wake of a divorce in October 2022 and a not so great second season with the Bucs, the guy did retire in February.

That conversation was revived Monday by sport commentator and talk show host Rich Eisen on his show, when he checked off the top five rumors he says he heard at the off-season combine in Indianapolis over the weekend. His number-one rumor? “A couple people” there not only hinted that Brady might not be done with football, but that he could even sign a contract with the Miami Dolphins:

“This one just blew my mind: Tom Brady might not be done after all,” Eisen said. “A couple people were just like, ‘Hang on, just you wait.’ And I was like, ‘He’s Instagramming out pictures of his cat.’ But it doesn’t look like he’s getting big and fat, does it? And just let it play out and see who wants what.”

Eisen added that people insisted that it would hinge on assurances about QB Tua Tagovailoa’s health.

Rich is back from Indianapolis and boy did he hear some things — his Top 5 Rumors Heard at #NFLCombine:

5. Philip Rivers
4. #DaBears
3. Lamar
2. 🧀
1. 🐐#NFL #NFLFreeAgency #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/F08mMCAcGq

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) March 6, 2023

But the question about what Brady might or might not do didn’t linger long. The Dolphins appear to have laid down their marker, according to Yardbarker blog, citing an ESPN NFL insider:

Shortly after the Baltimore Ravens used the non-exclusive franchise tag on star signal-caller Lamar Jackson, ESPN NFL insider Jeff Darlington reported that the Dolphins “will not be pursuing” Jackson “or any other starting QBs this offseason.”

Darlington added that Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel “fully believes Tua is the perfect fit for his system.”

McDaniel generated headlines during the NFL combine when he told reporters the Dolphins haven’t made a decision about the fifth-year option attached to Tagovailoa’s rookie contract.
…

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier admitted last week he has some concerns about Tagovailoa’s durability. Grier also suggested such worries may not prevent him from signing the 2020 first-round draft pick to an extension this spring or summer.

Brady also responded to the rumors via a somewhat humorous tweet, showing he has other, more pressing priorities:

Anyone who thinks I have time to come back to the NFL has never adopted a 2 month old kitten for their daughter. https://t.co/Qzf2H4vr1j

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 7, 2023

Any parent whose family has adopted a new kitten or puppy—especially a pet bought “for” a youngster—can certainly relate. The move could be the very definition of #girldad.