Tom Brady is the most successful quarterback in the NFL. In his 23rd season with the league, Brady has a long list of accomplishments, including a record seven Super Bowl championships.

Yet, this season, the 45-year-old quarterback’s performance resembles a mere shadow of his former days. It’s not just Brady who seems to be experiencing an uncharacteristic plummet in his career. Over at the NBA, big names like LeBron James and Kevin Durant are seeing a downward trajectory this season.

Here’s the big question, has the time come for these legends to finally bow out?

Tom Brady’s 2022 season

During his prime, when Tom Brady took the field lagging behind his opponents in points, the inclination that he would turn the game around was perpetually present. Brady has currently lost three consecutive games, a first for the quarterback in a very long time. More shockingly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a humiliating 21-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Although the brunt of the Bucs’ poor performance cannot be borne by a single individual, Brady’s uncharacteristically sub-par performance is worrisome. While Tom Brady does not have the best supporting cast in the Bucs, their inability to rally a decent offensive strategy is puzzling.

Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers might resonate with Brady’s situation. The 38-year-old quarterback will be taking on the Detroit Lions with four consecutive losses to the Packers’ name. Brady and Rodgers, both influential figures in the league, look like husks of what they were.

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In the NBA, prominent figures like LeBron James and Kevin Durant are making progress at the pace of a snail. Previously 0-5 this season, the Lakers manage to salvage a win against the Denver Nuggets, leaving them at an embarrassing 1-5. Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets face a similar situation, currently at 1-5 in the league.

The question must be asked. Why are the names that were synonymous with being the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ or ‘MVP’ struggling to get a win?

The big R-word

Is this the end of an era for the faces of some of the biggest leagues in the world? Fans speculate that retirement is perhaps inevitable for these icons. This tweet sums it all up.

With Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes racking up numbers like they’re nothing every week, alongside the rise of a young generation in the NBA with the likes of Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum, is it time to usher in the future?

With the season going by, fans can only hope for a revival of these legends. Will we see a turnaround in performance this season? Or are these legends looking at one final season? (In Brady’s case, for real this time)

It is disheartening to see legends who once ruled the sport, succumb to mediocrity. Channeling glimpses of the glory days and winning games are the only ways to silence those in the NFL and NBA world who have lost faith.

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