Retirement Still Far From Tom Brady's Mind

BOSTON (CBS) -- The thought of a New England Patriots team that doesn't have Tom Brady on the roster is one that isn't too pleasant for most Patriots fans to ponder. However, that day will certainly come at some point; the only question is when it will happen.

Fortunately, for now, the thought of retiring is still far from the mind of Brady.

"My wife [Gisele Bundchen] said to me, 'When I met you [in 2006], you said you wanted to play 10 more years. How come that number never goes down?'" Brady told Sports Illustrated's Peter King. "It's that I love the game. I love the game. I'm going to play until they tell me they don't want me anymore.''

That time definitely is not now, not after Brady threw for a career-high 5,235 yards to go with 39 touchdowns last season. However, Matt Light's retirement last week meant that Brady is the only player currently on the roster who won all three of the Patriots' Super Bowls. (Kevin Faulk is a free agent but does plan to try to make the team in training camp.) King noted that Brady's first career start was in September 2001, and he is now the only remaining active member of either team's roster to have played in that game.

Brady, who will be 35 by the time the 2012 season begins, has stated publicly several times over the past few seasons that he plans to play 10 more years. He currently ranks fifth all time in touchdown passes (300),  14th in passing yards (39,979), sixth in game-winning drives (35) and 10th in comebacks (25).

Despite the long resume, Brady said he still doesn't take his roster spot for granted.

"I just met with coach [Bill] Belichick," Brady told King. "I still feel like I'm in my first year trying to prove myself. There's no entitlement around coach Belichick. I've got to be the best guy for him to keep playing me. When I'm not, someone else will play."