For me, this is what going out on a whimper would look like:
2021: 10-7 with a wildcard berth, they lose in the wildcard round in a close game.
2022: Early-ish in the season, (say after a 2-1 start) Brady gets injured, the Bucs do not make the playoffs.
2023: Brady comes back, leads them to a 8-9 record which somehow sneaks into the playoffs, they lose in the playoffs badly, off Brady throwing multiple picks.
2024: The Bucs go 5-12, Brady looks thoroughly washed. We hear all offseason how he was playing through injuries all year.
2025: The Bucs start 2-10, Brady gets benched. Supposedly it's because of injury. The rest of the season is spent showing him sitting on the sideline. He retires when the year is done.
He retires with 292 wins, 99,000 passing yards, 730 TDs, 85 Postseason TDs. Not at all saying that's what's going to happen, but that's what going out on a whimper would look like in my book. Do you think the described scenario would enhance Brady's legacy, or detract from it? I would argue it would detract from it. "Super Durable, other than 2008, never missed a game due to injury" is gone. "Never failed to make the playoffs when starting more than 4 games in a season" is gone. His playoff record is worsened, 2 more 1 and dones are added to it. In my opinion, if you have the same scenario above for 2021, and then after the injury in 2022 Brady just calls it, it's better for his legacy as a QB. Not that I'm wishing injury on him or saying that'll happen, whatsoever, just comparing the two hypothetical scenarios, I think in that potential future timeline he's better off just walking away after the injury. Would you disagree?