Tony Romo knows firsthand what Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are capable of.
The former Cowboys-quarterback-turned-CBS-analyst doesn't see either passer fading away any time soon.
"I think Aaron is one of those guys who is uniquely talented. Special player in our league for a long time. He can go as long as he wants to," Romo said during Wednesday's edition of Total Access on NFL Network. "If he stays injury-free, he may be in his eyes on the back nine, but as long as he wants to continue to take hits, he'll be able to play until he's 45."
With Brady also planning to play deep into his fifth decade, Romo believes both star signal-callers are built for the task.
"I mean, he has that kind of talent and ability," Romo said of Rodgers while at the American Century Golf Tournament. "One thing that goes sometimes for quarterbacks as they get up to the 40 level, their legs and their arms start to go a little bit. You just don't see the same pop in the ball. And a little bit is they just don't want to take the same hits they're used to taking. Their body just doesn't want it the same way they once did.
"I think what you find is that Tom Brady is kind of re-shaping that a little bit, and almost allowing him mentally to change that," Romo said. "Tom's throwing the football as well as anybody in the NFL. Aaron will be able to do that same thing if he wants to."
At age 37, Romo is making these comments months after walking away from the rigors of the NFL. He undoubtedly could have played longer, but the idea of multiple current starters in the NFL playing beyond 40 -- much less 45 -- is aggressive.
Peyton Manning's rapid decline -- fairy-tale ending aside -- is another reminder that the human body will eventually rebel. While Brady's adventures into peak-performance diet and training has paid dividends, we have no idea how long he -- or Rodgers -- will last.
Romo ultimately serves as a reminder of how quickly our plans can change.
