"Imagine him playing an entire season at 45 out of spite" - NFL fans feel retirement talk could fuel Tom Brady's desire to return

Will he or won't he? That's a question that's been on the world's mind since ESPN prematurely reported Saturday that Tom Brady was retiring from the NFL.

Reports emerged Saturday that Brady was upset and furious that someone in his inner circle leaked the information to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington.

NFL fans and media members took to Twitter to state their shared opinion of Brady returning in 2022 out of spite alone. NFL analyst Warren Sharp was one of the most recognizable names, wondering if at the age of 45 Brady could choose to play out of spite.

"[I]magine Tom Brady playing an entire NFL season at age 45 out of spite," Sharp wrote on Twitter.

With a confusion of this magnitude, social media was full of memes surrounding Brady's potential return. One meme included WWE legend, The Undertaker, resurrecting from the dead, if you will.

The president of Burke Communications, Timothy Burke, claimed that if Brady came back for another year, it would make him the greatest of all time in all professional sports, not just the NFL. Tom Brady is already celebrated by many as the greatest of all time, but playing at a high level at age 45 would certainly help add to his legacy.

Another fan said Brady's return out of spite for ESPN won't be surprising at all. Over his 22-year career, Brady has traditionally enjoyed it when the spotlight is on him.

One of the classic scenes in cinema history was used in a meme by one fan. Leonardo DiCaprio's scene where he refused to quit in The Wolf of Wall Street serves as a prime example to encapsulate Brady calling off his retirement.

Former NFL player Geoff Schartz agreed with one fan who made a sarcastic remark that Tom Brady's not the kind of person to be motivated out of spite.

Another meme was created by a fan with the belief that Brady, out of spite, would return after Schefter and Darlington ruined his announcement.

Comeback Player of the Year award? One NFL fan said Tom Brady is the favorite to win it next season. His entire 45-minute retirement is easily the most short-lived in NFL history.

The greatest of all-time in the NBA, Michael Jordan has been a victim of memes for his The Last Dance documentary. One fan imposed Tom Brady's face over Jordan's with the most quoted line in the documentary.

One fan believes Brady's ego can't stand taking this hit. Because of that and social media's initial reaction to the news, the supporter believes Brady is returning.

Tom Brady's retirement decision should come soon

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Carolina Panthers

While the internet is speculating and entertaining itself in the meantime, Brady's decision shouldn't take long. Brady is currently traveling abroad while contemplating his options, according to the New England Patriots' beat reporter Tom Curran.

Brady is also due for a $15 million signing bonus on February 4. With that in mind, his decision isn't imminent. But it shouldn't take overly long as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will need to plan according to whether he's their quarterback or not.

Until Brady's decision is made, social media will continue to talk about one of the biggest botches in sports reporting history.