Tom Brady says he will 'absolutely' play in 2019

Making his weekly appearance with his pal Jim Gray, Tom Brady said Monday he "absolutely believe(s)" he will play in 2019.

“I absolutely believe I will," he said. "I've talked about it for a long time. I have goals -- not only to play next year, but beyond that. I am going to try and do it as best I possibly can. I am going to give it everything I have like I always have. It will certainly be a challenge. I don’t take any of these things for granted, but, I hope I can keep playing, and I hope I can keep playing at a championship level.”

Brady was asked about a number of other things as well, including being yanked roughly midway through the fourth quarter of last Sunday's win over the Bills.

"It didn't bother me," he said. "Coach (Belichick) makes those decisions and we had a pretty good lead and coach felt like taking me out was the thing to do. I am always happy when Brian Hoyer gets a chance to go in there and play. It obviously keeps him into the games. It is good to be standing on the sideline when you’re winning, I’ll tell you that. I have been on the other end of that when you’re taken out because you’re losing and that sucks a lot worse.”