There's never been any question as to whether future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady would spend the entirety of his NFL career with the only NFL franchise he's ever known, the New England Patriots. What has been considered, especially of late, is just how long the 38-year-old Brady plans on playing. Of course, considering he's shown absolutely no signs of slowing down the past few seasons - in 2015, his 16th year in the league, he completed 402 passes for 4,770 yards, 36 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions - that talk has quieted a bit, and with the news Monday that Brady signed an extension with the Pats, we can probably all stop wondering for a little while about the star signal-caller's immediate NFL future.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported early Monday that Brady and the Pats have come to terms on a two-year contract extension. The new deal will keep him with the team through 2019, meaning, as Schefter points out, he very well could be the starting quarterback for the Pats up to and through age 42.

While Brady's contemporary, Peyton Manning, seems ready to call it quits as the years of NFL abuse take their toll on his increasingly fragile body - and after winning the Super Bowl this past season - Brady seems ready to rock yet again.

His numbers haven't dipped and with the entire Deflategate saga all but behind him, there's no reason the uber-prepared Brady can't keep up a high level of play, especially while being coached by creative minds like Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels, for a few more seasons at least.

If anything, the sour note on which this past season ended - losing to the eventual Lombardi-winning Broncos in the AFC Championship game - likely has Brady amped up for another deep playoff run in 2016, and beyond.