It's not looking good for Tom Brady's return to the New England Patriots.

According to the latest report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, the six-time Super Bowl champion is “still not close” to a new deal with the Patriots. New England holds exclusive negotiating rights with Brady until noon on Monday. However, teams are free to talk with the veteran quarterback after that point.

Schefter made sure to stress that there isn't anything close that resembles a deal between Brady and the Patriots.

“Again, we're in the middle of March. We're about to embark upon free agency and Tom Brady does not have anything close to a deal in New England yet. Now I know people think that he's going back to New England. What makes them think that? Why would they think that now? When this has been going on since he put the motion to place where he basically voided the contract.

There haven't been any substantial contract negotiations. There hasn't been anything that resembles a deal. Why do people think now all of a sudden at the 24th hour, something's going to get done that hasn't gotten done in previous weeks and months? I don't understand that.”

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Because of the lack of progression on a new deal between both sides, Schefter believes the idea of Brady leaving the Patriots is a real one.

“And all these teams now that have been laying in wake, all are going to have their crack and chance at Tom Brady. And I know he's going to be 43, and I know he's not as young as he used to be. But he's still the greatest quarterback of all time. And other teams for the first time in his career are going to be allowed to talk to him and try to persuade him from leaving New England. And I think there's a real chance that somebody is going to be able to do that.”

Brady has spent all 20 seasons of his career in New England. The thought of the greatest QB ever leaving the Patriots through free agency is still hard to process.

As Schefter is making clear, the idea of Brady leaving the Patriots is a very real one.