As so-called old-timers go, Tom Brady wasn’t too shabby last season. At age 35, as the second-oldest starting quarterback in the league behind Peyton Manning, all he did was lead the NFL’s top-rated offense, and put up one of the best statistical seasons of his illustrious career.

Can he still perform at that level at age 36 or 37 or all the way to 40, which is how old he’ll be in the final year of the contract extension he signed last week? Will he be as effective? Will he even still be playing when he hits the 40 milestone?

“It’s going to be interesting to see if he can go that long. Whether he wants to do it, and if his body will let him,” Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon told the Herald last week. “We’ve seen a big drop off in a lot of guys when they get to 36. From 36-38, right in there is the drop off. If guys can play longer than that, you’ll be able to see that right away.”

The year Brett Favre turned 40, he had arguably his best season ever. He threw 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions with the Vikings. Favre is one of maybe two dozen or so quarterbacks who have played into their 40s. Some other notables include Moon, Len Dawson, Vinny Testaverde, Doug Flutie and Sonny Jurgensen. But it’s the rare exception that you’ll find a 40-year-old operating at a level that’s not only going to be top-rate, but also going to produce a championship.

Favre came close in 2009, the season he turned 40. But the Saints defense pummelled him in the 31-28 NFC Championship Game loss.

Kurt Warner produced a couple of great seasons at ages 37 and 38 while with Arizona. He fell short in the Super Bowl, losing to the Steelers in the final seconds. He retired before hitting 40. Steve Young had a career season with the 49ers at age 37, throwing for 36 TDs and 4,170 yards. But he, too, hung it up short of 40.

Moon didn’t retire until he was 44. He threw 25 touchdown passes as a 41-year-old with Seattle.

So what will Brady be like in the coming years? How good will he still be when he hits the 40? While Moon was cautious given injury is always a threat, he leaves room for Brady to succeed into his 40s.

“Guys are playing longer today just because we know more about our bodies, we train better, we take better care of ourselves,” Moon said, “so there is a good reason for him to play longer. But he has played a lot of football over the last 10 or 12 years.”

Moon played 36 games after turning 40, and he believes Brady has the key ingredients to maintain a top level of play over the course of the next four years. First, he’s kept himself in great shape, second, he still loves the game, and third, he’s on a mission.

“Tom is a football gym rat. He really enjoys competing. He really enjoys playing,” Moon said. “Plus, I think there’s still a burning desire in him to get at least one more Super Bowl. He’s been close the last few years. I think it’s really bothered him he hasn’t been able to win one the last nine years. I think that’s something that’s burning inside him. That’ll keep him going.”

Prior to the Pats game against the 49ers in Week 15 last season, ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer told the Herald he thought the Pats were already making some concessions to Brady’s age by the style of offense being run. Between more emphasis on the running game, the increased use of play-action passes and fewer deep passes, there was less stress and wear on the quarterback.

As the radio analyst for the Seahawks broadcasts, Moon saw Brady when the Patriots visited Seattle in Week 6 last season. He agreed with Dilfer’s assessment.

That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It was merely a fact of life. Moon also saw some signs of age creeping up on Brady.

“He’s probably not throwing the ball down the field as well as he used to,” Moon said. “But, he’s still very accurate in the shorter routes. I think having those two tight ends (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez) both healthy down the road will help him, because he has bigger targets. He doesn’t have to be as accurate.”

So what goes first? Beyond some arm strength, what’s next to desert a quarterback?

“Your legs. They just don’t react as quickly as they used to,” Moon said. “For a quarterback, you really need that. Being able to set, and reset when you throw the football. So it affects your accuracy, and then just being able to get away from danger.

“Those moves, those shuttle sidesteps in the pocket that Brady’s known for in getting away from danger; when he’s not able to make those as quickly, all of a sudden, those become sacks, as opposed to being avoided hits. Those are the things you start looking for, when the legs start to go.

“You’ll always be able to throw the ball. I can still throw the ball today and I’m 56. But my legs don’t move like they used to.”

Moon said that as you age it also takes longer to recover from the wear and tear of gameday or heal an injury, even something not particularly serious. So keeping Brady upright and healthy will be important.

Why did Moon ultimately stop at age 44?

“I just didn’t want to put that much time into it, given I wasn’t a huge contributor,” said Moon, who finished as a backup in Kansas City. “It wasn’t in my heart any more, even though physically, I could still play.’

A good grilling

The following was one of my favorite exchanges between the media and a draft prospect during the just completed NFL scouting combine.

Ohio State tight end Jake Stoneburner not only gave a glimpse into the interview process with teams, but also provided some insight on what’s good for these athletes to know.

Stoneburner was asked if anyone had thrown any curveball questions at him.

His answer?

“Yeah, one,” Stoneburner said. “I can’t remember his name, but at the end of the interview he goes, ‘Out of everything you’ve learned, what’s my name?’ ”

Don’t think Stoneburner had a clue. He could spit out coverages. But the name of the guy asking him the questions? No idea. And that’s exactly what the prospective team wanted to see.

Hobbs in high Society

Former Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs has started to make some headway in the business world, as he and former Panther Michael Dean have hooked up and launched a new company, Prive Society. Hobbs described it as being a luxury concierge service for professional athletes and high-net-worth individuals and corporations.

The company helps athletes with managing finances and strengthening personal profiles beyond football.

Said Dean: “We wanted to (create) a place (for athletes) to contact to get the proper services, the proper resources, and most important, the literacy that it takes to not only monetize their money, but make their lifestyles scalable for not only when they’re playing, but for when they retire. That’s one thing for me, playing (in the NFL) just six months, I’ve been able to scale my lifestyle to where I’m still living the same way I would have lived if I played 10 years in the NFL.”

Added Hobbs: “We have suite of services, a one-stop solution for everything, whether it’s entertainment, nightlife . . . if guys want to create a foundation, a Website, camps. You name it. We’ve vetted out all the people within those realms. All they have to do is turn the key, and we take the process over.”

McCray’s two-fer

This week’s factoid from Patriots historian Robert Hyldburg comes in honor of birthday boy Prentice “Pinhead” McCray, who turned 62 yesterday. Hyldburg notes that McCray is one of 28 NFL players who have returned two interceptions for a touchdown in the same regular-season game.

McCray returned a Joe Namath pass 55 yards for his first pick-six and another 63 yards for a TD in the Patriots’ 38-24 win over the New York Jets at Shea Stadium on Nov. 21, 1976. McCray, by the way, is now working as a defensive backs coach for the Phoenix College Bears.

People interested in purchasing tickets to Saturday’s induction of former Patriot Joe Andruzzi and local sports agent Sean Stellato into the Massachusetts chapter of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame may do so by contacting Pam Modugno at 781-956-7441 or pamela.modugno@gmail.com. Reservations are required for the 7 p.m. reception and dinner at Venezia in Boston.