It's 'crap' you get worse with age: QB Tom Brady

Like a fine wine, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady strives to get better with age.

Entering his 14th season in the NFL, the 36-year-young Brady told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Wednesday, "It's a bunch of crap that people think as you get older you get worse.

"I think in a lot of ways, I've tried to make improvements every year," said the three-time Super Bowl winner.

Tom Brady
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Tom Brady

The Patriots will kick off their season Sunday, looking for their 10th straight opening-day win when they travel to Buffalo to face the Bills.

(Read more: How the NFL forced CBS and Time Warner Cable to end dispute)

"We've been preparing for this opening day for the last six months," Brady said. "We finally have our first test on Sunday."

Former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow won't be with the team when it takes the field. He became a free agent after the Patriots released him this past Saturday.

Tom Brady #12 and Tim Tebow #5 look on during the first day of New England Patriots training camp at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.
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Tom Brady #12 and Tim Tebow #5 look on during the first day of New England Patriots training camp at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.

Brady said he enjoyed getting to know Tebow and feels they share similar traits. "He loves football. He loves to work hard. He's a great leader. I wish we could keep everybody, [but] that's not the reality of the NFL."

But it appears that the Patriots have left the door open for Tebow. "You never know," Brady said.

The Patriots' owner, Robert Kraft, has made no secret of his admiration for Tebow and told CNBC, "He's an outstanding young man. He's a winner and very special. We're just privileged to have the best quarterback in the history of the game. So [Brady] is not coming off the field for anyone."

Johnny Manziel of the Texas A&M University Aggies after being named the 78th winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award
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Johnny Manziel of the Texas A&M University Aggies after being named the 78th winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award

Brady said he hopes to be "playing for many more years" and would look forward to competing against 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel when the Texas A&M quarterback turns pro. Manziel, who became the first freshman to receive the award, will be eligible for the NFL next year.

As for the risks of playing football, Brady said, "It's a physical game. It does take a toll on you physically. You have to take it into your own hands as an athlete to understand what you're getting yourself into."

Last week, the NFL agreed to pay $765 million to settle thousands of player lawsuits over head injuries.

(Read more: NFL, ex-players in $765 million concussion deal)

"All parents are concerned about their children's well-being," Brady added. "As a parent of three kids, I'm very concerned about their well-being."

But, he said, "I think football has so much to offer this country and young athletes that want to be part of a team."

Preparation for the game and staying healthy are top priorities for Brady, and he wants to share his knowledge with the general public by starting the TB12 Sports Therapy Center in Foxborough, Mass.

"It's for athletes. It's for weekend warriors. It's for any competitive athlete that wants to perform at a high level at any age," he said, adding that the center should open in the "next week or two."

By CNBC's Matthew J. Belvedere. Follow him on Twitter @Matt_SquawkCNBC