Before Tom Brady ruined Peyton Manning's weekend, the New England Patriots quarterback hit the park with his kids to play a little baseball -- and it made us wonder, think he'll let 'em play football?

Tom -- along with his 4-year-old son Benjamin and his 6-year-old Jack -- tossed around the hardball at a park in Boston on Saturday.

FYI -- Tom was a helluva baseball player back in the day ... he was one of the best high school catchers in the country and was drafted by the Montreal Expos back in 1995.

Now, with Brett Favre, Terry Bradshaw, Adrian Peterson and more saying they wouldn't let their kids play tackle football -- considering the medical risks -- think Brady is trying to shepherd the boys into a safer sport?