Sunday, October 03, 2021
Back to “his” patriots
The unthinkable duel of Tom Brady
Tom Brady played for the New England Patriots for 20 years. It’s been 20 incredibly successful years. When the NFL superstar returns to Gillette Stadium, he’s suddenly the opponent. For a long time it was completely unimaginable. And now he can also set a record straight away.
In his mind’s eye, Tom Brady can see everything, feel everything, feel everything. “I know how the wind blows. I know what it smells like there,” said the football star before returning to Gillette Stadium, where he spent 20 incomparable years with the New England Patriots. For the first time after saying goodbye, the 44-year-old will be the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Foxborough, as well as a champion – and a record awaits him.
There is much speculation as to why the marriage between Brady, the Patriots, coach Bill Belichick and club owner Robert Kraft broke up a good year and a half ago, despite six joint Super Bowl wins. And the circumstances continue to annoy the fans, including a certain Thomas Edward Brady, the 77-year-old father of the NFL legend, recently spoke out critically about the separation.
“If Tom Sr. continues to speak on behalf of his son without his express written consent, the junior reserves the right to take him to a home against his will,” joked the son about the “best dad in the world”. Brady doesn’t wash dirty clothes, but neither does the other side.
“Nothing Tom does surprises me”
Belichick of course had to answer questions about the upcoming duel (10:25 p.m. CEST). “What’s going on? Are there any stories this week?” Asked the head coach at the beginning of a press conference and smiled broadly. Then the 69-year-old bowed as deeply as he could. “Nothing Tom does surprises me,” said Belichick: “He talked about playing until 50. If anyone can, it is probably him.” In general, there are “not enough superlatives to compliment him”.
Then why did the club let go of the undisputed best of all time? It is said that Belichick believed at the time that Brady would not play much longer and wanted a fresh start. What is fairly certain is that the Patriots weren’t trying hard enough for him. Not true, Belichick says, Tampa was simply the “better option”.
Probably true. Brady won the title with the Buccaneers right away, New England missed the playoffs for the first time in twelve years. In the cool north it went downhill, under the Florida sun uphill. That too makes the reunion so tingly. “I’m not necessarily going to reminisce,” says Brady. He has “a lot of respect” for the past together and thinks back fondly on this “great time”. Brady is a gentleman, and a professional.
In the stands it will certainly be a little different with the memories. Patriots fans, who have a painful afternoon ahead of them, have had many records with Brady, and they’ll be there the next. The playmaker stands at 80,291 passing yards, only the retired Drew Brees (80,358) has more. Slap 68 is missing. “I’m in favor of Brady making this clear in the first play,” said Brees, former quarterback for the New Orleans Saints: “It will no doubt be very quick.”