Kraft thanks Brady in full-page Tampa ad

NEW YORK: Tom Brady, who left the New England Patriots to sign a two-year NFL deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, received a public thank you on Sunday from Patriots team owner Robert Kraft.

Kraft thanked Brady in a full-page advertisement in the Tampa Bay Times newspsper on Sunday, two days after the 42-year-old quarterback signed with the Bucs.

Under the headline “THANK YOU TOM”, the Kraft family described Brady as “the GOAT [greatest of all time] and forever a part of our family” and told Buccaneers fans to “take care of him. You got a great one.”

“For 20 amazing years, you gave us everything you had,” the advertisement said. “When you arrived as a sixth-round pick — and the best selection this franchise has ever made — no one imagined all you’d accomplish or how much you’d soon mean to an entire region.”

Brady left New England having won an NFL record half-dozen Super Bowl titles and 41 playoff games since 2001.

Meanwhile, New Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Darius Slay says he will change his NFL jersey number to 24 in tribute to the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

The 29-year-old cornerback, who was traded to the Eagles on Friday by the Detroit Lions, announced his plan in a social media post.

“I’m going Kobe mode,” Slay said. “Black Mamba, baby. Rest in peace to the GOAT [greatest of all time]. One of my favourite players.

“And I think I’m going to look good in that 24.”

Slay, who wore No.23 while playing for Detroit for seven seasons, signed a new three-year deal with Philadelphia on Saturday. Slay is a three-time Pro Bowl player and was joint NFL leader in interceptions in 2017.

Bryant died in January at age 41 in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles.