I LOVE TO ACT GOAT
Brady can be greatest as he locks horns with Rams
Boston will raise a beer or two to evergreen Tom Brady tonight if he confirms his status as the NFL’s GOAT.
New England Patriots quarterback Brady is gunning for his sixth Superbowl ring – a feat that will crown him as Greatest Of All Time at the age of 41.
Quite an achievement for an elder statesman of the game who has been written off as ‘past it’ for years but continues to defy his critics.
Boston brewer Sam Adams even released a beer honouring the star last week called “Too Old, Too Slow, Still Here” – mocking Brady’s snipers.
And on each tin of the double IPA is a goat holding a football.
Brady and the Patriots take on Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII tonight in Atlanta.
It’s Brady’s ninth time at the Bowl and Patriots’ third consecutive appearance.
The Pats are the bookies’ favourites who reckon their vast experience will be key.
But Brady has vowed he isn’t ready to retire just yet even if he achieves the ultimate accolade in the sport.
And he reckons he can make history as the oldest quarterback ever to play an NFL game.
He said: “I’ve set a goal for myself at 45. It will be very hard to make it that far. I know how hard it was this year and the commitment it takes.
“Hopefully, I’ve learned from some of the things that happened this year. I’ve made improvements and feel I can continue to do it at a championship level.
“The whole point is to win the Bowl again. If you win it you’ll have something to celebrate the rest of your life.
“If you don’t it will be mental scar tissue that you’ll have to deal with.”
Brady was already the NFL’s oldest offensive player this season. If he is still in action aged 45 he will overtake ex-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Steve DeBerg, who was 44 years 342 days old in Week 17 of the 1998 season. If Brady is the gnarled old warrior then Rams QB Jared Goff, 24, is the raw squad die in his first Super Bowl fight. He has had a superb season in LA but the Pats’ experience should be enough to prevail. Remarkably, the Pats’ 53-man roster features 38 players with previous Super Bowl experience, compared to the Rams with just four stars who have played in the big game. Asked if he had any advice for his young rival Go ff, Brady said: “I ain’t going to give him any advice! They have a great team and I’ll face a great defence.
“I’ve my work cut out for me without worrying about Jared.”
But he was more open with his feelings for head coach Bill Belichick.
Their f irst Super Bowl together came 17 years ago when New England, as underdogs in 2002, beat the favoured Rams who were then playing out of St Louis.
The pair have rowed in the past but on Super Bowl eve, Brady said: “We meet at least twice a week going on 19 years. We have had a great working relationship.
“I have learned so much from him. He has been a great mentor, taught me so much about football.
“I see the game differently now. So much of it is Belichick’s influence.”
Brady’s five Super Bowl titles are the most ever by a quarterback, one more than San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana and Pittsburgh Steelers fabled passer Terry Bradshaw.
But despite his age, the NFL superstar has shown no signs of slowing down, making 29 passing touchdowns with only 11 interceptions and completing 65.8 per cent of his passes during this season.
But despite their favourites’ tag it won’t be easy for Pat r iots. The Rams feature the NFL’s No.1 ranked offense and Goff has been superb, earning the nickname ‘California Cool’.
He has thrown 32 touchdowns against only 12 interceptions, completing 64.9 per cent of his passes. Goff admits he always looked up to icon Brady but says everything will be different tonight. He said: “Now I get a chance to play in a Super Bowl with him.
“We do respect him but I’m going to go out there, do my best and be the best I can be. Hopefully, I will come out with a win.”
The Rams boast a formidable defence, featuring feared passrushing linemen Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald.
Donald is currently regarded as the most devastating defender in the NFL, justifying his $135m salary with 20.5 sacks and 41 quarterback hits.
If Brady’s offensive line can’t protect him from LA’s fearsome threesome, it could be a long night for him.
Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, 71, said: “I never think: ‘ We’ve got this.’
“The most important thing is getting them ready to play as well as they can in the heat of all that’s going on. “I’ ll try to give them every tool and mechanism to be successful.”
I’ve set my goal to play to 45 .. it will be very hard