Reward out for Brady’s missing jersey
Tom Brady’s Super Bowl jersey could be worth a lot of money. Just knowing where it is might be worth something, too.
The Houston Police Department is taking the lead on the search for the MVP’s missing jersey, and is asking the media and public for help.
“We’re attempting to gather a list of people that were in that locker room at that point,” HPD executive assistant chief George Buenik said yesterday. “We’re also asking the public, if they know anything, to call Crime Stoppers, (713) 222-TIPS. We know that somebody knows something and there’ll be a reward out for the stolen jersey and the information leading to the arrest of whoever took Tom Brady’s jersey.”
The city’s Crime Stoppers website says that tips generally are eligible to bring in up to $5,000.
Buenik said there were no leads yet.
“Our major offenders squads deal with all kinds of specialty cases like this particular case. Texas Rangers offered their assistance along with NFL security and the private security at NRG Park,” Buenik said. “We’ve heard that media’s reporting that the jersey could be worth up to $500,000 of value for its significance. So we deem this a pretty important case. We want our top investigators on this case. And hopefully we’ll make an arrest, but more importantly recover that jersey for Tom Brady.”
Police are trying to compile a list of who was in the locker room Sunday to determine possible suspects. Access to the locker room was controlled by Patriots team security, Buenik said. A Houston police officer was stationed outside the locker room, and two other security officers determined who could enter, he said.
“You do need some type of special credential to get in there,” Buenik said. “Even Houston police officers are not allowed in there. So team security really, I guess, determine who’s able to enter that locker room.”
No offense report has been filed with HPD and according to a department spokesperson, filing one won’t matter much at this point.
Buenik said officers may attempt to speak to Brady.
“Tom Brady would be the complainant,” Buenik said. “They probably will at some point.”
On to Fenway
In case you didn’t get enough face time from the Pats during their rolling rally yesterday, there will be a second chance in a couple of months.
Yesterday at a Pawtucket Red Sox gathering, Red Sox president Sam Kennedy announced what most expected: The team plans to invite the Patriots to Opening Day ceremonies at Fenway Park on April 3. The invitation has been accepted after the Patriots’ four prior championships, with Brady and other stars emerging from behind the giant U.S. flag draped over the Green Monster.
The Pats have done the same for the Red Sox at Gillette Stadium after their three recent championships.
Gronk steals show
One party wasn’t enough for Rob Gronkowski.
After the duck boat tour through Boston, Gronkowski and a few teammates accompanied the Kraft family to a rally in Providence. To nobody’s surprise, the tight end stole the show.
Gronkowski started by trying to hold all five Lombardi trophies at once. He hoisted them one by one as the crowd counted, but when he got to the fourth they started to slip out of his grasp. Fortunately his teammates were there to lend a few helping hands, and none of the trophies fell.
But Gronkowski was at his most entertaining when it was his turn at the microphone. He introduced the players on the stage, yielding hilarious results.
“We gave Matt Ryan a present, and it was Trey
Flowers baby! Wooooooo!” Gronkowski yelled. “And we’ve got James Develin there, the most badass fullback in the league right there, from Brown University!”
After he ran through all the players and Robert and
Jonathan Kraft, it looked like Gronkowski was going to exit, but he doubled back.
“Hey, what do you guys think of Roger Goodell?” Gronkowski asked the fans with a pause. Then he yelled, “Boooooooooo!”
Back to future
The Patriots signed eight players from the practice squad to future contracts, and also inked tight end Rob
Housler to a future contract. Offensive linemen Chris Barker, Jamil Douglas and Chase Farris, running back Tyler Gaffney, wide receiver Devin Lucien, defensive linemen Woodrow Hamilton and Darius Kilgo and linebacker Trevor Bates all finished the season on the practice squad. Housler, 28, is a veteran of five NFL seasons with Arizona (2011-14), Cleveland (2015) and Chicago (2015). The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder was released by the Bears on Sept. 3, 2016, and spent the season out of football.