Brady, Kraft embrace before long-awaited homecoming
After all the drama, the hype and speculation, Tom Brady got the homecoming he deserved.
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
The Patriots honored Brady with a one-minute pregame video tribute Sunday night, shortly before they kicked off the NFL’s most anticipated regularseason game in years. The tribute included highlights of Brady’s decorated career and embraces with owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick. Sunday marked Brady’s first return to Foxboro since leaving New England after 20 years and six Super Bowl titles.
Minutes before kickoff, Brady led the Buccaneers out of the visitors tunnel as the crowd chanted his name amid a smattering of boos. The crowd chanted his name again after he broke the NFL’s all-time career passing record late in the first quarter with a 28-yard completion to Mike Evans.
After the play, Brady called timeout, and was again honored on the videoboard.
Ahead of his return, the Patriots issued 506 media credentials for tonight’s long-awaited matchup, 300 more than the team did for its season opener against Miami. Brady’s return pitted him, the greatest quarterback of all time, against the game’s greatest coach, Belichick, who reiterated his longstanding feelings toward Brady during the week.
Belichick claimed there’s no quarterback he’d rather have than Brady, something he repeatedly said during their time together. Last Thursday, Brady described his exit from New England, which happened without a contract offer from the team, as being “handled perfectly.”
“We had a great relationship. Everything was handled the right way,” Brady said. “We handled everything as gracefully as we could. It was an amazing time. It was handled perfectly. I think everyone understood where we were at, the people involved in the situation.
“Things worked out for the best for all of us, and we’re all trying to do the best we can do now. That’s what happens in life. You go through these experiences, you don’t know where life’s going to lead.”
Brady’s Bucs entered as 7-point favorites Sunday night.
Kraft hopes Brady retires in NE
Up until the last months of Brady’s tenure in New England, Kraft was consistent in saying his quarterback would retire a Patriot.
Despite Brady taking off last year for Tampa Bay, there’s a chance he could someday end his career in New England with a ceremonial 1-day contract. At least, that’s what Kraft expects.
“I’m always rooting for Tommy, except when he’s playing us,” Kraft told former Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest during the NFL Network’s pregame show Sunday. “In the end, I hope and believe he’ll come back here, and we’ll give him his red jacket, and he’ll retire a Patriot.”
Kraft’s answer came in response to a question about whether he was happy to see Brady win a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers last season.
“If we can’t win it, I was happy he won it. I know that is strange, but he did so much for us,” Kraft began. “And look, we had 20 great years. How many other situations are there in the 102year history of the NFL where a coach and a quarterback have remained the same for 20 years? I don’t think there is another situation. Life has its twists and turns.”
Under Kraft’s ownership, the Patriots have welcomed back ex-players who signed 1-day contracts to retire with the team. Former nose tackle Vince Wilfork did so in 2017, and cornerback Ty Law returned for a retirement ceremony in 2011. Brady signed a 1-year contract extension with the Bucs last offseason for $25 million guaranteed, a deal that will bind him to the team through 2022.
OT Brown inactive again
The Patriots ruled out starting right tackle Trent Brown for a third straight game Sunday. He had been listed as questionable on the team’s injury report Friday, along with linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, who also sat. Cornerbacks Joejuan Williams and Shaun Wade, linebacker Ronnie Perkins and tight end Devin Asiasi comprised the team’s remaining inactives.
Most of the Buccaneers’ inactive players were expected, after they ruled out tight end Rob Gronkowski and edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul in the 48 hours leading up to kickoff. Bucs cornerback Richard Sherman started after signing Wednesday, with starter Jamel Dean sidelined by an injury.