Local New England fans sorry to see Tom Brady leave Patriots

Malcolm Muise’s days of rooting for the New England Patriots go way back — back to when the Patriots were among the NFL’s worst teams — and he is among the many Pats fans in southwestern Nova Scotia who are sorry to see Tom Brady leaving Foxborough.

“One of the highlights of my life was watching Brady and the Patriots play back in 2005 at Gillette Stadium,” said Muise, who, while disappointed to see

Brady leave, says he’s grateful for everything Brady did for the Patriots.

Last week, after a winter of suspense that had New England fans wondering if their superstar quarterback would return to the team next season, they got the bad news. After 20 years and six Super Bowl titles with New England, Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Colin Gates, another big

New England fan, said he had expected Brady would leave but it was still tough when it actually happened.

“I was hoping he would finish his career with the Patriots,” Gates said. Laughing, he added, “I felt like I was going through a breakup when I got the news.”

Aside from six Super Bowl wins, Brady’s many accolades include a record four Super Bowl MVP awards and three league MVP awards.

“I’m anxious to see him be successful with the Bucs,” said Gates. “I’ll always be a Pats fan, but I’ll be following Tom closely until he retires.”

Wade Cleveland, another local fan of the Patriots, said he was “shocked” and “a bit heartbroken” by Brady’s departure.

“I know it sounds strange to feel like that about a team and one particular player, but Tom is special — the greatest of all time,” Cleveland said. “I really wish him the best in Tampa

Bay. Thank goodness he didn’t go to a team I dislike.”

Brothers Frank Grant and Russell Grant shared their thoughts, too — Frank sounding less troubled by last week’s news than his sibling was.

“I like Brady,” Frank said. “I just feel it’s time for change.”

Russell, though, said he was “shocked.” Even up until the last minute, until Brady’s move to the Bucs was official, Russell felt there might still be hope of Brady returning to New England.

“I think maybe they want to change to a run-first offence and spend their money on defensive players,” he said.

For Muise, Brady’s departure — like moves involving Joe Montana, Wayne Gretzky, even going back to Babe Ruth — is part of the reality of big-time professional sports.