We’re all pretty tired in New England and all across Pats Nation this morning.
That was a late one, and a heartbreaker, coming off of an emotional week, no less. We felt it. Tom felt it. Everyone knew how big Sunday night in Foxboro, Tom Brady’s return with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was.
While the Patriots didn’t get the win Sunday (I can still hear Folk’s 56-yarder doink off the left upright), there are positives aplenty for the Foxboro Faithful to take away from that epic clash, and narrow defeat. And perhaps now there will be a sense of peace within Pats Nation as to how everything played out. Because save for Folk’s kicks squeaking through the uprights Patriots fans pretty much got everything they could have wanted out of Sunday night.
For starters Pats fans got to see Tom Brady one final time in Foxboro under better circumstances than his farewell in a Patriots uniform back on Jan. 4, 2020. Though his new team got the best of the Patriots, barely, Brady had nothing but love for the region he still holds dearly, not to mention the team itself now. After Brady finished his on-field postgame interview with NBC, he waved to the remaining fans in the stands, blowing kisses and sending adoration and appreciation to those who remained, as well as everyone who wore his jersey and cheered for him for twenty years in New England. While it might seem trivial or insignificant compared to the final score, these little things matter for many. Brady is famously buttoned up and plays it close to the vest off the field while wearing his heart on his uniform sleeve on the field. To hear him let his original pro fanbase how much they and the region still mean to him might go a long way in closing any rifts or wounds left open after a shocking departure.
How about the widely-publicized, over-reported narrative of Brady having a strained relationship with the organization? Those were likely, thankfully, put to bed late Sunday, like the rest of us, too. Brady met pregame with owner Robert Kraft and the two spent some quality time together. A bit of a family reunion, if you will, considering their time together and how Kraft often said Brady was “like a son” to him.
And then there was the postgame embrace anticipated around the world. Coach Belichick and Brady embracing at midfield following the final whistle. Those who placed money on hug on the prop bet got to cash in at the sign of mutual respect. What no one saw coming or could have wagered on was Belichick going to the Tampa locker room after the game, spending over 20 minutes inside and exiting with Brady. While some can say pre and postgame embraces can be for the cameras, staged for show, quality time like what coach put in with former QB and friend, that should likely put to bed all the narratives of discord between the two. Praise be to the GOAT coach and QB!
And as for what remains, your 2021 Patriots team? So much to be excited about.
The atmosphere at Gillette was absolutely electric Sunday night (link - https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/1444856771412205570?s=20), obviously fueled by The GOAT’s homecoming. But fans were fired up for their team well before kickoff. Mac Jones got a louder ovation than Brady when taking the field. A playoff-like feel, missed around these parts for a few years now, returned. The team was competitive in every phase of the game, still a few mistakes and rough spots around the edges, but they showed out for all 60 minutes. And people took note, whether it was other sports stars noticing the effort (link - https://twitter.com/man_dammn/status/1444888135545102345?s=20) or players on the team complimenting each other (Kendrick Bourne calling Mac Jones “a baby Tom” https://twitter.com/matthewfairburn/status/1444878294927687685?s=21 is a real keeper). Patriots fans can go about their Monday, groggily, knowing they have a team and a future at QB. Had Brady come in and wiped the wet field with them Sunday night? We’d be singing a very different tune today with what little voice we have. But seeing them come together and rising to the competition and moment? That kind of excitement, promise and potential can go a long toward easing the lingering hurt of Brady being in Tampa, and the final score that almost went New England’s way Sunday night.
While it will never be easy to see The GOAT play for and win games in someone else’s uniform, seeing and hearing him send love to the fans and the region, and seeing the 2021 Patriots team come to life, should help one and all be on better terms with if not over what’s happened and where we’re at. Brady still loves you, Pats fans. And now you have a team that came together and can keep up with the best in the league on a given night, galvanized by the fire of the most anticipated regular season game in NFL history. New England is a proud, loyal and defiant region, and far be it from me to tell anyone here how to feel. That said, I don’t about you know but the sting has been eased a bit, and I’m good with it all, finally, thankfully. Tom is our past, and Mac is the future. No more crying about what was. It is what it is, and what a 20 year run, and night of closure, it was.
Well, actually, I wouldn’t mind seeing the team rush for A yard in their next game (they had negative one rush yards Sunday), not to mention get a winning streak going, but for now there’s some peace, and excitement seems to be back around our football team. I’ll take it.
Thanks again, Tom. Best of luck. Go Pats.