INDIANAPOLIS —
Even 10 years later, it’s arguably the most iconic image of Tom Brady’s remarkable career.
In just his second season in the league, and his first as a starting quarterback, Brady had just led the New England Patriots to an upset victory against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. As confetti fell from the top of the Superdome in New Orleans, Brady put both hands on his head and shook it back and forth in wonder.
In the decade since, he’s won two more Super Bowl rings and made four more appearances in the NFL title game — accomplishments that make it easy to wonder if any of that wide-eyed 24-year-old remains in Brady.
In Indianapolis, he’s public enemy No. 1. In Foxborough, Mass., he’s the chosen one.
In the 30 other cities that house NFL teams, he remains something of an enigma.
A quarterback who looks like a model and is married to one, he’s as much at home on a red carpet as he is in the pocket. But teammates and opponents alike swear there’s no tougher quarterback in the NFL.
And none more competitive.
The truth is, Brady’s is the ultimate underdog story.
He was in a constant fight during his college days at the University of Michigan to prove he was the best quarterback on campus. And some remained unconvinced through the day he left for the pros.
A sixth-round pick in the 2001 draft, he famously was the sixth quarterback selected that season.
With a win in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, however, he could arguably be considered the greatest quarterback of all time.
“I’m a little biased, but yeah I think (Brady’s the best),” Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker said. “Just watching him in person, the way he works, what he does out there, it’s pretty incredible.”
Brady grew up in California’s Bay Area, playing catch in the parking lot at Candlestick Park while wearing the jerseys of his San Francisco 49ers heroes. Later in his childhood, that meant Steve Young.
But Joe Montana was the first to capture his heart.
“It was always a special time for me to go out there — my parents had season tickets — and we’d go sit down in the end zone about 10 rows from the top of the stadium in Candlestick, which is the greatest field to begin with, and watched a lot of great 49ers games,” Brady said. “It’s cool to think as NFL players that there are some kids looking down at us who are going to have some special memories of us.”
But how many of those kids will one day have a chance to match their idols’ accomplishments.
A win Sunday against the New York Giants would give Brady his fourth Super Bowl title — tying Montana and former Pittsburgh Steelers star Terry Bradshaw for the most by a quarterback in history.
A win also would give New England head coach Bill Belichick his fourth crown — tying him with Pittsburgh’s Chuck Noll for the most of any coach during the Super Bowl era.
And the great debate is whether Brady is more responsible for Belichick’s success or more a product of his head coach’s unique genius. That’s an argument both men will leave for others to settle, but the respect they carry for one another is obvious.
“Tom works extremely hard, he is very coachable, and what you tell him to do, he works very hard on,” Belichick said. “He’s never satisfied on where he’s at, what he’s done or how he’s playing. He always finds ways to work on things to make him a better player — better preparation and being more knowledgeable about what we are doing, what our opponents are doing and situation football.”
If there is a secret to Brady’s success, its roots can be found in that iconic image from New Orleans.
Michael Jordan was famous for using any perceived slight by an opponent or the media as motivation. Brady shares that quality.
His look of amazement after that win against the Rams was not evidence of disbelief. It was the ultimate expression of joy.
And validation.
In that moment, Brady was sending a message to the rest of the league: It doesn’t matter whether you believe. I do.
That’s what still remains of the 24-year-old Brady in today’s 34-year-old veteran.
He threw for 5,235 yards and 39 touchdowns this season.
But the only thing that matters to him is the one game he still has left to play.
“This is why we’ve worked so hard over the years — high school, college, pros — to prepare for games like this,” Brady said. “It’s a fun game. I’ve had an opportunity to be in a few of them, and it’s hard to imagine the football season ends in five days for us, but it does. It’s been a great season for us, and hopefully we can make it extra special with a win on Sunday.”
Pro Sports
Related Photos
-
New England quarterback Tom Brady listens to a question from the media during Media Day at Lucas Oil Stadium on Tuesday. Joseph C. Garza
Discussion
Brady's long road to success
Patriots qQB follows legendary path
- Pro Sports
-
-
Kahne keeps Hendrick success rolling at Charlotte
Kasey Kahne powered to victory in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, taking NASCAR's longest race for the third time for his first win with Hendrick Motorsports.
-
Spurs strike first in West finals, win 19th in row
Manu Ginobili scored 26 points and the San Antonio Spurs won their 19th in a row to tie the NBA record for longest winning streak kept alive in the playoffs, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 to open the Western Conference finals on Sunday night.
-
Konerko hits go-ahead HR, White Sox sweep Indians
Paul Konerko got a big milestone home run and the White Sox got a sweep of the only team between them and the AL Central lead.
-
Reds outslug Rockies on record day for HRs
Here's how easy it looked to hit home runs at Great American Ball Park on Sunday: Todd Frazier lost his grip on the bat during a swing. The ball wound up in the seats anyway.
-
Cubs lose 12th straight, 10-4 to Pirates
The Chicago Cubs didn't come to close to ending their longest losing streak in more than 15 years. Pedro Alvarez, Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones homered, Erik Bedard pitched six shutout innings and the Pirates beat Chicago 10-4, sending the Cubs to their 12th consecutive loss.
-
Franchitti wins his third Indianapolis 500
For the second consecutive year the Indianapolis 500 was decided by a last-lap crash Sunday, but this time Takuma Sato crashed while battling for the win and allowing Dario Franchitti to score his third win.
-
Mathis, Freeney making strides in shift to OLB
Late in Wednesday’s practice at the Indianapolis Colts training facility, outside linebacker Robert Mathis backpedaled into the end zone, shadowing tight end Coby Fleener on a wheel route.
When the ball was thrown, Mathis broke first and knocked the pass harmlessly to the ground. His defensive teammates were quick to surround him in celebration. -
Rondo leads Celtics to Game 7 victory
Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
-
Cubs' losing streak hits 10 in 1-0 loss to Pirates
A.J. Burnett and four relievers helped the Pittsburgh Pirates send the listless Chicago Cubs to their 10th straight loss by surviving on a night the Pirates allowed 10 hits and ran into trouble in just about every inning.
-
Dos Santos, Mir to battle for UFC title
The address from UFC president Dana White to fans in the official program for UFC 146 states “there’s nothing in sports like a heavyweight fight.” And there’s nothing that resonates with fight fans more than a contest for the heavyweight championship of the world. Such a fight headlines the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s card tonight from Las Vegas as champion Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos defends his title for the first time against two-time former title holder Frank Mir at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
- More Pro Sports Headlines
-
Police: 5-time Champ Johnny Tapia Found Dead
Native Americans' Olympic Medals Displayed in DC
Manning on Target at First Practice
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Relay Begins in England
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Passed to London
Selig: Oakland Move Might Be Considered
McNamee: Clemens, Canseco Had Steroids Talk
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
MLB: Mets Get 2013 All Star Game
Bernie Fine's Wife to Sue ESPN
Kyrie Irving Named NBA's Top Rookie
McNamee Says He Gave Clemens Steroids in 1998
Phelps Looks to Add to Medal Haul in London
Raw Video: McNamee Arrives at Clemens Trial
Bulls Bounced From Playoffs
Former NFL Star Junior Seau Found Dead
NFL Suspends 4 Players for Saints' Bounties
Reigning U.S. Champ Eying Olympic Gold in London
Knicks Fans Disappointed in Stoudemire
