Not Brady’s First Rodeo

By Garrett Turner–1/31/2012
Tom Brady’s first Media Day was ten years ago. He had just replaced Drew Bledsoe as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots. As if that weren’t enough pressure, Brady had to experience an onslaught of media obsessed with his new found stardom. At this year’s Media Day, a calm and collected Brady approached the stage and answered questions like a veteran.
“To be in this game one time is a pretty unbelievable experience, and to think that this is my fifth time, my fifth Media Day and fifth Super Bowl is pretty incredible,” Brady said.
Each of Brady’s Media Days has been unique. At Media Day in Super Bowl XLII, reporter Ines Gomez Mont proposed to Brady. This year the NFL brought a new element to its Media Day. Five thousand fans were allowed to sit in the stands and cheer. The crowd reacted as each player’s press conference went live on Lucas Oil Stadium’s jumbotron.
“Look at this [Media Day],” Brady said. “How could you ever take this for granted? We love to play the game, practice, prepare and to have this experience, as well.”
Brady not only has a chance to win his fourth Super Bowl but this team has a chance at redemption. The New York Giants gave Brady his first Super Bowl loss in Super Bowl XLII. That was a loss that stuck with Brady for a while.
“Any time you lose, it’s a tough thing,” Brady said. “After time, you learn to move on and get over it. The winning, the things that go along with winning, those are really special memories that you have with a lot of close friends. It’s a great feeling.”
The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of each NFL player’s career. The fear of never getting to one is real. Brady may have been through Super Week more than once but he takes nothing for granted
“Life is about taking advantage of opportunities, and you never know when you’re going to get them,” Brady said. “You have to be prepared to take advantage when you get them.”
The opponent, the Media Day frenzy and the location change at each Super Bowl but one thing remains the same. The game is most important. Super Bowl XLVI showcases the heated New York-Boston rivalry and a rematch of one of the great Super Bowls in history. Brady admits this game is more than just another Super Bowl.
“This is the biggest game certainly of all our careers,” Brady said. “It’s a great opponent. It’s a great venue and I don’t think there’s anything more you could look for in a game like this.”