Tom Brady: The Winner

Patriots Quarterback Discusses His Career And Other Aspects Of His Life

(CBS)  And they have said it. Since then, he has won two more Super Bowls and become a Sunday matinee idol. He was invited by the president to the 2004 State of the Union Address, had an audience with the pope, and even hosted "Saturday Night Live."

It was a rare diversion for Brady, who spends the off-season in Boston and goes to work 10 months a year. He has added 25 pounds of muscle to his frame since joining the NFL and strengthened his arm.

“The farthest you probably ever throw in a game is 50 to 55 yards,” says Brady. "I mean, I could throw it probably 70, if I really get into one."

In 2005 his leading receiver was Deion Branch. They knew each other so well, they developed a nonverbal system of communication.

“You have to go up there with two plays in your head?” asks Kroft.

“Maybe more than that,” says Branch.

Brady told Kroft the play they were going to run without telling Deion, who then runs the pattern to perfection.

How did Branch know what Brady wanted? “Because I know,” says Branch.

Branch now plays for the Seattle Seahawks and has been replaced by Randy Moss, who certainly has tested Brady's throwing distance. But when it comes to reading defenses and seeing the field, Brady is the best in the NFL.

When it comes to reading defenses and seeing the field, Brady is the best quarterback in the NFL.

He spends hours in the tape room looking at opposing teams so he can visualize what is going to happen, and where people are going to be before the ball is ever snapped.

“A lot of it is spending time in here on the film and understanding, trying to get as many pictures in your head before the game as you can,” says Brady. “So when you do walk on the field, you can just verify what's going on. And it's not you can't just go back there and wing it. You try that, you are going to wake up Monday morning with headaches. And you’re going to get hit and your going to throw interceptions. And that's no way to play the game.”

Brady says everything is orchestrated.

Brady is the first to say he owes much of his success to his teammates, and New England coach Bill Belichick doesn’t like to see any one player get too much credit. But Patriots owner Robert Kraft made his feelings clear.

“You're here doing a piece on my favorite guy,” Kraft tells Kroft.

“Is he your favorite guy?” asks Kroft.

“Well, how could he not be?” says Kraft.

“You still think he is underrated?” asks Kroft.

“I do. It actually ticks me off,” replies Kraft.

For a 2005 game against the Chargers, Brady’s father Tom Sr., mother Gaylen and sisters Maureen and Julie had flown in from California. Sister Nancy lives in Boston and keeps a close eye on her little brother.

Since he became a starter, Brady had won more than 20 games in the final quarter, and the last-minute heroics can drive his father crazy. “He never wins a game 42-10 and so we can just sit back and relax. Everything goes down to the last drive. It's great for cardiologists. It's not great for parents,” says Tom Brady Sr.

One person who knows Brady well is Charlie Weis, his old offensive coordinator for the Patriots, now the head coach at Notre Dame. “He is a fiery guy,” says Weis. "He is a get-in-your-face yeller and holler, but he also has such a calm demeanor at the line of scrimmage, where there is that air about when he is at the line of scrimmage where you know something good is going to happen."

“What is he like as a person?” asks Kroft.

“He's the best. Everyone wants to be affiliated with this kid. He’s the best,” says Weis.

“I mean, he is a bit of a glamour boy. He like the spotlight,” says Kroft.

“Well I think Joe Namath had nothing on him,” says Weis.

In Boston, Brady has become a bigger star than Carl Yastrzemski, Larry Bird, or Bill Russell.

“I mean, you go out with Tom, you just kind of feel sorry for him, in a way, kind of, because he's just getting bugged all the time. You know, we float through there. They just see a big, overweight white guy,” says Matt Light, laughing. “Pretty normal out here.”

[lrwpubl]

Mr. Brady, all you have to do is keep on living and you''ll find there are greater and more "heart-filling" rewards than the ones you presently have experienced.

[muahaha1]

So, it would appear that Brady cannot separate competetive life on the football field from a game of pool. Nice temper. Apparantly his Super Bowl rings don''t mean much to him either. Brady is no hero. A winner, sure. If I was part of the Patriots organization I''d be a little embarassed with this interview. It continues to amaze me how this country idolizes is sports stars no matter how maladjusted they are to the rest of working society.

[alexthegreen]

Humility is an attribute that sporting heroes don't have enough of.
I respect Brady for his humility, that's not maladjustment, its just unusual.

[mack02459]

"The temper is Irish."

Really? When you reported about Mike Tyson''s rage was it called African temper? When Barbra Streisand yelled at her audience did you call it her Jewish temper? Then why would you publish such a thing?

You owe an apology to Irish and Catholics. If Al Sharpton were Irish Catholic, Steve Kroft would be fired faster than you can say Don Imus.

[mack02459]

"The temper is Irish."

Really? When you reported about Mike Tyson''s rage was it called African temper? When Barbra Streisand yelled at her audience did you call it her Jewish temper? Then why would you publish such a thing?

You owe an apology to Irish and Catholics. If Al Sharpton were Irish Catholic, Steve Kroft would be fired faster than you can say Don Imus.

[bud33245]

Are you kidding me. Eli could be making the defensive calls and he still would throw 3 picks a game. Get off your high horse and give Brady the credit he deserves. He is one for the ages and a class act at that.

[jipceee]

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM TOM BRADY! That''s all