Tom Brady: The Winner

Patriots Quarterback Discusses His Career And Other Aspects Of His Life

(CBS)  “Can you go out to restaurants?” Kroft asks Brady.

“If I have the energy to deal with, you know, put a happy face on,” says Brady. "Sometimes I don't feel like that."

“You seem a bit the reluctant star,” says Kroft.

“Well, the problem is you can't have one without the other. You can't have football fame and not the other stuff. So in a lot of ways I've created this myself,” says Brady.

“This is what you always wanted,” says Kroft.

“You're right. It has. I didn't think it came with all the other baggage, though,” says Brady.

Brady has been called the most eligible bachelor in America. “It's very flattering. But, at the same time, I don't think I sleep any better at night being that. No way,” says Brady.

His all-American image took a hit last year, when actress Bridget Moynihan, his longtime girlfriend, announced that she was pregnant with Brady’s son shortly after the couple broke up. Brady is supporting the child but is now dating supermodel Giselle Bundchen.

In addition to his success on the field and his sex appeal off it, there is a $60 million, 10-year contract to play for the Patriots. It's less money than Peyton Manning and even some journeymen quarterbacks are making, but Brady wanted to leave some money on the table for the Patriots to hire free agents to help them win another Super Bowl.

“I used to get $600 dorm checks,” says Brady, “and go eat at Subway, and use pizza cards to go get my way through college. And eat baked potatoes and make pancakes every night. So I don't think that has ever been a big thing for me. I mean I'm making more money now than I ever thought I could make playing football.”

He has turned down multimillion-dollar endorsement deals because he didn’t think they were right for him, and many of the ones he does, he shares with his teammates.

But with all Brady's fame and career accomplishments, Kroft was surprised to hear this from him: “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ‘God, it's got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn't, this can't be what it's all cracked up to be.”

What's the answer?

“I wish I knew. I wish I knew,” says Brady. "I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I’m trying to find."

With three Super Bowl rings, he already has Hall of Fame credentials, even if he never played another game. But he's only 30 and just entering his prime.

“Do you think he is going to go down as one of the greatest players ever?” Kroft asks Charlie Weis.

“I hope he goes down as the best player ever. Not one of the greatest,” says Weis. "I hope he goes down as the greatest. The sky's the limit."

“Which of the rings do you like the best? What's your favorite ring?” Kroft asks Brady.

“My favorite ring? I've always said, you know, I always said the next one. The next one is the best,” Brady says.

[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