FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In at least one respect, Tom Brady’s 15th NFL training camp is also his first.
Specifically, it’s his first since Bill Belichick sent shock waves coursing through Patriots Nation in the spring by referring to Brady’s age for the first time anyone around here could remember.
Whether it was a motivational ploy or Belichick just admitting the harsh reality Brady won’t play forever, the two-time NFL MVP emerged from the first day of camp Thursday sounding more like an eager 17-year-old than the 37-year-old he will become next month.
“This game is a very humbling game,” Brady said after the Patriots completed their opening session outside Gillette Stadium. “You can’t ever think that you’ve got it all figured out. You’ve got to go out there and prove it every single day.”
Brady doesn’t have just Belichick’s comment to motivate him this year. There’s also rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, whose surprise second-round selection out of Eastern Illinois was what prompted Belichick to bring up Brady’s relatively advanced age in the first place.
The Patriots never had used higher than a third-round pick on a quarterback in the Brady era, which is why Garoppolo is considered Brady’s first legitimate successor.
Brady’s demeanor and comments make it clear he doesn’t plan on letting that succession happen anytime soon.
“The thing that’s so impressive to me is how Tom comes back every year just like he’s a first- or second-year guy,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said Thursday. “He’s got that glimmer in his eye, and he’s excited about everything — the hotel, meeting forever and then coming out and working in the 90-degree heat.
“There’s no drop-off, and that’s a great thing for a lot of our young players to see.”
There certainly doesn’t seem to be any drop-off in Brady’s performance.
Brady didn’t have one of his typically immaculate seasons in 2013 (his 87.3 passer rating was his worst over a full season since 2003). But much of that could be attributed to a young and thin receiving corps that was missing Aaron Hernandez and barely included Rob Gronkowski.
And it’s not as if the Patriots suffered in the standings. New England finished 12-4, won the AFC East once again and came within 11 points of another Super Bowl trip in a season that featured five fourth-quarter comebacks by Brady — his most since 2003.
With Gronkowski back, the other receivers a lot more tested and a defense that could be among the NFL’s best thanks to Darrelle Revis, Brady has reason to be confident the Patriots Express can keep on rolling.
I don’t ever take it for granted. I appreciate the opportunities that I get.
- Tom Brady
Not that you’ll hear Brady say anything like that. He might have three Super Bowl rings and a supermodel for a wife, but Brady talks as if he’s new to this whole NFL thing.
“It’s fun to be in this position,” he said Thursday. “I don’t ever take it for granted. I appreciate the opportunities that I get.”
Fans fret Brady hasn’t led the Patriots to a Lombardi Trophy since the 2004 season, and scouts might say his mechanics have slipped a wee bit with age.
But his arm and football savvy are still strong and Brady doesn’t rely on his feet, so it’s not outrageous to think he could play at a high level into his 40s if New England’s offensive line can keep him upright.
Then again, Belichick is famous for his willingness to get rid of any player if he thinks he sees a slip in play coming.
Brady no longer a Patriot? It still sounds unthinkable, and the man himself wants to keep it that way.
“You never know when the last [training] camp is going to be, so you just appreciate the moments that you have,” Brady said. “Every year, it’s something different. This could be your last training camp, so you’ve got to make it count, and you can’t take anything for granted in the NFL.”