Since leaving for Tampa Bay, Tom Brady has taken the high road whenever the Patriots come up.
The quarterback didn’t stray from that on Thursday afternoon.
New England is three games under .500 for the first time since 2000 — Bill Clinton was in office and Brady was riding the bench as a rookie — but when asked about his old team’s 2-5 start, Brady offered a positive response.
“I have a lot of relationships with a lot of teammates. I wish everybody the best all the time,” Brady told Buccaneers reporters. “I don’t ever wish for anyone to not perform at their best. I certainly wish for our team to play its best. Maybe the only team I don’t root for is the team we’re playing on that particular Sunday.
“Other than that, it’s just about us being the best we can be, working hard every day to put ourselves in a great position to be successful.”
At 6-2, Brady’s Buccaneers lead the NFC South. He’s reunited with Antonio Brown in Tampa Bay, and the troubled wide receiver is currently staying at Brady’s house. On Wednesday, Brown said the quarterback is helping turn his life around.
“Tom is my boy. One of the greatest leaders to be around,” Brown said via WBZ. He’s encouraging, always inspiring. He brings out the best out of people around him. He wants the best for everyone around him. I mean, he’s the greatest quarterback of all time. Nothing that I’ve done in the past matters. He’s always getting better, day in and day out. And I just learn a lot from him — how he trains, how he takes care of himself professionally. His discipline. His work ethic. His approach. He’s been a great guy in my corner, and one of my close friends.
“I think there is a lot of similarities in our work ethic,” said Brown. “Being guys who are supposedly supposed to be underachievers, for guys who were never supposed to make it. Sixth-round late boomers, guys who developed chips. And just wanting to be the best, just yearning for being the best. Always growing, getting better. Obviously he’s the greatest quarterback in the world. So I’m just grateful to be here, to be his teammate, to be in the huddle with him and to be a part of the process here with Tampa Bay. So, super grateful. You know, TB12′s my boy, and I’m grateful for that.”
Brady introduced the wide receiver to Tony Robbins and Brown says listening to the motivational speaker had a real impact.
“Tom hooked me up with him a couple months ago. He’s been a great asset for me,” Brown said. “We’re working on myself within, unlocking some positive stuff in my spirit, and just being a better person. It’s a lot of time sitting with him, developing some positive things within, changing my outlook on a couple of things, battling and getting away from anger, just being able to stay positive and see the positive things, not letting emotion or frustration ruin my outlook on what’s in front of me. So I really thank Tony Robbins and TB12 for hooking me up with great people that can align me with my purpose and that helped me to see the light, regardless of my future.”
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