Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Tom Brady is a man who never forgets anyone who has ever slighted him before.
21years ago this week, Tom Brady was at the 2000 NFL Scouting Combine. Since Brady had an up-and-down college career at Michigan, as well as a less-than-impressive physique, the future greatest quarterback of all time fell to the New England Patriots at No. 199 in the 2000 NFL Draft. It does not matter how far he gets away from that weekend in February, he never forgets.
Coming out of Michigan, Brady was labeled as having a “poor build,” being “skinny,” “lacks great physical stature and strength” and “gets knocked down easily.” Brady was told this by NFL Films to his face back in the day.
He says this scouting report fuels the competitive fire inside of him to this day. 21 years and seven Lombardi Trophies later, Brady is simply the GOAT at the quarterback position.
There may never be a more relentless competitor than Tom Brady
What sets the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback apart from every other quarterback before him or since is his competitive nature. The unmatched care he puts into his body as he approaches his mid-40s is unparalleled. This is how he just won his seventh Super Bowl quarterbacking a new team that had not even been to the postseason since he lost to Eli Manning the first time in 2007.
Some may call this petty, while others will call it motivated. Either way, it is amazing how long Brady has been able to extend his prime. While it has ticked down a tad, Brady has been among the very best quarterbacks in football annually since 2007. His game went up a level that year with Randy Moss catching passes from him. Even on a new team, Brady has not skipped a beat.
Despite it being full-steam ahead for this Buccaneer, he will take a look back sometimes to reflect.