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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
As his son is immortalized, Tom Brady Sr. reflects: ‘A celebration like this is beyond anybody's imagination, especially ours'
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'That is so far beyond anybody's comprehension. All we were hoping was that he would get drafted and carry a clipboard for a couple of years until he got on with his life,' said Tom Sr., reached Thursday. 'The Lord took him on a different path. A day like this and a celebration like this is beyond anybody's imagination, especially ours.' Advertisement The Bradys were in town for the ceremony. Patriots fans are acutely aware that there's no TB12 without Tom Sr. and Galynn. Forget Sydney Sweeney, Tom Brady has great genes. 'Fans are excited and fans are saying, 'Thanks for your son!' ' They say, 'We love your son,' and we say, 'We love him, too.' It's pretty cool,' said Tom Sr. 'It's a very unique honor, and Patriot fandom has just embraced him so much for the last 20-plus years. This is the culmination, and we as his parents are extremely grateful, and I know he is, too.' Advertisement The appropriately 12-foot tall statue of TB12 is the promised coda to the Smell that? It's the glorious whiff of nostalgia in Foxborough. Vibes are immaculate with Brady immortalized as a Patriot, and Mike Vrabel, his teammate for half of the six Super Bowl titles the QB guided the franchise to, installed as head coach. Vrabel ended Brady's Patriots playing career. Vrabes came into Gillette as coach of the Tennessee Titans and schooled Brady, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots in the 2019 season's wild-card round. 'Yeah, I just think he's a great leader,' said Tom Sr. 'The fact that you see him out on the field and Tom Sr. sounds as sanguine about the team as Patriots fans. But he can't envision his son coaching. Brady is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Advertisement 'He's still in the embryonic stage of his [broadcast] career, and I think he's getting more comfortable and starting to watch the game a little different than the way he's viewed it for so many years,' said Tom Sr. 'He's just going to get better and better, and I know he's having fun. He loves it.' This statue cements Brady as a Patriot always. Of course, that's not how his CV reads. Not all of his unmatched seven Super Bowl titles and five Super Bowl MVPs came in his 20 seasons in New England. He won both with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the year after he departed. Tampa Tom ended his nonpareil career with the Bucs in 2022. Brady's exit from Fort Foxborough wasn't without friction and bruised feelings. The Patriots organization would like to purge all that from the collective consciousness. When Brady returned with the Buccaneers to face Belichick's Patriots in 2021 'Damn right. Belichick wanted him out the door, and last year he threw 56 touchdowns — I think that's a pretty good year,' he told Tom Curran. That's all water under the old Gillette Stadium bridge. Brady and Belichick have enjoyed a rapprochement. 'Oh, very definitely. There is very much strong mutual respect and appreciation between them,' stated Tom Sr., who added he really hopes it works out for Belichick at the University of North Carolina. Advertisement Such was evident during Brady Night when Brady said there was no coach he would rather play for, and the legendary coach offered Brady the effusive praise he was stingy with during the quarterback's illustrious career. 'Sometimes guys want to go longer than teams want you to go, and there is a parting of the ways. That's kind of what happened in this situation,' Tom Sr. reflected. 'It was not cataclysmic; it was an evolution of a 20-year relationship, really to expect that to go on any longer was unrealistic. 'Bill knew what he wanted. The writing was on the wall when he recruited [Jimmy] Garoppolo. He said at the [2014 draft] press conference that Tom was getting older. It was clear that was what he was angling for. 'I think Tommy got a bunch more good years out of that … Tommy is doing really well. I don't think we need to go back and re-observe all that. It worked out well for Tommy, and, hopefully, [the Patriots] will be able to move on and get back to the promised land with Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye.' When the hard feelings that Belichick harbors toward the Krafts subside, it would only be fitting if Brady and Belichick, our region's canonized coupling, were reunited in bronze. 'That's an organizational deal, and whatever Robert Kraft does will be fine with Tommy,' said Tom Sr. Patriots fans always put Brady on a pedestal. Now, he sits on one in perpetuity. Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at
Fox Sports
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
NFL 2020s Half-Decade Team: Henry or CMC at RB? Which 3 WRs Make the Cut?
Instead of waiting until the end of the 2020s to anoint an all-decade team, why can't we create a squad now, with what we've seen to this point? We've reached the halfway point of the decade after all. So we bring to you the "half-decade" team — essentially, an All-NFL first team for the past five seasons (2020-24). It's modeled after the Associated Press All-Pro teams announced every year — 12 offensive players (including three wide receivers), 12 defenders (three inside linebackers) and six special teamers (placekicker, punter, kick returner, punt returner, core special teamer and long snapper). The squad skews heavily toward those who've played at least four seasons over the past five years, with honorees selected based on (subjective) greatness and personal accolades. Naturally, the young NFL superstars you don't see on this list will be candidates for the future "half-decade" team projection (2025-29), which will be released later this week. Here's our half-decade team: OFFENSE Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs Mahomes' individual numbers have regressed the last couple seasons — the Chiefs have been less explosive offensively — but he's still the "GOAT" of this era with four Super Bowl appearances (two rings) and two Super Bowl MVPs in the last five years. Since 2020, his regular-season record, total passing yards, passing yards per game and passing touchdown marks top elite peers like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. Running back: Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans/Baltimore Ravens Henry has rushed for at least 1,900 yards twice in the last five years (2020 with Titans, 2024 with Ravens), establishing himself as the preeminent bell-cow back of his era. He may not have the pass-catching ability of other running backs in recent years, but his consistent dominance stands out at a position where the window for elite play can be so small. The former second-round pick is averaging 102.6 rushing yards per game over the last six seasons. Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers A do-everything offensive weapon for the Niners, Juszczyk is the gold standard for fullbacks. He's been named to nine straight Pro Bowls, and has earned AP All-Pro honors in each of the two seasons that the fullback position has been recognized by Associated Press voting. Juszczyk's closest peer at the position is the Ravens' Patrick Ricard, who's been named to four fewer Pro Bowls. Wide receivers: Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals; Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings; Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins/Chiefs Since entering the NFL in 2020, Jefferson leads all wideouts in receiving yards and AP All-Pro honors. He's the league's best receiver by production and consistency over the last half-decade. But right there is Chase, his LSU teammate who joined the league in 2021. The Bengals' star this past season accomplished the rare receiving triple crown. Between his time with the Chiefs and Dolphins, the speedy Hill has been one of the NFL's most dynamic playmakers over the last several years. Before 2024, he had four straight seasons of at least 1,200 receiving yards. Tight end: Travis Kelce, Chiefs The Niners' George Kittle has an argument as the better all-around or blocking tight end, but Kelce's dominance in receiving at the position sets him in a stratosphere of his own. His 12,151 receiving yards are the third-most ever for a tight end. His 2,078 receiving yards in the postseason trails only Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice for the most all-time. Left tackle: Trent Williams, 49ers Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is tempting here, but Williams gets the edge. The latter was named a first-team All-Pro in four consecutive seasons (2020-23), and he was the highest-graded run blocker among qualified offensive tackles from 2020-22 (min. 10 games per season), according to Pro Football Focus. Over the last five years, his 7% pressure rate allowed ranks second among qualified OTs (first is Wirfs), per Next Gen Stats. Left guard: Joe Thuney, New England Patriots/Chiefs Thuney had the highest pass-blocking grade among qualified guards each season from 2021-23 and ranked second in 2024, per PFF. Center: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles Kelce retired before last season, but he had six AP first-team All-Pro selections in the last seven years of his Eagles career, including three in a row from 2021-23. Right guard: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys A future first-ballot Hall of Famer, Martin is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen of his era. Before being held to 10 games last season, the recent retiree was named an AP first-team All-Pro selection three years in a row. He allowed just a 5.2% pressure rate from 2020-24, the best mark among guards in that span, per Next Gen Stats. Right tackle: Lane Johnson, Eagles Johnson, 35, has earned AP All-Pro honors four straight seasons (two apiece on first and second team). DEFENSE Edge rushers: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns; T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers Garrett and Watt have been the gold standard for edge rushers over the last half-decade, dominant in both the pass and run game. Both have earned a defensive player of the year award in the last five years. Since 2020, Watt leads all edge rushers in sacks (73.5), tackles for loss (90) and pressures (207), according to Sportradar. Garrett has 72 sacks, 84 tackles for loss and 135 quarterback hits over the same span. Interior linemen: Chris Jones, Chiefs; Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams Donald retired after 2023, but he played at a Hall-of-Fame level through the end of his career. He was an AP first-team All-Pro in his last year, earning the honor in eight of his 10 seasons (including three times from 2020-23). He leads all defensive tackless in tackles for loss in the half-decade despite not playing last season (59), per Sportradar. Jones has been an AP All-Pro honoree and Pro Bowler every year since the start of the decade, and has taken Donald's crown as the league's best defensive tackle. The former second-round pick's 47.5 sacks and 200 pressures pace all defensive tackles over the past five years, per Sportradar. Linebackers: Roquan Smith, Chicago Bears/Ravens; Fred Warner; 49ers, Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks/Rams/Washington Commanders Warner burst into his prime at the start of the decade, earning AP first-team All-Pro honors four times in the last five years. The Niners' superstar is a complete linebacker for the modern era, able to diagnose and react to running plays well while still being able to cover at a high level. Smith is also in the conversation for the best at his position. The former Bears standout has been a first-team All-Pro selection three times since he was traded to Baltimore in 2022. The 34-year-old Wagner is past the peak of his prime — he was named to the NFL's All-Decade team of the 2010s — but he has remained a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the late stages of his career. He's been a first- or second-team AP All-Pro honoree for 11 straight years. Cornerbacks: Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos; Jalen Ramsey, Rams/Dolphins A two-time first-team All-Pro selection, Surtain has arguably been the most consistently great cornerback since the start of the decade (he entered the league in 2021). He's the only player at his position to win an AP defensive player of the year award in the last five seasons. The 30-year-old Ramsey, currently on the trading block, has four Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pros since 2020. Slot cornerback: Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Colts Moore slides under the radar nationally — he's been named to the Pro Bowl just once (2021) — and he may not be universally regarded as the best player at his position right now. But his combined production over the last five years stands apart among pure slot defenders. Since 2020, he's had four seasons of at least three interceptions. Safeties: Justin Simmons, Broncos/Atlanta Falcons; Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals Baker hasn't registered a pick in back-to-back seasons, but he's played at a consistently high level relative to some of his star counterparts at safety. He's made six straight Pro Bowls and has three All-Pro nods since 2020, when he made the first team. Simmons has also been elite over the last several years, including 2022, when he registered a league-high six interceptions. Among qualified safeties, he ranks first in interceptions (21) and fourth in passes defended (43) in the last five seasons, per Sportradar. SPECIAL TEAMS Placekicker: Justin Tucker, Ravens Tucker's career in Baltimore came to an unceremonious end this offseason, following a career-worst season and sexual misconduct allegations. Before 2024, he made five straight Pro Bowls. He's made three All-Pro teams (first or second) since the start of the decade. His career 89.1% field goal rate ranks No. 1 in league history among qualified kickers. Punter: AJ Cole, Las Vegas Raiders Cole has averaged at least 50 yards per punt three times since the start of the decade, and had a league-best 83-yard punt in 2023. He's been a first-team All-Pro selection two times in the last five years. Kick returner: Keisean Nixon, Green Bay Packers Nixon paced the league in kickoff returns and kickoff return yardage in both 2022 and 2023, when he earned back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods. Punt returner: Kalif Raymond, Detroit Lions The 30-year-old Raymond led the NFL with 413 punt return yards in 2024. He also has two punt return touchdowns over the last three seasons, a span in which he's been a second-team All-Pro twice. Special teamer: J.T. Gray, New Orleans Saints Gray has played 1,691 special teams snaps over the last five years, a span in which he's made two All-Pro teams (first team in 2021, second team in 2024) and a Pro Bowl. Long snapper: Andrew DePaola, Vikings The 37-year-old DePaola is a two-time first-team All-Pro selection and three-time Pro Bowler since 2022. Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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Time of India
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NFL Top 100 list: Patrick Mahomes gives unfiltered take on rankings
Patrick Mahomes , who was ranked fourth last year, came up with an unfiltered response on the 2025 NFL Top 100 list, stating 'they can rank me wherever they rank me, making it clear he's not concerned with rankings. Mahomes, who is preparing for his ninth season in the NFL, shrugged off any perceived snub and is also not focused on it. "I mean, but I know it's a year-by-year thing, and so there are a lot of great quarterbacks, a lot of great players in this league. And they can rank me wherever they rank me," Mahomes opined during a conversation with Kay Adams on the program 'Up & Adams'. — UpAndAdamsShow (@UpAndAdamsShow) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Mahomes already boasts an impressive resume: Three Super Bowl titles (LIV, LVII, LVIII), three Super Bowl MVPs, and two NFL MVP awards (2018 and 2022). Live Events Mahomes also revealed what truly drives him, and what he considers his greatest achievement. "At the end of the day, all I'm trying to do is win Super Bowls. And I don't care where I am on that list, no offense," he said. Since 2011, the NFL has released its Top 100 Players list annually, revealing 10 names each week leading up to the regular season opener in Philadelphia on September 4. With the 2025 edition underway, Mahomes has yet to appear, suggesting he could once again be ranked among the top 10. However, fans will have to wait until September 1 to find out exactly where he lands - if he makes the cut at all. — NFL (@NFL) How will the NFL reveal Top 100 player list? The NFL began unveiling its 2025 Top 100 Players list on Monday, June 30, with the countdown set to conclude on Sunday, September 1. Unlike previous years, this year's reveal is being done exclusively on X and NFL+. Episodes, produced by NFL Films , premiere on weekdays at 10AM ET and 11AM ET, offering fans a detailed look at the league's top talent.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patrick Mahomes Makes $150,000 Announcement on Wednesday
Patrick Mahomes Makes $150,000 Announcement on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is entering his ninth NFL season and has already built one of the prestigious resumes in league history. Advertisement Mahomes has already received two NFL MVP awards, three Super Bowl rings and three Super Bowl MVPs. But his impact goes far beyond the football field. Mahomes started the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation back in 2019, dedicated to "improving the lives of children." One of the foundation's most recent endeavors was hosting its charity event, the Vegas Golf Classic, from May 14 to 16. In 2024, the same event raised $1,077,000. On Wednesday, Mahomes and the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation announced a new initiative: awarding $150,000 in college scholarships to high school seniors in Kansas City, his hometown of Tyler, Texas and Lubbock, Texas, where he played college football at Texas Tech. In total, 15 different $10,000 scholarships will be given out to five different athletes from each city. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Stephen Lew-Imagn Images "Patrick Mahomes and the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation are awarding $150,000 in college scholarships to support high school seniors in Kansas City, the Tyler, TX area, and the Lubbock, TX area!" 15 and the Mahomies wrote on Instagram. Advertisement "🎓The $10,000 scholarship will recognize 5 Class of 2025 students in each region that epitomize academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement." Mahomes also addressed his new scholarship decision, per KLTV's Kyle Owens. 'Giving back to the communities that have shaped me has always been incredibly important,' Mahomes said. "Through the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, we want to support the next generation of leaders and difference-makers. These scholarships are about lifting students up and showing them that their dreams are within reach.' This is not the first time 15 and the Mahomies have given out scholarships. Back in 2022, he also "provided a $25,000 grant to the SEAL Legacy Foundation in support of the Honored SEAL Legacy Scholarship Program." The donation went to more than 100 SEALs and their families who are still affected by 9/11. Advertisement Related: Travis Kelce and George Kittle's Physical Appearances Turn Heads on Monday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Two Chiefs Ranked Among NFL's Best 25 All-Time Players
Two Chiefs Ranked Among NFL's Best 25 All-Time Players originally appeared on Athlon Sports. If this is considered the "golden era" of the NFL, then there's a ton of pressure on the shoulders of Patrick Mahomes. Because according to a new ranking by CBS Sports, the Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback is the only active player among the 25 best to ever play the game. Advertisement In coming up with its list, CBS said it considered criteria including: *Individual success/accolades won *Dominance during his era *Longevity and career milestones achieved *Enduring impact/legacy *Team success/championships won *Ranking relative to his position In a league long dominated by quarterbacks - the position has won the last 12 MVPs and its highest-paid player ever is a guy who has won only two playoff games in nine seasons in the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott - there are seven on the list. Mahomes, who has won three Super Bowl MVPs before age 30, comes in at No. 11. He's ahead of legendary quarterbacks John Elway (18) and Johnny Unitas (13), but behind the likes of Dan Marino (10), Peyton Manning (6), Joe Montana (5) and Tom Brady (1). Advertisement Mahomes was No. 8 on CBS' ranking in 2024, but slipped after his second Super Bowl blowout loss. The Chiefs lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, 40-22, in LIX last February. "Still just 29 years old, Mahomes is a two-time league MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP," CBS writes. "He's just one of five quarterbacks all time with at least three Super Bowl rings. Expect him to climb back into the top 10 -- and possibly even in the top five -- in the coming years." The only other Chiefs player making the Top 25 is tight end Tony Gonzalez, who made 10 Pro Bowls in 12 seasons in Kansas City. Related: Chiefs' 2025 'Standard' Doesn't Change After Super Bowl Blowout Related: Taylor Swift 'Ready For It' With Loving Supporting of Chiefs' Travis Kelce At TEU Event This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
