Brady’s return: Pats’ fans shouldn’t boo TB12



Memo to New England Patriots fans who will be jamming Gillette Stadium tonight (Sunday, Oct. 3) and watching on NBC for the Patriots game against the Tampa Bay Bucs for the much-anticipated return to Foxboro of six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady:
Do not boo TB12, because regardless of his breakup with longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Brady is a local legend and future Hall of Famer, and he’s earned our cheers.
By all means, root for the Patriots against the Bucs during the game itself (8:20 p.m. on NBC-TV), but don’t boo Brady; he doesn’t deserve that treatment.
Other thoughts about Brady’s return:
* His trip back to Foxboro with the Bucs can’t be compared to any other return of a Boston area athlete with his new team.
Roger Clemens was already a hated figure among Red Sox fans when he returned with the Yankees.
Johnny Damon was booed at Fenway Park, but he’s not close to being on the same level as Brady.
The Celtics Ray Allen also wasn’t a superstar when he returned to the TD Garden as a member of the Miami Heat.
Brady’s return is historic, which is why the Pats-Bucs game is commanding ridiculously high ticket prices and should command astronomical TV ratings. But enjoy it; don’t waste time on being bitter.
* The game itself won’t be much of a contest …. the Bucs and Brady have too many weapons and the Patriots defense hasn’t been at all impressive in the first three weeks; the four interceptions against the New York Jets in Week 2 were more the product of the inept play of Jets quarterback Zach Wilson than the exemplary performance of the Pats’ defense.
And the Patriots’ offense has largely been feeble, and will be lucky to score two offensive touchdowns.
It would be a major upset --- the most shocking one in years in the NFL --- if the Patriots were to manage to pull out a win over the Bucs.
* Brady vs. Belichick: Although many continue to debate whether Brady or Belichick were more responsible for the Patriots’ sustained success and six Super Bowl victories (and nine Super Bowl appearances) over two decades, count me in the Brady and Belichick camp.
Brady couldn’t have won consistently without Belichick in the early years, and Belichick wouldn’t have won without Brady. It’s really as simple as that.

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