New England Patriots eye Super Bowl glory without Tom Brady’s support. [Image Source: BBCI]
Although Tom Brady will not be playing in the upcoming Super Bowl, his remarks have stirred conversation as the New England Patriots prepare to face the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. Brady, who spent 20 seasons leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories, declined to back his former team ahead of the NFLseason finale.
The former Patriots quarterback, now a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, told the ‘Let’s Go!’ Sirius XM podcast with Jim Gray,
“I don’t have a dog in the fight in this one,”
adding, “May the best team win.” His comments have been met with surprise and disappointment among Patriots supporters and former teammates alike.
Brady left New England at the end of the 2019 season to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he immediately secured a seventh Super Bowl championship. This transition marked the start of a significant restructuring period for the Patriots. Last year, the franchise identified a long-term quarterback solution by selecting Drake Maye with the third overall draft pick.
Under head coach Mike Vrabel, Maye has exceeded expectations and emerged as a candidate for MVP honors, playfully guiding the Patriots back to the Super Bowl as AFC East champions.
Mixed Reactions from Patriots Veterans to Brady’s Remarks
Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane expressed his frustration with Brady’s disinterest.
“Personally it makes me sick,”
Spillane said, continuing,
Image of: New England Patriots
“He is, and he has a dog in the fight. For him to say that, it is what it is. But, at the end of the day, he’s an owner of the Las Vegas Raiders now. So he has to do what’s best for him.”
In contrast, tight end Rob Gronkowski, Brady’s longtime teammate, offered a different viewpoint. Speaking on Kay Adams’ ‘Up & Adams’ show, Gronkowski noted,
“He probably wants to be the quarterback,”
and
“He’s that competitive. He probably wants to be the guy in the Super Bowl right now.”
Gronkowski added,
“I’m rooting for the Patriots. What’s great about the Patriots being in the Super Bowl is that it shows, it’s bringing back just how dominant the Patriots are.”
He further reflected on the mixed fan reactions,
“And there’s a lot of fans out there that are mad that the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl, which is great for us. Because that brings back they’re mad because of how many times we won.”
Former Players Criticize Brady’s Neutral Stance
Brady’s comments also provoked sharp responses from former Patriots players. Two-time Super Bowl champion Vince Wilfork strongly challenged Brady’s claim on Boston’s WEEI radio, stating,
“That’s b*******, Tom,”
and emphasizing,
“This ain’t political. It ain’t political, what it is. Raiders ain’t in it. Say what it is, what you see.”
Wilfork demanded clarity:
“At the end of the day, if you’re a Patriot for life, you know what it is. Don’t give me that political b*******. That just what it is. If you don’t think we’re gonna win, just pick Seattle then. Don’t straddle the fence.”
Patriots Face Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium Sunday Night
The upcoming Super Bowl 60 will take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with kickoff scheduled for around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 8. Coverage will begin at 10 p.m. on Sky Sports NFL. Brady’s current affiliation with the Las Vegas Raiders is noteworthy as the Raiders are expected to name Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their next head coach following the game, adding another layer of intrigue to the event.
The Patriots’ return to the championship game signifies a resurgence of one of the NFL’s most storied franchises, while the lingering tensions around Brady’s stance reflect the complex loyalties and competitiveness that defined his career and continue to shape the league.
