Brady out to join Robertson, Robinson in exclusive club

Long before fleeing the New England winters for the Florida sunshine, Tom Brady knew exactly how it felt when a superstar changed teams.

Brady was a sophomore at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California, when his hero Joe Montana bolted the San Francisco 49ers for Kansas City in 1993.

So, Brady certainly appreciates what it must be like for Patriots fans watching him lead the Buccaneers (14-5) out of football’s purgatory into Super Bowl 55 against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs (16-2) — while his old team picks up the pieces from its first losing season since 2000.

Brady said he cherished his “magical” run in New England, where he put down roots, helped build a dynasty and forged so many relationships that “shaped me into who I am as a person, as a player.”

He said a special place in his heart was reserved for all of New England, which he knew nothing about as a skinny kid coming out of Michigan when the Patriots picked him with the 199th selection of the 2000 draft.

“They called me and said, ‘You’ve been picked by New England,’” Brady recounted. “I was like, ‘That’s amazing! Where is New England?‘”

By the time he traded the snowy winters for the sandy beaches, Brady had won six Super Bowls with Bill Belichick and stamped his mark as the greatest quarterback ever.

“It was a great 20 years and at the end of the day, I had an opportunity to become a free agent," Brady said. "I evaluated different opportunities and just tried to make the best possible decision for myself and my family. I chose Tampa and it’s just been an amazing experience.”

Brady doesn’t really have time to look back, however, not with the likes of Chris Jones, Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark awaiting him next weekend.

Win and he’ll have a seventh NFL...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Brady-out-to-join-Robertson-Robinson-in-15909671.php