Tom Brady — Hero or Villain

If you have been a football fan since 2000, there is one name that stands out. That name is Tom Brady. You either love him or you hate him. It’s that simple. He has been one of the best quarterbacks ever, on and off the field. Not only has he been playing at the highest level of football his entire career, he is also married to a supermodel. It is very, very easy to hate/be jealous of someone with Brady’s resume. As a lifetime Steeler fan, my hate for Brady started in 2002. It was after Brady lead the Patriots over the Steelers in the 2001–2002 AFC championship game at Heinz Field. The Patriots beat the Steelers 24–17. I was eight years old. I vaguely remember watching the game, but I do remember being excited before the game for the Steelers to make the Super Bowl. My parents attended the game, and I watched the game at my grandparent’s house. I remember being so upset and angry that they lost. Obviously, being an eight-year-old, I rooted for the Rams in the Super Bowl in spite of the Patriots. There was no way I was rooting for the Patriots after they beat the Steelers. It was easy to root for the Rams though. They were the greatest show on turf. At that time Marshall Faulk was my favorite running back. So I rooted for the Rams. Once again, the evil Patriots made a young boy upset. At that time, I was too young to realize that I was watching the rise of a star. I don’t remember all the plays, but I do remember Brady driving the field to set up the winning field goal.

I remember people saying that Brady was a flash in the pan, that this success would not continue. Two years later he took the Patriots back to the big show against the Panthers. I of course rooted for the Jake Delhomme lead panthers. And once again I was disappointed by Brady driving the field and setting up a game-winning field goal. I am going to sound like a broken record, but the very next year Tom Brady was once again back in the Super Bowl. This time he was up against Andy Reid’s Eagles, which was led by Donovan McNabb who was throwing to Terrell Owens. I thought for sure I would finally see Brady lose in the Super Bowl. I was wrong again.

However, as the years went on, one thing remained the same. Brady as the quarterback of the Patriots, and he won football games. Year in and out he played great and won games. My hate for Tom Brady grew as he became more successful and commonly beat the Steelers and won the AFC championship. At last, I received some joy when the Giants prevented the Patriots from winning the Super Bowl and going a perfect 19–0. Honestly, looking back that 2007 Patriots team was probably the best NFL team ever. If they would have won the Super Bowl, they would easily be recognized as the best team ever. Then in the 2011–2012 Super Bowl, the Patriots had the opportunity to get revenge on the Giants. The underdog Giants upset the Patriots again, and I was very happy. I thought the Patriots would once again fall in the Super Bowl against the Seahawks, but the Patriots pulled it off. A late controversial throw by Russel Wilson, which turned into an interception, sealed the game for the Patriots. The Patriots won the 2014–2105 Super Bowl. Tom Brady went to 4–2 in Super Bowls with three Super Bowl MVPs.

Now, this weekend Tom Brady is going against the Falcons in Super Bowl 51. This is his 7th Super Bowl appearance. The most by a quarterback ever. I am now 23 years old, and my feelings for Tom Brady have drastically changed. For the first time in my life, I am rooting for Tom Brady. As I type these words, I am honestly shocked. My eight-year-old self would not be very happy, to say the least. Now that I am older, I respect Tom Brady. I don’t really like him because he plays for the Patriots, but I can acknowledge the fact that he is the best quarterback in the game. I want the Patriots to win this weekend. I want the conversation of the best quarterback to be over. If Tom Brady wins this weekend, he will have five Super Bowl wins, the most by a quarterback. It will be more than Joe Montana, and Terry Bradshaw who both have four championships. With a Super Bowl win this weekend, the conservation is over. I will be rooting for the Patriots this weekend, and I want Tom Brady to win the Super Bowl.