There is an oft-repeated story about Tom Brady’s rookie season in New England. Brady was about to introduce himself to owner Robert Kraft when Kraft beat him to the punch.
Brady’s response: “Drafting me was the best decision this franchise has ever made.”
Brady made a similar promise to Kraft in the wake of the AFC title game. He told the owner he would play much better two weeks later, in the Super Bowl. Brady didn’t sound comfortable discussing that promise to the media Thursday.
“I’m always trying to play better. Every player on this team is trying to play better every week,” he said via ESPNBoston.com. “I’m glad we won that game, glad we’re sitting in this position now. I think a lot of guys played really well and that’s what it is going to take again this week. I always have private conversations with Mr. Kraft, but they’re supposed to be private. I guess they’re not.”
Translation: Please don’t ask me about that promise again.
Brady’s challenge is to play his best against an opponent that he struggled against in Week 9. Brady may have thought he “sucked” in the AFC title game, but we’d argue his worst game of the year came against the Giants. New York didn’t get great pressure on him, but he missed a lot of throws.
Brady knows the pain that will come if he doesn’t fulfill that promise to Kraft in Indianapolis.
“There’s certainly a finality to this game that you’re putting absolutely everything you can into it preparation-wise,” he said.