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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been silent this offseason following former teammate Aaron Hernandez’s first-degree murder charge.
On Tuesday, his first words emerged about his reaction to Hernandez being arrested and eventually released by the Patriots on SI’s new blog Monday Morning Quarterback.
“I’ve seen a lot of things over 13 years, and what I have learned is that mental toughness and putting aside personal agendas for what’s in the best interest of the team matters most,” Brady told Peter King. “My job is to play quarterback, and I’m going to do that the best way I know how, because I owe that to my teammates regardless of who is out there on the field with me. I have moved on.
“I’m focusing on the great teammates I have who are committed to helping us win games. The only thing I care about is winning. Nothing is going to ever get in the way of that goal. I’m just excited to report to camp and see what we can accomplish as a team. The fate of our season will be determined by the players in our locker room — nothing else.”
As the Patriots’ veterans prepare to report to training camp on Thursday, experts have pointed out the lack of proven pass-catchers on the roster. Aside from that, Brady also mentioned that he hopes to play well beyond five more years and has a lot of goals in front of him.
“The way I feel now, it’s beyond 40,” said Brady when asked how much longer he wanted to play. “I have a lot of goals, and I am in this for the long haul. I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.
“Whether the team wants me, or whether something [like an injury] happens tomorrow to stop me from playing, that remains to be seen. But my training, my nutrition, the bodywork I do — I can’t see not playing at any time in the near future. There’s nothing I love to do more. Whether the New England Patriots want me, or anyone wants me, I know I want to play for quite a while.”
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