Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield had a polite hug on the field before Sunday’s game between the Pirates and Eagles. Brady, however, was clearly fired up by Mayfield’s recent comments that the seven-time Super Bowl champion “stretched” his teammates during his time with the Pirates, and he decided to publicly address Mayfield’s comments.
“I thought it was stressful not to have Super Bowl rings,” Brady said, via the Tampa Bay Times. “This wasn’t day care. … If I’m going to have fun, I went to Disneyland with my kids. There’s a way to approach this game and it’s with the right mindset to push teammates.”
Brady acknowledged that Mayfield’s comments got him fired.
“It’s still there,” he said. “There are no apologies!”
There’s no denying that Brady was a fierce competitor; that is part of his heritage that also includes being the most victorious player in the history of the sport. And while his style probably wasn’t for everyone, it’s hard to argue with the results, including in Tampa, as Brady helped a team that went 7-9 in 2019 win it all during his first year in town in 2020.
Brady is the NFL’s version of Michael Jordan, another legendary competitor who parlayed his unparalleled drive into six NBA titles over an eight-year span. Jordan, like Brady, traded comfortable environments for ones that helped produce headlines, feelings of being spoiled.
Brady’s approach has led to a ton of success, for both himself and his teams. But Mayfield was arguably a breath of fresh air when he succeeded Brady in 2023. Mayfield led Tampa to a surprising division title last season and helped the Buccaneers to a 2-1 start this season.
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