Tom Brady returns to Foxborough for the first time, sparking mixed feelings in the New England region.
Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season has been a constant discussion of topic, mainly due to Tom Brady returning to Foxborough to face the Patriots. For the first time since leaving the franchise he led for 20 seasons, the now seven-time Super Bowl champion will face his former team and former coach in primetime.
Football aside, the real question turns to how the New England Faithful will act in response to seeing one of their own, a legend, suit up for another team, win the Super Bowl, and then come back to face them.
In context, we look back to when Brady’s rival, former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, returned to Indianapolis for the first time as a member of the Denver Broncos. Before the game, the Colts and their fanbase gave Manning a standing ovation.
Will the Patriots do such work? According to defensive tackle Byron Cowart, that won’t happen. However, it’s fair to assume that some thanks you will be in order, hopefully.
Tom Brady’s tenure in New England was memorable, and his return will be emotional.
It’s not that hard to see what the Patriots were before Brady and head coach Bill Belichick arrived in their respective roles. The franchise went to two Super Bowls since its inception. Both were defeats, the latter under Bill Parcells being more competitive than Raymond Berry’s team that was essentially overmatched against the famed ’85 Bears.
Since then, nine trips to the big game and six times, a Lombardi trophy was brought home. There would have been seven had it not been for a catastrophic loss in the desert that shall not have any further mentioning.
Regardless of feelings about the breakup, the time together was unique. It brought many memories to a team and city that had not experienced much success on the gridiron. The Patriots fanbase will always root for their team, but they will never forget what Tom Brady brought to the franchise.
Oh, and Rob Gronkowski will be coming back as well, and Antonio Brown. What a family reunion on Sunday Night this will turn out to be.