New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has made his first public statement since the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s Super Bowl LII loss to the underdog Philadelphia Eagles.
While he didn’t spend much time congratulating his opponents after the 41-33 loss, Brady was gracious in Friday’s Instagram post.
‘Gratitude to the Philadelphia Eagles team and organization for bringing out the best in us and being gracious winners (as well as congratulations on winning the championship),’ read one sentence fragment from Brady.
Tom Brady thanked his teammates, the fans, and even the Eagles in his Instagram post
Tom Brady was not very talkative in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s loss
‘It has taken me a few days to reflect on our [Super Bowl] loss as well as the great season our team had,’ the post began. ‘There are many emotions when you come up short of your goal. And they are all part of learning and growing in this journey of life. Learning turns everything into a postitive (sic). And the number one feeling I have had the past 4 days is gratitude.’
Brady spent the remainder of the post thanking people for the Patriots’ success in 2017, even if he did so without the use of complete sentences.
‘Gratitude to my teammates for the incredible effort given all season regardless of the challenges we faced,’ he wrote. ‘Gratitude toward my coaches for the effort and sacrifice they make to put us players in the best position to win. Gratitude to the [New England Patriots] organization for supporting us on our very challenging and difficult journey.
‘Gratitude toward our fans who showed up every week to cheer us on and commit their time and energy and love and support to what our goals are,’ the post continued. ‘And gratitude to my family and friends who continue to love and support my dreams.
‘Thank you all. I love you all,’ Brady concluded. ‘Best, Tom.’
Brady (No. 12) is stripped of the ball late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss
While he did win his third Associated Press MVP award, Brady’s 2017 season was not an easy one.
He lost one of his favorite targets, Julian Edelman, to a season-ending injury before Week 1.
And amidst the Patriots’ 13-3 campaign, an ESPN story broke claiming that Brady’s relationship with coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft had deteriorated.
Among the many claims in the article, Brady’s business partner and fitness guru Alex Guerrero had reportedly become a center of controversy in the Patriots locker room.
Brady and Belichick have avoided the subject publicly for the most part.
‘I don’t really agree with your question, so I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Brady angrily told a reporter who asked about Guerrero in December.
As reported by ESPN and The Boston Globe, Guerrero has treated several of Brady’s teammates, including tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Julian Edelman.
In 2015, the Globe reported that Patriots medical and training staffs had complained to Belichick about Guerrero’s role, citing concerns over alternative treatments that often conflicted with their own methods. Guerrero’s medical background was also reportedly questioned.
And since Guerrero was equally critical of the Patriots’ staff, young players were put in the position of working with him, and appeasing Brady, or the team’s staff, which was Belichick’s clear preference.
‘Bill’s answer to everything is to lift more weights,’ Brady would tell teammates, according to ESPN.
Some around the team reportedly felt that characterization was inaccurate given Belichick’s focus on soft-tissue science and its effect on injuries as well as a proper diet.
The ESPN report also accused Brady of feeling threatened by 26-year-old backup Jimmy Garoppolo, who was dealt to San Francisco in October and signed a deal on Thursday to become the NFL’s highest-paid player.
Brady has denied these claims.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (No. 12) looks at an official after being tackled during the second half of the 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles