FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady addressed the media Sunday for the first time since his four-game suspension was vacated by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman.
Here’s the full transcript from Brady’s five-minute session with reporters:
On when he found out his four-game suspension was vacated:
“I’m excited to run out there Thursday night. It’s obviously been a long seven months for everybody. I think now the goal is focus on what my job is and that’s go out there and help our team win. Everything that’s happened over the past seven months, obviously I have a lot of personal feelings. I really don’t care to share many of those. I need to think about what I need to do moving forward. A lot of guys in this locker room have worked really hard to get to this point, and so have I. I’m excited to be able to go out there and do it.”
On if he thought he would win the case:
“Um, look, I hope that I’m out here all of the time. I think I always do the best things that are in my control to go out there and to be a quarterback for this team. I take it very seriously, and you guys know I haven’t missed many games in my career, except for the season where I tore my ACL. I’ll be excited. Still a lot of preparation in between now and then, facing a really good team. All of my energy and attention needs to be there. That’s where it’s been the last couple of days.”
On if he was stressed out:
“Um, I think everyone feels things differently and I dealt with them the best way that I know how. I certainly have so much support from family and friends and this organization — Mr. Kraft has been unbelievable support for me, just like he would be for any other player in this locker room. There’s a lot of people that have supported me, and we’ll need that support this season.”
On suspended Patriots equipment staffers John Jastremski and Jim McNally:
“I think that it’s been a very tough situation for everybody. It’s been a lot of stress on everybody’s families. I feel bad that anybody’s in the position that we’ve been put in. Hopefully we can just keep learning from life experiences, and I certainly feel terrible for them that they’re not going to be with us right now.”
On if he’s been in contact with Jastremski and McNally:
“Those are very personal things. I think they’ve been put through a lot, as my family has. That’s been a challenge, in part, but I think right now for me, I have to do what I can to help this team win, and that’s be the best quarterback I can be.”
On if he was able to recharge this offseason:
“It’s just different, and I’ve dealt with different situations in my life. You gotta always overcome different obstacles you’re facing. Part of it is being mentally tough, and part of it is compartmentalizing things and dealing with things when they’re really at the forefront. When they’re not, you’ve got to put them someplace else and think about what your job is. I think that’s a lot of what I’ve learned in this league over the years in this position, and certainly any time you’re someone in the public eye like I am, you deal with different things. I think everyone in life deals with different stresses, whatever they may be, financial or family stress or work stress. You just do the best you can do.”
On if he’s surprised the NFL is going to appeal:
“That’s their choice, and I think that’s part of this process. My part is to get ready to play football, and that’s what I’m really excited to do.”
On banner night:
“Yeah, it’s going to be very exciting, it hasn’t happened in a long time, and I think our guys are excited. Mostly, we have to focus on what our job is, and that’s to put that celebration behind us and move forward to a new year. It’s different challenges, different team, different schedule. Any time you’re in a situation like we’re in, you know you have to get everybody’s best.”
On how much more he appreciates what he does for a living now:
“I’ve always appreciated it. I love football, I love the sport, and I love playing in the NFL. To get the opportunity to do it and — certainly with all of my teammates and my friends. I’ve had so much support with my family that’s — through all this. For the last 20 years, I’ve been playing football this time of year, and it feels good to be doing that again.”
Thumbnail photo via Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports
