Tom Brady signaled for first down after a third-quarter run in the New England Patriots’ Week 5 win over the Cleveland Browns, but he did not dab.
Brady clarified his celebration when Westwood One’s Jim Gray asked him about it Monday night.
See what else Brady had to say about his return to the field after a four-game suspension in his weekly syndicated and sponsored radio interview.
On being back on the field:Â “It was great, Jim. I had a lot of fun. It was great being out there with my teammates. They’ve been working so hard the past month, and I was excited to be out there with them, playing in the game and helping our team win.”
On if he was nervous:Â “I was a little anxious because I hadn’t played a meaningful game in nine months. I wasn’t quite sure how I would feel once I got out there, and then really when I got out there in the warmups for the game, I felt very much like normal. I was kind of comfortable in that. After the first couple of series, I started to get a feel for the rush and the pocket. It felt pretty normal out there.”
On if he feels he has something to prove:Â “I feel like I always have something to prove every time I go out there. My teammates count on me every week to bring my best, mentally and physically. Every time you step on the field, there’s nothing guaranteed. You gotta work your butt off over the course of the week to prepare yourself for that game. When you get the chance to play, you’ve got to cut it loose.”
On Patriots fans in Cleveland:Â “There was, especially late in the game, very cool to see all the Patriots fans behind our bench cheering. To be in another team’s stadium and to have that fourth quarter quiet, to hear your fans cheering as the game winds down is a great feeling.”
On first-down celebration:Â “I don’t think it was the dab. I was pointing toward first down, and I think the more uncharacteristic part of that was that I actually ran for a first down. That’s what I was pretty excited about.”
Thumbnail photo via Scott R. Galvin/USA TODAY Sports Images
