FOXBORO, Mass. — Before Monday night’s New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens game, ESPN aired an “E:60” feature on Logan Schoenhardt, a 10-year-old Simsbury, Conn., native and one of Tom Brady’s biggest fans.
Logan has undergone several surgeries to remove cancerous brain tumors, and during one, he asked doctors to engrave Brady’s No. 12 onto his skull. They obliged, and word eventually got back to the quarterback himself, who recently invited Logan and his family to Gillette Stadium for a game.
Brady reflected on the experience Wednesday.
“He is a special young man,” Brady said. “Just to have a chance to know his story has been very humbling and certainly gives me a lot of perspective, and certainly all of us a lot of perspective on the very difficult challenges a lot of families face, and certainly that he has faced. It’s very tough circumstances but he has showed a lot of courage under some very trying circumstances, so it was great to get to meet him. I sent him a video I think in March or April of this year, and then had a chance to meet him this fall. He’s a sweet young boy.”
He added: “When you’re in the position, certainly as a professional athlete, a lot of guys use it as a great way to express their views on a lot of different things. I think it’s always — there are so many blessings that we all have, and to have a positive impact on people and children in different ways, and whichever way you can do that. This was one particular way. I said earlier, a lot of time you feel like you get more out of it than they do at the end of the day because of how touched you are and the kind of perspective that you gain from it. It’s always nice to be a part of something really special and unique like that, and I’m happy always to play a small part in trying to make those types of things happen.”
More from Wednesday:
— There was plenty of Von Miller praise as the Patriots prepare to visit the Denver Broncos, with both Brady and Patriots coach Bill Belichick lauding the star pass rusher. New England defensive end Chris Long also is a great admirer of Miller’s work.
“That guy’s pretty good,” Long said. “He’s like one of those that, if you’re talking to a younger player and Von Miller comes up on tape, you’re like, ‘Don’t try what he does, because you just can’t do it.’ He’s one of a kind.”
Miller has 13 1/2 sacks this year, tied with the Atlanta Falcons’ Vic Beasley for the NFL lead.
— The Patriots have lost each of their last games in Denver, including last season’s AFC Championship Game. They’ve won at Mile High just twice in nine tries since Brady took over as quarterback in 2001.
“The crowd is into the game,” Patriots safety Devin McCourty said. “There might be 15 Patriots fans in the whole stadium. Everyone’s there for Denver.”
Thumbnail photo via Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports Images
