Tom Brady is arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history, but his comments about what’s going on in the world were foolish.
With just four days before the 2017 Super Bowl in Houston between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, politics are somehow permeating media week.
Dare I say quarterback Tom Brady is to blame for this?
The four-time champion was seen with a Donald Trump hat in his locker back in 2015, which served as an invitation to this enhanced level of political scrutiny. Trump, now the President of the United States, has made it clear he’s a dear friend of both Brady and Pats owner Bob Kraft.
If the desire is to focus solely on, perhaps, the biggest game of his life to this point, no one can take any issue with that. He’s earned that right as he enters the final stages of an illustrious career.
“I’m not talking about politics at all,” Brady said a few days ago. “I just want to focus on this game.”
Brady has won at the highest level and has broken a plethora of NFL records in the process. His greatness can never be impugned from a stats standpoint and if had this been the only thing he uttered on the matter, there would be no issue.
The hat that “magically” made its way to his locker (as he phrased it) wasn’t seen as mere happenstance. It was more of a political stance and when you’re Brady, these types of moves aren’t seen as anything less than calculated.
He has a right to support whoever he wants, whenever he wants and doesn’t really need to offer any explanation. NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley offered the notion that athletes don’t need to be role models.
“I’m not a role model,” Barkley said. “Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.
Leave that arduous task to the parents, right?
But with Brady, the conversation is a tad bit different, especially when you come across as someone who’s above it all — secular issues are beneath him.
“What’s going on in the world? I haven’t paid much attention,” Brady also said. “I’m just a positive person.”
See, this comes across as incredibly irresponsible. And it’s from a guy who should know better. Really? You don’t know what’s going on in the world? Nice try.
In an effort to pretend tension doesn’t exist, you can slam your door and blast music to tune out the bellowing of angry parents arguing, but you can’t walk outside with an umbrella and forget it’s raining. Brady absolutely understands what’s going on.
And this isn’t about taking sides on controversial issues.
Once again, you’re allowed to pledge your allegiance to any party or affiliation. That isn’t what’s being disputed. For Brady to pretend he has no idea of the maelstrom of chaos currently taking place comes across as him not viewing issues with any ounce of severity.
The moral of the story is simple: Tom Brady should’ve just kept silent.
Heck, pull a Marshawn Lynch when this topic is addressed. Being an optimistic, positive thinker doesn’t miraculously place you in bubble wrap, unaffected by contentious world issues. The message sent to the public with an indication that this somehow happened is egregious.
Does this make him a terrible human being who doesn’t deserve to play on Sunday? Of course not, but it should make him consider how he expresses himself when it pertains to the plight of others.
