The “Roast of Tom Brady” be long past, but the legendary Patriots quarterback is still in the mood to make some jokes.
After Robert Kraft unveiled a 17-foot statue outside of Gillette Stadium in Brady’s honor, he took the stage for a six-minute speech littered with light-hearted wisecracks.
“What’s happening, Foxborough?” Brady began. “This is quite overwhelming obviously and I just thank you so much for being here. It means the world to me. I appreciate it. Thank you. As RKK just said it perfectly, people will never forget how you made them feel. Right now I feel extremely honored, deeply grateful, and if I’m being honest, kind of old. I’m also a little surprised because usually they don’t build statues until you’re really old, like (Mike) Vrabel and (Tedy) Bruschi.”
At one point in the speech, Brady took some time to laud the sculptor, Jeff Buccacio.
“As for the statue itself, Jeff, you and your team did an incredible job. Seriously, it is so accurate, so detailed,” Brady said.
He then paused and pretended to take a phone call.
“Hello. Really? OK,” Brady said. “Sorry Jeff, that was Coach (Bill) Belichick. He said there’s still room for improvement. I know the feeling.”
Brady also threw in some self-deprecating jokes for good measure.
“When I was drafted I just hoped to make the team. I never dreamed I’d be standing here two and a half decades later made of bronze and frozen in time. It actually feels pretty appropriate given my 40-yard dash time,” Brady said. “I’m proud to know that fans can show up at this stadium and feel as inspired as I always did playing here. To think that a kid from California might someday travel here to this plaza, stop, gaze at this work of art and say, ‘Who the hell is that guy?’”
Brady’s best joke may have been saved for the New York Jets, who he went 29-7 against while quarterbacking the Patriots.
“In the end, this statue isn’t just for Pats fans,” Brady said. “It’ll also give all the Jets fans something to throw their beers at as they leave the stadium every year, probably in the second quarter. Maybe the third.”
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