The first episode of 'Tom Brady: Man in the Arena' aired this Tuesday on ESPN+. This is a multi-part documentary series, which gives out new episodes each week. What are the insights we take back from the first episode?
Brady chose this title as it is a Theodore Roosevelt quote, which he saw in the weight room at Michigan when he first got there. Since then Brady has been watching it every day, and that has become his favorite quote.
Bledsoe didn't feel Brady was a threat till 2001. Also the Patriots gave Bledsoe a ten-record contract prior to the season. This ensured his position as the franchise's #1 quarterback. But that didn't last long.
Before he got to the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady even thought of trying to understand where he might end up. He said “By the time the draft came around, every night I was checking updated mock drafts”
According to Brady, the defense of his team really dominated the day as New England prevailed, 44-13 against Peyton Manning and the Colts on Sept. 30, 2001. We see the resemblance in today's Patriots team.
Brady expressed he was afraid during the Patriots’ matchup against Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Championship Game.
At Super Bowl XXXVI, McGinest gave a costly penalty. This penalty gave the Rams a 17-3 lead in the fourth quarter and the New England defense was confronted.
Bledsoe said “I remember being excited for our guys but at the same time kind of internally a little disheartened.” He added “Like, man, battled through a lot of stuff to try to get to this point and now arrived here, but the other guy got to play.” Remembering this, he cried on the chairlift while he was skiing in Whitefish, Montana.