What do you ask Tom Brady three weeks into a four-game suspension? Jim Gray of Westwood One answered that question Monday during his weekly conversation with the New England Patriots quarterback.
Brady talked Bill Belichick, Arnold Palmer, his trip to Italy and more.
Here are the highlights:
On vacation to Italy: “We had a great time. It was a great chance to get away. I’ve never had an opportunity in September and hopefully I don’t have one for a very, very long time.”
On whether he watched this weekend’s games: “I caught all the highlights. They don’t have that Red Zone channel that I love so much over here, but they were playing a couple games, and it was fun to see some of those highlights.”
On the Patriots’ Week 3 win: “It certainly doesn’t surprise me the way the team has performed, and then what they did on Thursday night, because they’re always so well prepared, and they take advantage of short weeks. I was so happy to see them come out and play as well as they did. They played well in every area of the game, and it really took contributions from all three units. It’s tough to play on those short weeks. Your body feels different than having seven days to play in between games. To see the team go out and rally against a really good Houston team was very, I’d say inspiring to watch. It was a great way to get to 3-0.
On whether Bill Belichick is the best coach of all time: “Yeah, I definitely think so. I think whatever hand he’s been dealt, he finds a way to win. That’s the mark of a great coach. Sitting in those meetings for the last 16 yards and watching him prepare the team, there’s no coach I’d ever want to play for. He’s just remarkable in every aspect. It’s a privilege to play for him. I look forward to being back out there and getting yelled at by him. I think he likes to — he’s tough on the players, and he expects the very best of us every day. That ends up getting the best out of the players, and he’s been so consistent in his approach, and it’s paid off for our team for a long time.”
On Arnold Palmer: “He impacted so many people, and it’s such a great game. It’s one of the only hobbies I have outside of football. I don’t have a chance to play as much anymore, but to see the way the game grew when he was leading the charge was very cool. I saw so many videos on the different sports channels of how he impacted the game and how he impacted today’s generation in so many ways the (former) players in the NFL impacted me. Just reading today all the great stories and tributes to his life and all the players he affected, it’s obvious we lost such a remarkable man and human being and ambassador for that great game of golf.”
Thumbnail photo via Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports Images