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February 1, 2004
Patriots Notebook
Brady a steal as a 6th-round pick; Belichick rocks - but just a little
COMPILED BY JOHN DELL
• The NFL has had plenty of quarterbacks who weren't highly drafted but made the Hall of Fame.
Tom Brady might become one of them.
Brady, 26, is panning out much better than expected. He spent his first two college seasons at Michigan as a backup, then was drafted 199th (in the sixth round) by the Patriots in 2000.
"The things I had done in college warranted a little higher draft pick, but you know, everyone chooses you for different reasons," said Brady, who was 20-5 as a starter and passed for 5,341 yards, fourth-best in Michigan history.
Brady, who has a 5-0 career record in the NFL playoffs, has a chance tonight to become the youngest quarterback to win two Super Bowls.
"People saw me and maybe they said 'I really don't think he's very capable, doesn't have the physical skills,'" he said. "I didn't run fast, and still don't."
• Coach Bill Belichick, who always seems in control, formed a friendship with Jon Bon Jovi during his days as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.
He says he doesn't think it's surprising that he's friends with a rock star.
"He likes football," Belichick said of Bon Jovi, a New Jersey native and lifelong Giants fan. "I liked his music. That was great. After I left the Giants, fortunately, I have been with AFC teams that have not conflicted with the Giants."
When the Patriots try to simulate loud crowd noise in practice, Belichick often plays Bon Jovi's music.
"Jon has been a great friend," he said. "He is a good guy and a great musician."
• Fullback Larry Centers, a 14-year veteran, is as happy as anybody to be in his first Super Bowl.
He started the season with the Patriots, who released him in mid-October and re-signed him Dec. 9.
"It's more than what I thought it would be like," Centers said. "I sat back and stared at my ceiling (Wednesday) night going through some thoughts. You sort of get spiritual about things."
Centers, who has played in 198 games and is seventh on the NFL's all-time list for receptions with 827, says he realizes that this could be his only shot at the Super Bowl.
"I'm getting to be a senior citizen in this league, and I have to start thinking about things after football," he said. "I started to think that I would never make it to this game, but I'm here now."
• Linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who said he is healed and ready to go after injuring his leg in the AFC championship game, knows that unheralded players sometimes come up big in the Super Bowl.
His choice for that distinction? Fellow linebacker Roman Phifer, who was raised in Pineville, N.C., and attended South Mecklenburg High School.
When Phifer heard that, he said: "Is that right? Yeah, that would be great. Thanks Tedy."
Phifer, a 13-year veteran, had 133 tackles and is part of a defense that became the first in 65 NFL seasons to go four straight home games without allowing a touchdown.
Phifer won his first Super Bowl ring two years ago when the Patriots beat the Rams.
• Punter Ken Walter was introduced to the NFL at a young age. He was a ballboy for his hometown team, the Cleveland Browns, and said that experience helped fuel his desire to play professionally.
"That was probably the most ideal situation I've ever gotten into because it obviously paved the way into a pro career," said Walter, who has put nine of his last 13 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Walter, who will be a free agent after the season, didn't rule out going back to Cleveland.
"It has crossed my mind and obviously, all options are going to be open," he said.
• Ty Law, a four-time Pro Bowl cornerback who had three interceptions in the AFC championship game against the Colts, knows what he wants to accomplish in his career.
"My ultimate goal is to hopefully one day be enshrined in the Hall of Fame," he said. "I play the game because I love it, and I want to be the best."
• One matchup to watch tonight will be Law against Steve Smith or Muhsin Muhammad, the Panthers' best receivers.
Law (5-11, 200) says that Muhammad (6-2, 217) loves contact.
"Like I said, this is football," Law said. "It's made for guys like Muhsin Muhammad to go out there and play physical, hit you in the mouth and get down and dirty.
"That's the type of game it's going to be."
• Much has been made of the Patriots 14-game winning streak. Their last loss was Sept. 28 at Washington, 20-17.
Defensive lineman Richard Seymour was asked if he remembered what it felt like to lose.
"I think we took advantages of the opportunities we've had," he said. "For the most part, we've stuck together."