Happy Anniversary

BLEDSOE TO BRADY: Tag. You're it.

TALES FROM THE TAILGATE
Patriots 44, Colts 13 (9/30/'01): It was 10 years ago today that Tom Brady made his first official start as the Patriots quarterback. Ten wonderful years.

Me, Mark, and Shep had no idea that we were seeing the first win by one of the two or three greatest quarterbacks to play the game. Actually, since it was the first in the Brady vs. Manning saga, we had no idea we were seeing TWO of the best two or three quarterbacks to play the game.

It was a crisp 55 degree September afternoon. The kind of tailgating day you just can't get enough of. We crowded onto our aluminum bench in Section 309 ten rows from the back of Foxboro Stadium. It was the last year of the old stadium and the first year of a dynasty.

I remember how charged up the crowd was about Brady. The young QB didn't throw any touchdown passes in the Pats romp but he made several clutch plays to keep drives going. Plays that Bledsoe hadn't been making for a few years. I remember Shep yelling "Tom Brady! Yes! Tom Bra-dy!" all day long. All year long. Brady completed just 13 passes for 168 yards. The Brady of 2011 sometimes completes 13 passes on one drive. Things were different. The Pats rushed for nearly 200 yards on a whopping 39 carries. And the D (Otis Smith and Ty Law) took back two Manning picks for six. Brady didn't throw any interceptions. It was a formula for success the team would ride for years to come.

The Patriots rolled out to a 23-0 lead before Manning finally put Indy on the board. The Pats responded with the next 14. There was one big play after another. It had been a few years since the old stadium had been that loud. It would be like that a lot the rest of that incredible season.

Brady was asked what he remembered about the day. He said not much. Then smiled and said "It was a good game. We beat the Chargers."

Seems like I remember that day a little clearer than he does.