Tom Brady On Westwood One: Roger Goodell Did Not Congratulate Him On Wins Record
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Tom Brady received a huge wave of congratulatory messages after securing his 201st career win on Sunday, leaving himself in first place on the all-time list for quarterback wins (including playoffs). He was most appreciative of the congratulations he received from his old teammates and friends from the Patriots, as his family and friends would have been proud of him no matter what.
Two people who did not congratulate Brady, however, are President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump. Both of them have "plenty of other things to worry about," as Brady said during his weekly interview with Jim Gray of Westwood One on Monday. But Brady also did not receive a congratulatory message from one NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
"I wouldn't expect that anyway. That's fine," Brady said when asked if he heard from Goodell. "He's probably got plenty of other things important, as well."
To be fair to the least fair person in sports, Goodell doesn't usually call players to congratulate them on milestones. He might congratulate the owners who line his pockets for becoming slightly less despicable about domestic violence, but not really the players. It's not like he's been throwing congratulatory messages around all willy-nilly then just snubbed Brady out of nowhere.
It's also a lose-lose situation for the commissioner, as Goodell could have shown up at Brady's house with a check for $100 million and personally hugged Brady to congratulate him and it would still be dismissed as a hollow PR stunt designed to curry favor with those who already loathe him to the bone.
There is a precedent for something Goodell ought to do for Brady at some point: when Brady finally retires, he should release a statement on him like he did for Peyton Manning. If that doesn't happen, then Goodell deserves whatever vitriol New England may have left for him.
Brady was also asked about whether he's reflected on becoming the winningest quarterback in history. In classic TB12 fashion, he still has tunnel vision directed toward winning a fifth Lombardi Trophy.
"I feel like I have a long way to go. This isn't the point for me to reminisce or think about some of these very cool things I've been able to experience," said Brady. "We're still kind of in the washing machine of the season, and our goals are still ahead of us."
If Brady and the Patriots get to the finish line as the last team standing once again, then Goodell would have to congratulate him.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
