BOSTON -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady attended the Under ArmourBoston Brand House grand opening event Wednesday night, and sat down for a one-on-one interview with ESPN.
Here's part of the Q&A:
Q: Let's start looking behind us. A unique backdrop -- 199.
Brady: Pretty sweet.
Q: What does that number mean to you?
Brady: [Under Armour CEO] Kevin [Plank] said there was something special planned and he told me to come up here and take a look. That's pretty cool, man. You never forget where you come from. They made some cool T-shirts last year with that number on it, and it's very, very cool to see that in the store [Brady was picked 199th in the 2000 draft].
Q: Patriots' bye week, but no shortage of news. The big trade with Jamie Collins. What have you noticed about how the locker room has responded to that?
Brady: It's always hard to see a friend leave. But it's just part of the business. Everyone obviously wishes him the very best. Jamie has been a friend of mine and he'll be great wherever he is. He's a great player.
Q: You've seen plenty of these big moves over the years. Lawyer Milloy. Deion Branch. Richard Seymour. Do you ever get immune to it, and does it get easier to take?
Brady: I don't think it does ever get easier. I think maybe the process goes a little faster. But these are your friends. It was hard to see Wes Welker in a Denver Bronco uniform. It was hard to see Randy Moss leave. Logan Mankins. I've met a lot of great teammates. But like I said earlier today, the sun comes up tomorrow for all of us, and things just keep moving on and you still have to have a good attitude about your work and your day. There are still a lot of goals to accomplish that we certainly have. Thankfully I don't have to make those tough decisions. I just have to try to focus on what my job is and go out there and do the best I can do.
Q: Your first four games -- impressive production. A lot of people are asking "How is he doing it when he wasn't even playing football for the month of September?" How are you doing it?
Brady: You know how I'm doing it; you've talked a lot about my training over the years [smiling]. First, I have great teammates and great coaches, that's without saying. When I sat back and watched those four weeks, you could see how great our coaches are, and how hard our team works. I just wanted to do the best I can to stay in shape, do what I've always done, and try to replicate all the things I do at practice. Then when I came back, it's just kind of getting back into the routine. I'm just happy that our team is at the place we're at. It doesn't mean anything because we're only eight games in. We have a long way to go. I look forward to the second half of the season; we're going to have a tough test coming right off the bat against Seattle on Sunday night, but that will be a good test to see where we're at. We know how good of a team they are.
Q: There was a nice moment between you and Jim Kelly in the tunnel after Sunday's game in Buffalo. Then the next night, he tells ESPN's Chris Berman that he thinks you're the best of all time. What does that mean to you to hear something like that from Jim Kelly?
Brady: Well, I love Jim. Going up to Buffalo for the last 16 years, I get to see him almost once a year. We always keep in touch via text. Obviously, I have a lot of admiration for him and what he's overcome. He's got a great positive attitude and perspective on life. He's just a great person, a great human being. You never imagine that people would say anything like that about you, and I still don't believe those things, which is good. But it's very cool, nonetheless.