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14th February 2023
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Tom Brady retires from American Football, ‘for good’ Dan Laughlan Sports Editor
‘Don’t be a sheep when you can be the goat’, lyrics from a song by Avelino which may be more applicable to Tom Brady than any other athlete. And no, I’m not saying Brady resembles a physical goat more than any other sportsperson. Goat is commonly used as an acronym for ‘Greatest of all Time’ and Tom Brady is unequivocally the ‘goat’ of American Football.
to become the Patriots go-to-guy. Brady led the Patriots to 11 wins in the 14 remaining games to the season, securing a place in the playoffs. The Patriots went on to win theirPhoto: first UEA twoRugby play-off games, as Brady led his side to the Super Bowl. The Superbowl would be tied with 1:30 left to play in the game. With the commentators suggesting Brady should simply let the clock Photo: Wikimedia Commons
only the second team to secure three championships in four years. In 2014, Brady once more led the Patriots to the Super Bowl and Yet, in a time where many this time to a win. They beat the where celebrating in exultation Seahawks, 28-24 and Brady had following the rarity of the Patriot’s his fourth championship. However, achievement, Brady himself in the wake of this win, the NFL didn’t. He was tired, mentally and published a report regarding physically. As his success grew, so ‘deflation of footballs’ in one of did the expectations set on him. He the Patriots play-off games, better was the leader to his teammates, known as ‘deflategate’ which would and someone admired by the fans forever tarnish Brady’s career. The NFL accused Brady and his team of deliberately deflating the ball in order to gain an advantage on the opposition. The advantage gained by deflating the ball allows the quarterback to throw it more easily. Each team uses their own balls for a game so only the Patriots gained the advantage. Eventually, Brady would accept a four-game suspension after dropping his appeal.
Almost a year ago to the day, Tom Brady announced he was retiring from NFL putting an end to the greatest career the game had ever seen. However, just 40 days later he decided he had another year in him. A year on Brady has announced his retirement again but this time, ‘for good’. He started his journey being doubted, even called not particularly ‘athletic looking’. He was the 199th pick in the draft meaning 198 players were chosen before him and the overarching theme around Brady was that he would be a useful backup quarterback. The underestimation was precisely the spark Brady needed to start the fire within himself. When introduced to owner Robert Kraft, the ‘skinny beanpole’ told Kraft that he was the best decision the organisation had ever made. This mindset would be key to Brady becoming the player he would be. By the end of his first season, Brady had worked his way to being second choice quarterback and just two games into his second season, starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe suffered an injury which gave Brady the chance he needed
The 2016 season would start with Brady serving his four-game ban, but would culminate in the Patriots, yet again, in the Super Bowl. However, Photo: Wikimedia Commons it would see them down 28-3 in the third quarter to the Atlanta Falcons. Normally, an unassailable lead. With 17 minutes left to play, Brady run down and try and win the and those around him. With all of and his team, miraculously, went game in overtime, Brady led a drive that combined, Brady thought to on to score 25 unanswered points down the pitch and set up kicker himself, ‘when is this gonna end’. and took the game to overtime. Adam Vinatieri for a field goal. With seconds remaining, Vinatieri The following eight years saw Brady’s family would always be would score the field goal and individual success for Brady, in attendance for every game he Brady would win his first Superbowl. winning two MVP’s, but changes to played. However, this season his personnel within the team as well mother was diagnosed with cancer The 2002 season saw Brady officially as injuries, including to Brady, saw and was not able to attend. This become the Patriots starting the Patriots go eight years without was the first game she was able quarterback, but it wasn’t until Super Bowl success. 2007 saw the to attend in-person. Brady won 2003 that the Patriots would be Patriots complete the first ever the coin toss, and the Patriots had back in the Super Bowl. They would invincible regular season which the ball to start overtime. The defeat the Titans and Colts before resulted in them making the Super next team to score would win. defeating the Panthers in nearly Bowl, but the perfect season failed the exact same circumstances as to have the perfect ending, and for Brady, with his mother watching Brady’s first, to win his second. the first time, Brady was defeated in on, drove his side down the field The 2003 win was followed up a Super Bowl. 2011 also witnessed and scored the touchdown which with another Super Bowl victory the Patriots make the Super Bowl, completed the greatest comeback in 2004 making Brady’s Patriots but yet again, Brady was second best. in the history of the game as
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Brady would spend three final years with the Patriots which saw him win his sixth Super Bowl and pick up his third MVP before he and the Patriots went their separate ways. Brady would sign for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and this would give Brady the chance to silence the critics who pinned his success to the Patriots setup rather than his own ability. Brady led the Buccaneers to a 15win season and their second ever Super Bowl. Brady was up against Patrick Mahomes, the man to take over from Brady, who was looking to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Brady went on to throw three touchdowns in a 31-9 win to secure his seventh championship and proved he was still the best and could win without the Patriots. This would be the last stand for Brady as his final two years with the Buccaneers and in the NFL would see time catch up with him, ultimately resulting in retirement. Brady retires as the player to win the most games, have the most division titles, career passing yards, touchdown passes, Pro Bowl selections, fourth quarter comebacks, game-winning drives and NFL championships, to name only a few accomplishments. Tom Brady was the ultimate underdog, considered only good enough to be a backup, just there to be a number within a team, a sheep. Yet, through dedicating himself to the sport and not letting critics decide what he could achieve, he became the greatest of all time.
The best of the ‘Six ’ at the Six Nations Drew Murphy Senior Sports Writer
With the Six Nations Championship already underway I thought it would be a great idea to have a look at each of the ‘Six’s’ best moments of the tournament.
to Diego Dominguez. He scored 29 of Italy’s 34 points, including six penalties, a conversion, and a hat trick of drop goals.
There have to be a couple of honourable mentions for Ireland as they have provided some iconic moments throughout the history of the Six Nations. These include Brian Yachvili Scores Grand Slam Decider O’Driscoll announcing himself in For France: international rugby with a hat trick Earlier in the November of 2003, and Johnny Sexton’s last-minute England had beaten France in drop goal in 2018. the Semi-finals of the World Cup, which they would go on to win. So However, their most remarkable when England and France met in moment came in 2009. Ireland had the Six Nations, France had only to go through Wales in Cardiff to one thing on their mind, revenge. win a Grand Slam.
Italy’s Six Nations Debut To Remember: Before 2000, the Six Nations were Five Nations until Italy were admitted into the tournament. They were tasked with opening the A moment of brilliance from 2000 Six Nations against defending Dimitri Yachvili gave France the champions Scotland in Rome. revenge they had been seeking. An ingenious grubber kick and Perhaps it was the home chase try was the highlight of his advantage, as to the surprise of incredible performance that night many spectators, Italy pulled off an as he also kicked the goals to secure emphatic win against Scotland. The France’s 4th Grand Slam in eight game ended 34-20 and became one years. of the greatest opening matches the Six Nations has seen to this date. Ronan O’Gara’s Late Drop Goal To Italy’s impressive win was all down Secure Ireland’s Grand Slam:
It was a very close game; fans would have thought it was over when Stephen Jones kicked a drop goal to take the lead for Wales. But with two minutes left, Ronan O’Gara scored a drop goal to take Ireland ever closer to winning the Grand Slam. A last-minute penalty to Wales was just short of the posts meaning Ireland had won their first grand slam since 1948.
Wales’ Magical Comeback Against Scotland In 2010: Up until the 75th minute, Scotland had outplayed Wales. Scotland was leading by 10 points at 24-14. However, in the last five minutes, Wales’ Leigh Halfpenny scored a try, and Stephen Jones kicked a penalty to level the scores. Then marvellously, in the 81st minute, winger Shane Williams scored the winning try in front of an ecstatic crowd in Cardiff.
the match-winning try. Daly’s try enabled England to defend their Six Nations title successfully. Scotland Comeback 31-0 In 2019 To Retain The Calcutta Cup For The First Time Since 1984: Scotland had not won at Twickenham since 1983, and it looked to continue as England went 31-0 ahead. However, Scotland did not give up and produced something magical as Stuart McInally, Darcy Graham (2), Magnus Bradbury, and Finn Russell all scored to level it at 31-31. Then a Sam Johnson try was converted, giving Scotland a 38-31 lead with three minutes to go.
Daly’s Match-Winning Try Enabling England to Defend Their Title: In 2017, defending champions England found themselves trailing 16-14 against Wales in Cardiff. But with only five minutes to go, the game was turned on its head. Heartbreakingly, George Ford salvaged a draw for England right George Ford caught a punt and at the very end. However, it was played an excellent pass to Owen Scotland who rejoiced as a draw Farrell, who threw a perfect pass meant they retained the Calcutta out to the winger Elliot Daly who cup for the first time since 1984. sprinted into the corner and scored
