Tom Brady (Photo By Anne-Marie Caruso/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Tom Brady is coming back to New England, not in a helmet and pads, but in the form of a 12-foot bronze statue. The New England Patriots just announced plans to unveil the long-anticipated tribute to the legendary quarterback on August 8, right before their preseason opener against the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium.

Fans have been waiting for this moment since team owner Robert Kraft first teased the idea during Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction last year. That same night, the franchise officially retired Brady’s iconic No. 12 jersey, sealing his legacy in Foxborough forever.

Brady’s Legacy Cast In Bronze

Tom Brady throwing a footballTom Brady (Photo via Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Kraft revealed last year that a local artist had already started work on the statue, which he said would “perpetuate the legendary legacy of this once-in-a-lifetime player.” Now, the countdown is on. The unveiling will come during a special ceremony outside the stadium, giving fans a new landmark to flock to when they visit 1 Patriot Place.

The date wasn’t a sure thing until recently. The team initially aimed for a 2024 unveiling, but Brady’s packed schedule, thanks to his massive $375 million broadcasting deal with Fox Sports, pushed the timeline. With his media commitments now settled into a rhythm, the stars finally aligned.

 

Brady’s numbers tell their own story. Over two decades in New England, he won six Super Bowls in nine appearances and piled up stats that rewrote the NFL record book. He closed his career with a seventh ring in Tampa Bay, but his heart and history remain rooted in Foxborough. He owns the NFL’s all-time records for passing yards (89,214), passing touchdowns (649), and Super Bowl wins (7), among others.

The August 8 ceremony is expected to draw a crowd, with fans, former teammates, and likely Brady himself in attendance. And yes, the statue is taller than most of his offensive linemen, standing 12 feet high, a nod to the jersey number that became a symbol of dominance for two decades.

New England fans can mark their calendars and prep their cameras. Brady may have hung up the cleats, but starting this August, he’ll stand tall just outside where it all happened. Let’s just hope the sculptor captured that classic TB12 intensity.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’