Tom Brady's birthday another reminder of his greatness

FOXBORO – Tom Brady’s day started off with a stroll through the underbelly of Gillette Stadium. He walked out of the locker room with his helmet in hand, briskly walking by a large media contingent before the barking started.

"Woof!" "Woof!" "Woof!"

Brady and a member of the Gillette Stadium maintenance crew barked back and forth at each other before the quarterback said, "Let’s go, baby!" Brady laughed and fist bumped the older man with a big white [...]

FOXBORO – Tom Brady’s day started off with a stroll through the underbelly of Gillette Stadium. He walked out of the locker room with his helmet in hand, briskly walking by a large media contingent before the barking started.

“Woof!” “Woof!” “Woof!”

Brady and a member of the Gillette Stadium maintenance crew barked back and forth at each other before the quarterback said, “Let’s go, baby!” Brady laughed and fist bumped the older man with a big white beard, who was seated in a four-wheeled utility vehicle. The man wished the quarterback a happy birthday and called him “daddio.” Brady soon approached the concrete staircase leading up to the practice field.

Then the screaming started.

The time was 9:15 a.m. and thousands of fans were in attendance on Friday to see the future hall of famer and wish him a happy birthday as he turned 41-years-old. As he jogged on the practice field, the first verse of happy birthday could be heard.

The song was repeated again and again and again.

Every year on Aug. 3, Brady’s birthday is celebrated at Gillette Stadium during training camp. It’s usually a spectacle and it was on Friday.

“I did not get him anything for his birthday yet,” Julian Edelman said. “It’s hard to shop for a guy that has everything.”

For Bill Belichick, the answer was easy. For Brady’s 41st birthday, he was granted a day off from a hot and humid training camp practice. The quarterback spent most of the day either taking a knee or standing with his helmet in his hand while Brian Hoyer and Danny Etling took every single rep of team drills.

This day also marked one of appreciate for a quarterback that continues to swat away father time and combat anything we think we know about the aging process. Brady, of course, is coming off an MVP season and has a chance to add to his legacy. Since 1960, only 11 quarterbacks 41 or older have started an NFL game. None of them started all 16 games. The closest was Vinny Testaverde (15 starts), Warren Mood (14 starts) and Brett Favre (13 starts).

“He's had a tremendous career,” Belichick said of Brady. “He's had a spectacular career and he still plays at a very high level.”

The celebration at Gillette Stadium started early. Fans came to the practice fields with Brady signs like the one that said, “41 is the new 31!” There was even a gigantic cake – shaped in the No. 12. There was a balloon statue of Brady and a big white No. 12 for fans to write their messages to the quarterback on.

The crowd sang happy birthday again at 9:27, 10:03 and 10:26. Brady’s theme song (JAY-Z – Public Service Announcement) even played as practice was starting.

“He’s really kind of a dorky, like shy guy so I don’t know if he likes it or if he doesn’t,” Edelman said. “But, you know when you’re singing “Happy Birthday” to Brady you know it’s football season.”

On the field, Brady’s day was relaxing. After the warmup, he didn’t participate in any drills that required him to throw the ball. One drill had him drop back in the pocket as the offensive linemen practiced their pass protection skill against the defensive linemen. At that point, Hoyer was throwing passes to receivers in 1-on-1 grills.

When it came time for 7-on-7 drills, Hoyer was again the only quarterback to take reps. He threw all six passes, completing four. Brady was on one knee at that point. Overall, the Patriots had four different sessions of 11-on-11 drills. Brady could be seen on the sideline, holding his helmet. Hoyer and Etling took every rep throughout practice – both had mixed results.

At 11:08, Brady ran hills with his teammates before taking a knee at the far end of the practice field.

Around 11:17, Brady’s wife, Gisele Bundchen, and two children, Benny and Vivian came out to the field. The repeated clicks of the cameras could be heard as Brady hugged both children and kissed his wife. He hung out with them for another 20 minutes and signed autographs before departing back into Gillette Stadium at 11:36.

It’s good to be Tom Brady. It usually is. Friday was just another reminder.