FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — (AP) — The greatness of Tom Brady’s NFL career can’t be exaggerated.
He took the New England Patriots to the upper echelon of the league during his 20-year run with the team, filling the franchise’s trophy case with six Lombardi trophies while cementing his own status as possibly the game’s all-time greatest player.
He remained a beloved son in New England even after he departed for Tampa Bay following the 2019 season, promptly won his seventh ring with the Buccaneers and then returned the following year to defeat his former team.
But Brady's failure to include even a single mention of the Patriots or their fans in his lengthy retirement announcement on Tuesday was met with a chilly reception that's left many perplexed about one of the region's most beloved sports figures.