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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. –Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady became the NFL career leader on Sunday in his first game in New England to face his former team, the Patriots.
In the first quarter, Brady completed a 28-yard pass to receiver Mike Evans to reach 80,359 yards and surpass the record of 80,358 yards set last year by Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints quarterback who retired at the end of the season.
The Patriots posted the record on the stadium video screen and announced it to the cheering crowd, but they didn’t stop the game for a ceremony.
Before the game, Brady only needed 68 yards to pass Brees. Brady will likely retain the record for several years. Among active players, Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers has the second most career yards, but he trails Brady by about 20,000 yards.
Brady’s record-breaking throw was just one of many highlights of one of the most anticipated regular season games in years, as the Buccaneers looked to improve their 2-1 record and the Patriots, at 1-2, struggled to gain a foothold. their second season without Brady as a chef.
Much of the pre-game drama centered around Brady’s showdown with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, and who was responsible for Brady’s departure after two decades, 249 wins and six Super Bowl championships together.
A fan bought a billboard not far from the stadium that almost blamed Belichick for Brady’s decision to move to Tampa. Fans watching ahead of the game at Gillette Stadium didn’t blame Brady for leaving.
“I’m grateful for everything Tom has done, but it’s in the past,” said Randy Greeley, a longtime season ticket holder who wore the jersey of Mac Jones, the new quarterback at the team. “My loyalty is to the Pats.”
When the The buccaneers took the field to warm up About 50 minutes before kick-off, fans gave Brady a standing ovation and chanted his name. Prior to the game, the Patriots played a short video tribute on the stadium scoreboard that showed Brady’s New England exploits. But when Brady took the field for Tampa’s first practice, he was booed.
Brady has been held back over his relationship with Belichick and his reasons for moving to Tampa. But his father and coach, interviewed separately, were more direct, saying Belichick didn’t appreciate Brady’s contribution and felt, at 44, his best days were over.
When he was in New England, Brady said he wanted to play until he was 45. Tampa gave him a two-year contract. After leading the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title last season, and already on a quick start this year, Brady considered playing potentially until the age of 50.
Local TV channels and national networks like NBC’s “Today” show aired from the stadium parking lot days before the game, while a website listed the 10 best sports returns in the history of the game. Boston area before Brady’s return.
Brady fans greeted the quarterback at the airport in Providence, RI, when the Buccaneers team’s plane arrived on Saturday. The squad now includes cornerback Richard Sherman, the former 49ers corner free agent Brady recruited for the Buccaneers despite legal issues resulting from an arrest this summer and five misdemeanor charges, including two of violence. domesticated. The Buccaneers were deprived of tight end Rob Gronkowski, another former Patriots player, who suffers from a rib injury.
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