Tom Brady’s favorite team to beat? Giants, of course

In the eyes of most people, Tom Brady has already claimed the throne as the GOAT of the National Football League. But Brady is no different than any other player when it comes to hanging onto things and maybe even being a little mean about it.

Brady joined one of football’s most exclusive clubs when he became the fourth quarterback in NFL history to beat all 32 teams, joining Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. are the only members. Tom also broke Brees’ all-time passing yard record in this game. He accomplished it this Sunday by beating his former team, the New England Patriots. So now that Brady is at the club, of course everyone wants to know which of the 32 teams is their favorite victim to torment.

“Holy cow, that’s a good question” Brady told Jim Gray. “The team I would love to beat the most is the Giants, no doubt about it because they really took some off, you know I always joked with Eli [Manning] but, yeah, and I think he likes me talking about it all the time. So coming back, I don’t like losing to these guys, so when we beat them I love it.

We should have known it would be these rascals from the New York soccer giants. They stole two Super Bowls from Brady and the Pats. Well, in their minds anyway. The first one came (Super Bowl XLII) with the Patriots having the chance to finish the first season 19-0 and possibly become the best team ever. Eli Manning and the Giants had other plans, beating New England 17-14 in one of the most spectacular big games of all time.

Brady’s pre-game comments stand out clearly in my mind about this Super Bowl, in response to Plaxico Burress predicting a 23-17 Giants victory. After making 50 touchdowns and breaking the single-season record at the time, Brady clearly felt himself headed for this game. Brady or any other Patriot would say it publicly, but they knew they had this game up for grabs. It’s evident in Brady’s pride on the podium.

So, I understand. It makes absolute sense. The Patriots were set to make history that season by winning the ultimate team record of 19-0 and becoming the second team to complete a season unbeaten. But after the Pats fell to the Giants, the 1972 Dolphins remained the only perfect team in NFL history with a 14-0 regular season and 3-0 playoff record en route to Super Bowl VII victory.

Then four years later, Manning and the Giants did it to Tom again, beating the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. This time, the Patriots scored the 17 points Burress predicted four years earlier. The downside to this was that the Pats ceded 21 to the Giants for a second loss to the G Men in the Super Bowl. We got it, Tom. You take absolute pleasure in beating the Giants whenever you get the chance. Who cares if the main players of these teams are long gone? Being able to beat the Giants franchise relieves the pain a bit. I’m sure Brady marked week 11 on his calendar when the Giants make a trip to visit him in Tampa.

Brady is not only the GOAT, but he is also the king of pettiness in the NFL. Remember when Brady walked off the pitch without shaking hands with Nick Foles (twice) after a game? Foles also beat Brady in a Super Bowl. Hail to King Petty.