The New England Patriots were fully prepared to show some serious support for Tom Brady if the quarterback’s DeflateGate suspension wasn’t vacated in court on Thursday. According to Patriots’ president Jonathan Kraft, the team decided they would not raise their Super Bowl 49 banner during the NFL season opener next Thursday if Brady was suspended.
In its place, the team planned to honor Brady with his own banner, one which celebrates his Super Bowls and MVP awards.
Jon Kraft on next Thursday's season opener: "That Super Bowl 49 banner was not being raised if Tom Brady was not on the field."
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 3, 2015
Jon Kraft says #Patriots were intending to raise some sort of Brady banner honoring his SBs and MVPs were he not to play next Thursdasy
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 3, 2015
I reckon there's something under there. pic.twitter.com/hTc3rbyaMK
— Mike Cole (@MikeColeNESN) September 3, 2015
The organization hasn’t shied away from publicly supporting Brady throughout the DeflateGate saga, but this stunt would have taken that support to the next (and a possibly unprecedented) level. Just think about how bizarre and defiant that banner unveiling would have been, especially prior to the season’s opening kickoff on national television.
Unfortunately for anyone hoping to see that hilarity unfold, a federal judge wiped out Brady’s suspension in court on Thursday morning, meaning we’ll be seeing Brady’s #12 on the field next week instead of hanging above the field at Gillette Stadium.
NFL Commisioner Roger Goodell is not expected to attend the festivities in Foxboro, but maybe the Patriots will ship that unused Brady banner to the commish’s house to help him celebrate the new season.
