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The competitor coming out again in Brady

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Jan 28, 2019

AP photo Getting to the Super Bowl never gets old for Patriots QB Tom Brady.

Bring it on, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says.

“I just love the competition, and I love trying to improve, and I think that’s what it comes down to,” Brady said over the weekend in his final Gillette Stadium press conference of the season, as the team headed to Atlanta on Sunday. “Every year has its challenges.”

Brady, of course, is the one constant along with coach Bill Belichick of the team’s last nine Super Bowl appearances that began in February of 2002. Brady says much has changed since then.

“It’s very different from my first year to now,” he said. “Things change obviously with yourself, team, personal situations, professional situations.”

But one thing hasn’t changed.

“I love competing,” he said. “I love playing football. I think loving the game and trying to improve and bet the best I can be for the team is great motivation for me and I’ve just always spoke about winning, and that’s what I love to do.

“That’s why I’m here, that’s why this team has done such a great job.”

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The Patriots defensive players say they are confident when Brady has the ball with the game on the line. So confident, in fact, they just sit back and watch the show.

“For us, it’s exciting,” Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty said. “You’re like somebody sitting at home rooting for your favorite team.”

That’s about the best way it’s been put in a while. But the confidence is genuine.

“I think that’s been our team,” McCourty said. “Each side believes in the other. Even throughout moments in that game (last Sunday). We throw a pick down on the goal line early in the game and nobody on the sideline was like ‘Man, what are we doing?’ It was just like, ‘Alright, let’s go out there and get a stop. Let’s just get the ball right back to (the offense).”

McCourty says Brady doesn’t differentiate between units when it comes to rejoicing in victory.

“After the game you see Tom is excited to celebrate with the offense, with the defense and with special teams guys. …And obviously for a guy like Tom, he’s the GOAT. You’ve seen him do it so many times that sometimes you take it for granted and you just assume.”

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Both teams arrived in Atlanta Sunday, the Patriots late afternoon and the Rams were slated to get there at 7:40 p.m.

It’s an early departure than a year ago, when the Patriots didn’t leave until Monday of Super Bowl Week. What has become “Opening Night” instead of Media Day takes place tonight, with the Rams scheduled to speak from 7:10-8:10. and the Patriots from 9-10.

On Tuesday, Patriots coach Bill Belichcick, Tom Brady and about 10 players will be available to media at their team hotel, the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, in the early afternoon. The Patriots other mandatory media sessions (when all players and coaches have to be available) will be post-practice, from 4-5:15 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, while the Rams are in the morning. Thursday is the last day of media availability.

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Georgia alum and Patriots rookie running back Sony Michel on playing the Super Bowl back in the same facility where he played in the National Championship Game, Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium:

“It’s pretty cool to be in Georgia,” he said, “but it’s even more important that we’re in the Super Bowl.”

It’s the same deal for Shaq Mason, who played his college ball at Georgia Tech.

“It’s special for sure, but the Super Bowl is the Super Bowl,” he said. “I wouldn’t care where it’s at. It’s the biggest game of the year so it doesn’t matter where it’s played at.”

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Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman has always been one to be quiet about any motivating tactics during the week but certainly use things to the Patriots advantage during or after a game, like the “You’re too old” shout to Brady that was heard after the AFC Title win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

But he says he’s not concerned that the Patriots’ return to another Super Bowl isn’t exactly greeted with open arms around the country.

“I’m not really worried about that,” he said. “I’m more worried about the Los Angeles Rams and their defense and their schematics and Coach Wade (Phillips) and (Aqib) Talib and (Nickell) Robey and (Marcus) Peters.

“That’s the stuff that you’re thinking about because you know they’re thinking about you.”

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