Anger often drives this columnist.

When Tennyson penned those immortal words in The Charge of the Light Brigade: “Theirs not to question why,” he might as well have been scolding me 150 years in advance.

Angry Longo questions everything and everyone, with a jagged, cynical edge.

We enter this morning, Day 1 of the post-TB12 Era, with no venom, no loathing, no ire, simply oozing acceptance.

By the time you read these words, Tom Brady will be a Buc, Charger, Raider or Dolphin.

Drafted by the New England Patriots on April 16, 2000, Brady falls weeks short of his anniversary with the team, albeit 20 seasons, nine AFC titles and six Super Bowl rings later.

The New England Patriots allowed the greatest player in the history of pro sport to take his game elsewhere.

The legend abandoned us.

The coach smugly believes he’s better without him.

We are left with Jarrett Stidham and the oldest, crustiest roster in the NFL.

And I’m all good.

What happened Tuesday and this operetta that has played out through puzzling verse from the Foxborough podium, leaks from the media and innuendo from all sides over the past 12 months has simply flowed naturally.

We can’t treat the Patriots like the Red Sox.

When Nomar whined his way out of town, fans were ruthless. He scooted with a crimson back side.

When Mookie was shoved to the West Coast a few weeks back, ownership was drilled for a salary dump on a payroll that still approaches $200 million.

None of that applies here.

Look, I would blast a guilty party here. But I can not find one.

Brady has been nothing short of a demigod in Boston.

Check every box. Along with the 19 seasons of heroics on the field, he’s been a gentleman, humanitarian, family man, with humility and class.

His lone flaw? Chucking his cell phone into the Charles when Deflategate broke. All that did was center the blame squarely between the 1 and 2 on his back.

And he took it bravely on his own, the ultimate team guy.

If he wants to go, he leaves New England owing us nothing.

Should Bob Kraft have been irresponsible and showered Brady with cash to keep him here?

There is a sect that believes it should have happened.

Kraft could not compromise his franchise, even for Brady, who leaves with well over $285 million “Patriots Pesos” paid out over his, as Belichick precisely nailed yesterday, “unfathomably spectacular” tenure.

So the Patriots and the legend have parted ways.

In these utterly serious times outside of sport, with a virus taking thousands of lives and seriously impacting millions, we all should simply look back on this wonderful marriage and smile.

Sorry, I feel so fortunate to have been there most every step of the way.

Contact Hector Longo at 594-1253 or hlongo@nashuatelegraph.com.x

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