The Lombardi Trophy could have ended up 80 feet underwater.
Tom Brady almost needed scuba lessons
The post-Super Bowl boat parade last month in Tampa might end up being just as memorable as Tom Brady’s seventh Super Bowl victory. The
daring boat-to-boat toss of the Lombardi Trophy and Brady’s wobbly return to dry land are unforgettable images. Well, for most of us.On Tuesday night, Brady joined James Corden on The Late Late Show and was asked to recall the events of that day. Compared to the actual game, “I don’t remember that quite as well,” Brady joked.
Brady held his hands in front of his face while the video of the trophy toss played, dropping them to reveal a big smile after Cameron Brate made the catch. Corden asked Brady if any part of him was thinking, “What do I do if this goes in the water?”
The short answer is, “No.”
“First of all, I was not thinking at that moment. There was not a thought,” Brady said. “It was, ‘This seems really fun to do.’ Not to mention, when you get your hands on one of those trophies, there are a lot of really sharp edges on the bottom, where the stand is. I found out later that, had that been an incomplete pass, that would have went down like 80 feet. So I am so happy to Cam.”
Anybody who saw Brady exit the boat could tell he wasn’t in a position to make sound decisions. Corden asked if his unsteady appearance could be blamed on “sea legs or a touch of tequila?”
Brady said it was “a little of both” but mostly danced around the question.
“It was definitely a moment of celebration,” Brady said. “I’m happy I’m on land at that point, absolutely. Happy I’m being surrounded by my fellow quarterback Griff [Ryan Griffin], in the right place at the right time. Who can have a friend better than that? Just making sure I was so comfortable walking off the boat like that.”
I had no idea the man escorting Brady ashore was third-string quarterback Ryan Griffin until Brady mentioned it. The team polo and firm grip on Brady made Griffin look like a Bucs security staffer. Griffin’s made a decent career for himself as a reserve quarterback, but he’s definitely got a future as an elite bouncer once his football days are over.
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