New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wants his team’s fans to do some drinking so they can get sufficiently riled up for Sunday’s home opener.
And by drinking, he means the stuff you get from your kitchen faucet, his team helpfully adds.
Brady, addressing reporters Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers, was asked whether he had a message for fans.
“Yeah, start drinking early,” he said, drawing chuckles from the reporters. “Get nice and rowdy. (It's a) 4:15 (p.m.) game, they have a lot of time to get lubed up, come out here and cheer for their home team.” (Video from CNN affiliate WCVB)
About an hour later, according to multiple media reports, a team spokesman stepped in to clarify what Brady really meant to say: He wants fans to “stay hydrated, drink a lot of water, be loud, drink responsibly."
Clearly, Brady was concerned about fans’ hydration, with game-day temperatures in Foxborough, Massachusetts, expected to be scorching in the upper 60s.
The Patriots’ audible does come amid fresh memories of fan rowdiness and violence. Last month, for instance, two shootings and a beating followed a preseason football game at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park.
Closer to home, drinking at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium “during Patriots games and concerts has been a concern for neighboring towns,” the New York Post reported. This year, according to the Post, Foxborough instituted a $200 fine for drinking in public.
But the edit didn’t sit right with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, who addressed it on his radio show Thursday afternoon.
“The NFL has billions of dollars worth of ads – and so do we, during our broadcasts – of beer,” Van Pelt said. “There’s signage all over the stadium about beer. Only after Brady said that – less than an hour after, in fact – the PR of the Patriots puts out a statement which says, ‘He meant to say, (drink water).’
“No, he didn’t. That’s not what he meant. He meant what he said, which was, ‘Come out, have a few, get loud, and if you’re hammered, you’re hammered.’ I mean, I’m embellishing, but he didn’t say 'drink water and stay hydrated.'
“I pity anyone whose job it is to have a cleanup on aisle 3 when there’s no need for a cleanup,” Van Pelt added. “What Brady said was funny. Everyone knew what he meant. What he didn’t mean was drink water.”
NFL player Dominic Raiola wasn’t impressed with any controversy over Brady’s comments. The center for the Detroit Lions, who host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at 1 p.m., told Michigan news outlet MLive.com that he was fine with Brady’s comments.
"Hell, yeah," Raiola said. "(The Patriots) have a 4:15 p.m. game, right? Maybe Detroit should get started about 8:30 a.m."
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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clearly, a statement from a seriously gay man with a curiously large cranium.
You hate yourself.
with barley and hops! I know it was already said but my buddy just got me a dish towel that says it. Mmm homebrew.
Jeez, who cares what he says? Drink, don't drink, whatever.
GO CHARGERS!!!
Why do we all have to walk on egg shells when we speak these days. I swear America has become a bunch of wussy's!
Blame the lawyers! Everyone's afraid of getting sued, that's why. If there's an incident at the game, some wussy will find a lawyer who will argue the organziation should have clarified Brady's remarks. In short, no one takes accountability for their actions. When our leaders in Washington don't have to, why should anyone else? But, that's where the lawyers come in. I know not all of them are like that, but the fact that it can and does happen is why we need such disclosure.
Sad, very sad. Like Voltaire said, common sense is not so common.
Non story, non issue, nonsense.
GO PATRIOTS!!!
Oh yeah because in the 60's is scorching. Give me a break. I live in Texas and it is not scorching unless it is in the mid 90's or above. Just because it is a 4:15 game doesn't make it a terribly hot and unbearable game. Try dealing with 100 degree and up weather.
Scorching remark was sarcasm. Obviously you don't speak it.
Its called sarcasm...look it up...they were kidding about the 60's being "scorching." Sheesh.
One word: sarcasm
wow...you are really great at picking up sarcasm
That comment was sarcastic fyi, we all know its hot in Texas
That was the point! Obviously Brady wasn't concerned for fans' hydration when dehydration isn't a serious, widespread problem with "scorching" temps in the 60s.
Bryant, learn to think outside the box. It was sarcasm.
surely there should be some real news, this article is just is just as ignant as i spelled ignant.
When are people going to realize that the backtracking is usually worse and more stupid than the original statement? "Stay hydrated?" Nobody could possibly believe that's what he meant.
I bleed Red, White, and Blue a true Patriots fan through and through!
van pelt is a van putz – he should stick to golf commentary! bring back the BIG SHOW!! Loved Olbermann & Patrick!!
I agree with Matthew H. I've decided to go non 'politically correct' and say what I REALLY mean anymore. So, Pats and Brady fans - drink up, get fiesty and root on the team!
What three NFL football fans are the Patirots worried about offending?
Sure, like the Patriots fans need encouragement. Why don't the weenies calling this out write about something important.