Last Thursday marked a glorious day in the heart of Patriots fans, sports fans and fans of justice everywhere. Last Thursday the New England Patriots ran out onto their home turf at Gillette Stadium led by the man who deserved to do so more than anyone on planet earth. Last Thursday Tom Brady started at quarterback for the New England Patriots.

This wasn’t just any old start for Tom Brady. Starting this football game meant so much more to the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. Starting this season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers meant clearing his name of the terrible reputation surrounding the Deflategate controversy, and thus solidifying himself as the man that New England fans around the world know him as.

Watching Brady sprint out of the tunnel like a bat out of hell gave me goosebumps. Seeing the passion in his face as he hooted and hollered to get the crowd riled up almost brought a tear to my eye.

Being able to watch my childhood idol witness his fourth championship banner be revealed was so surreal. People always questioned whether Brady could pull off winning another Super Bowl and he was finally able to shut them up. Then, when it was seemingly the whole world trying to tarnish his integrity, he stood up and shut them up too.

Then, after all of the emotions and celebration had passed, Tom went out and did exactly what all of Patriots Nation expected him to do. Tom went out and DOMINATED the Steelers. He could do no wrong. Tom would go on to throw for 288 yards and 4 touchdowns. He torched the Pittsburgh defense for everything they would give him. It just goes to show that even when all of the distractions in the world are just staring him in the eye, Tom Brady looks straight back at those distractions and throws touchdown passes and wins games.

Leave it to the ultimate competitor to continue to own this league even when the league itself tried to stop him in his tracks. I hate to speak too soon on this, but I genuinely think we could see a record-breaking season out of Tom Brady this year. Tom lit the league on fire in 2007, following the spygate scandal, so I can only imagine how motivated deflategate has gotten him.

All I know is, if I were associated with any of the other 31 teams in the NFL right now, I would be terrified to play against Tom Brady to begin with, let alone Tom Brady with a chip on his shoulder.

There will always be those who look on at Tom Brady in jealousy, just wishing they could have a great man like that to call their quarterback. Those people are the same ones that will go on to call him a cheater and allow Deflategate to tarnish his legacy in their own minds, but rest assured, here in New England, Tom Brady will forever be known as the single greatest sportsman of all time.

In closing, I’d just like to send a message to the rest of the NFL:

Good luck, because Tommy Football is back!

Jake can be contacted at jcoughlin@kscequinox.com