Dec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; FOX broadcaster and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady seems on earlier than the sport between the Minnesota Vikings and the Inexperienced Bay Packers at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs
The best quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, was mercilessly booed on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier than the Indy 500 on Sunday.
Hasn’t sufficient time handed, Colts followers?
Brady was 16-4 towards the Colts all through his profession, together with a 4-1 document towards Indianapolis within the postseason. Through the Peyton Manning period, the Colts couldn’t get previous Brady’s New England Patriots within the 2003 AFC Championship Recreation and the 2004 AFC Divisional Spherical. Indy’s lone playoff victory towards Brady got here within the 2007 AFC Championship Recreation. Manning’s Colts went on to win the Tremendous Bowl. They acquired their redemption — however clearly, the followers by no means forgot.
However these days are lengthy over. They’ve been over. It’s been greater than a decade because the Patriots and Colts met within the NFL playoffs.
Nonetheless, followers haven’t forgotten — or forgiven — Brady for his longevity and dominance.
The Patriots are wrapping up their rebuild with quarterback Drake Maye and new head coach Mike Vrabel. The Colts have had their share of quarterback experiments since Manning left for the Denver Broncos, together with a run with Andrew Luck that ended prematurely, a carousel of bridge QBs, and now Anthony Richardson.
Alex Palou received his first Indy 500 on Sundaychanging into the primary Spanish driver to win the occasion. Sports activities historical past was made. Elsewhere in Indianapolis, the Pacers dropped Recreation 4 of the Japanese Convention finals to the New York Knicks on Sunday night. Satirically, the Pacers are 0-4 all-time in video games performed on the identical day because the Indy 500.
However on-line? Everybody’s nonetheless speaking about Brady.
The NFL is king. However racing followers are not any joke.
Fox trotting out Brady in a branded firesuit for protection of the race — in one in every of his many rival cities — was the last word troll transfer. He additionally participated in a ceremonial first lap with Jimmie Johnson earlier than the race. How may anybody anticipate Indiana followers to react any otherwise?
Brady took the booing in stride, smiling and waving to the gang that hated him a lot.
Manning and Brady are each carving out profitable broadcasting careers. They’ve remained cordial over time. However Sunday’s refrain of boos towards the NFL legend exhibits that, regardless of having a Lombardi Trophy of their case, Colts followers nonetheless want extra time to heal.
