Like most sports fans in Indiana, Al Jefferson will be on his couch to watch the Super Bowl. But unlike most in Indiana, the Pacers center will be proudly wearing his Tom Brady jersey.
“At home, baby! At home with my Tom Brady jersey on, ready to get another one,” he said after the Pacers beat the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday night.
Big Al was born in Mississippi but became a fan of the Patriots, and especially Brady, in 2004 when he was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 15th overall pick.
Despite playing there for three years, he has never met the five-time Super Bowl champion.
“I wish I would have. I mean I’m going to tell my grandkids I have, they don’t know,” he said with a grin.
Shortly before our conversation Saturday, Tom Brady was named NFL MVP for the third time — and at age 40.
“He got MVP?,” Jefferson wanted to be sure. “Man… What else can a man do? In my personal opinion, I think win or lose, it should be his last year. I think he should go out on top. But, Tom, probably feels like he can play another two or three years at a high level.”
Tom Brady edition of ESPN The Magazine.
David Benner, the Pacers’ Director of Media Relations, likes to give Jefferson a hard time about his fandom of Brady and the Patriots. Remember Spygate? Remember Deflategate?
Recently, Benner brought in a copy of ESPN The Magazine with Brady on the cover and wrote:
“Quit stalking me. We’re not friends.” – Tom Brady
(I’d show you but NBA media rules do not allow for photos to be taken in locker rooms.)
That garnered plenty of laughter. Even before their game Saturday night, Jefferson was taking more heat for his loyalty to the Patriots and whether he was simply on the bandwagon.
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The Patriots, with Belichick and Brady, have dominated the last two decades. Sunday’s game in Minneapolis against the Philadelphia Eagles will be their eighth Super Bowl. All five Super Bowl victories were games decided by six points or less, including three by a field goal.
“It’s a lot of luck in it. It’s a lot of luck in the last two Super Bowls they’ve won. One thing about them is they play hard and they know how to adjust. Bill Belichick knows how to adjust his offense and that’s the different in my opinion.”
Last year, the Patriots did the unthinkable — coming back from 28-3 to beat the Atlanta Falcons in Houston. Jefferson is welcoming all bets against his team.
“We’ll see [if others are willing to place bets]. See I like to let the Patriots get down, then everybody wants to bet. And I’m taking all of the bets.”
Kick-off is at 6:30 pm ET on NBC.
Watch Al Jefferson discuss the Patriots below:
[Photo: Frank McGrath/PS&E]