Tom Brady enshrined into Patriots Hall of Fame during star-studded night

The official ceremony inside Gillette Stadium was kicked off by a smoke-filled efficiency by rapper Jay-Z of his 2003 “Public Service Announcement,” which Brady used as entrance music when he’d jogged onto the sphere to warmup earlier than video games.

On this night time, Brady emerged from close to the stage on the finish of Jay-Z’s efficiency, strolling via the part reserved for the night time’s particular visitors earlier than taking a seat on stage himself.

There he watched video tributes from his rivals through the years, together with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, Charles Woodson and Jason Taylor. There have been additionally video appearances by former New York Giants Michael Strahan and Eli Manning, who had been booed by followers who have not forgotten how the Giants spoiled the Patriots’ bid for an ideal season with their upset within the 2007 Tremendous Bowl. They defeated Brady and firm once more within the 2011 Tremendous Bowl.

Different video cameos included a few of Boston’s most celebrated celebrities, reminiscent of Pink Sox nice David Ortiz and Matt Damon.

The No. 199 choose within the 2000 draft, Brady inherited the beginning job in his second season in New England when Bledsoe, the previous No. 1 total choose, was injured and led the Patriots to a Tremendous Bowl championship that 12 months. He received 5 extra titles over the subsequent twenty years.

Again with Brady once more, Bledsoe joked that Brady did not comply with the No. 1 rule as his backup.

“You had been the worst backup quarterback within the historical past of the NFL,” Bledsoe mentioned. “You by no means realized that after I obtained wholesome, that you just had been alleged to go sit again down.”

There have been emotional moments. Like when a few of Brady’s high playmakers — Moss, Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Wes Welker joined Brady on stage.

Moss was moved to tears as the gang showered him a two-minute ovation. Moss recalled how when he arrived in New England in 2007 he knew he needed to be near Brady.

“Put my locker beside Tom Brady’s and the remainder will care for itself,” Moss mentioned.

There have been additionally shock in-person visitors, like Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Peyton Manning taking part in a sit down dialogue with Brady and the night time’s host Mike Tirico to debate the quarterbacks’ on-field clashes through the years.

Manning revealed how he by no means counted the Patriots out when his groups confronted Brady, particularly when Brady had the ball with an opportunity to win late in video games.

“I used to be praying on the sidelines,” Manning mentioned. “I by no means pray on the sidelines.”

Brady paid Manning compliments as effectively, calling him one in all his finest associates. He additionally famous how he’d adopted Manning’s profession as a younger quarterback, relationship again to highschool.

“There’s no person on the market like Peyton Manning proper now,” Brady mentioned.

Manning even supplied a few of his textbook quips, drawing cheers from what was usually a hostile New England crowd when he lamented, “They like me right here as a result of I all the time misplaced right here.”

In entrance of a crowd spilling together with his No. 12 jersey, Brady mentioned his household and the Patriots shall be perpetually intertwined.

“I really feel like we’re nonetheless the household that’s making an attempt to like one another,” Brady mentioned. “We’re adopted New Englanders.”

At one level Brady ran down the checklist of cities he’d lived in round New England throughout his time with the Patriots, from Franklin to Quincy to Chestnut Hill to Brookline.

Brady concluded his speech welling with tears.

“I’m Tom Brady. And I’m a Patriot,” he mentioned.