Senators introduce a resolution honoring Tom Brady’s career

Senators from the New England area introduced a resolution on Thursday to honor superstar NFL quarterback Tom Brady after he announced his retirement from the league last week.

Brady played with the New England Patriots for 20 seasons out of his 22-year career in the NFL. He won six Super Bowls with the Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, giving him more championship rings than any player in history. 

The resolution seeks to honor Brady’s “legendary career,” adding that the quarterback’s “leadership, tenacity, and hard work defined a generation for Patriots Nation and whose legacy will continue to live on for years to come.”

The proposal also says the Senate “wishes Tom Brady a fulfilling post-professional football career as he bids farewell to the gridiron.”

Brady officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Feb. 1, writing in a statement “I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore.”

“I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention,” he added.

The announcement followed days of speculation regarding whether or not the three-time MVP would put down his helmet for good. 

His retirement statement, however, hurt some in the New England area, as it lauded the Buccaneers and Tampa Bay without mentioning the Patriots once.

He later thanked “Patriots Nation,” commenting on a tweet from the New England Patriots account that featured a statement from CEO Robert Kraft praising Brady.

“I’m beyond grateful. Love you all,” Brady added in the tweet.

Tuesday’s resolution cited Brady’s many accolades and accomplishments while playing for the Patriots, noting that he is commonly known as “the GOAT” — an acronym that stands for “greatest of all time.”

The senators also said Brady “earned the love and admiration of New England sports fans everywhere and buoyed the spirit of children through his work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Best Buddies.”

“Tom Brady brought incredible joy to New England and all of Patriots Nation, who loved watching him play,” the resolution adds.

Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) spearheaded the resolution effort, which was joined by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Angus King (I-Maine), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) were the only three senators from the New England area who did not sign on to the resolution.

Murphy is a fan of the New York Giants, according to The New York Times. The Giants notably beat Brady’s Patriots in the 2008 and 2012 super bowls.

Sanders, however, appears to be a Patriots fan. He tweeted a photo of himself and Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick in 2015 with the caption “Sen. Bernie Sanders advises @Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick on how New England can repeat as  @SuperBowl champs.”