New England Patriots
Tom Brady ‘Deeply Saddened’ By Death of Tom Martinez
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said he was “deeply saddened” by Tuesday’s death of his longtime mentor, Tom Martinez. Brady and Martinez had a close relationship since Brady’s high school career, and during the Super Bowl run, the quarterback raised awareness for Martinez’s search for a kidney. Brady released a statement Wednesday on his Facebook page, which also included a photo he took with Martinez. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my coach, mentor and friend,” the statement read. “Coach Martinez’s invaluable assistance and support will never be forgotten and will always have a lasting impact on my life….
The Man who made Brady, passed away
New England Patriots QB, Tom Brady, will tell you that he owes much of his success to Tom Martinez. He was basically Brady’s personal QB coach since he attended Martinez’s football clinic at the age of of 3. They had a strong bond. Brady, along with all of Martinez’s family and friends are now mourning his passing. Martinez passed away yesterday when he suffered a heart attack during dialysis.
Martinez had been waiting on a kidney donation for a very long time, and Brady tried to be part of the effort. During the run up to the Super Bowl, Brady used the exposure to speak on the importance of organ donation. Brady even went as far as posting on Facebook in hopes of finding someone who could donate a kidney. Brady’s love and appreciation for Martinez is widely known.
Just before the season began, Brady visited once more with Martinez, and the two studied game-film. After working on a couple of things that Martinez spotted, Brady threw for 517 yards in the seaso…
Tom Brady’s Mentor Passes Away
Tom Martinez, the man known for being New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s mentor, has passed away at the age of 66.
Martinez died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack during dialysis.
He was best known for mentoring Brady since he was age 13 after meeting him at a quarterback coaching clinic and has been his coach ever since. Brady has often credited Martinez for being the quarterback that he is today.
Martinez coached football, women’s basketball and softball at the College of San Mateo where he racked up a combined total of 1,100 wins in his career.
He had been looking for a kidney for a long time according to Brady but there was not one available. Brady and Martinez were featured in numerous articles and videos documenting their relationship leading up to this year’s Super Bowl. Brady also used that platform to encourage organ donations so people like his long time friend and coach wouldn’t have to wait long for something that would save their l…
Brady’s personal quarterback coach dies
Tom Martinez, the longtime personal coach to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, has died at 67.
His wife, Olivia, told the San Mateo Daily Journal (http://bit.ly/wZC5Vl ) that he died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack while receiving dialysis treatment. The San Francisco Chronicle reported he died in Redwood City.
Tom Martinez worked with Brady when he was a teenager growing up in San Mateo, where Martinez coached at College of San Mateo. Their relationship continued during Brady’s NFL career.
Martinez told the San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/xSIrhf ) before the Patriots’ Super Bowl matchup against the New York Giants this year that he always enjoyed working with Brady and watching him play.
Brady was equally complimentary, telling reporters before the Super Bowl that Martinez taught him how to throw a football, and he was ”forever indebted” to him.
”He’s been a great friend of mine for a long time,” Brady said, adding that Martinez had been seeking a kidney for some time.
”A lot of people are looking for kidneys or some different type of transplants, but he’s very deserving,” Brady said. ”He’s a great man.”
A spokesman for the Patriots said early Wednesday that Brady could not immediately be reached for comment. The team posted to Twitter late Tuesday, ”Our sincere condolences go out to the Martinez family & all those he mentored throughout his incredible career.”
Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman also tweeted, ”RIP coach Tom Martinez. He was such a great mentor to many in the bay area. His legacy will always live on.”
Olivia Martinez told the Daily Journal in an email that Martinez ”leaves three children . their spouses . six grandchildren and hundreds of young athletes in the Bay Area and around the country.”
Doctors told Martinez last spring that he had months or less to live due to a combination of kidney and heart problems, the Daily Journal reported. His prognosis was, at least temporarily, debunked when specialists discovered that it was his pacemaker that was killing him. The pacemaker was turned off in June and he had been fighting to get stronger while awaiting a kidney transplant.
Martinez was hired at College of San Mateo to coach football and teach physical education but added softball and women’s basketball to his coaching load.
His teams won 32 championships. He had 400 career wins in football, a state record 565 wins in basketball and 800 wins in softball over 32 years, the Daily Journal reported.
”He really was the representation of Bulldog athletics,” said College of San Mateo athletic director Gary Dilley. ”It’s great (Martinez) made such a great contribution to Tom Brady, but really the mark he made was in the hearts he trained and coached at CSM.”
Wes Welker and Patriots are still far apart on contract
The franchise tag looks more and more of an option for the New England Patriots as NFL sources have indicated both sides are still miles apart.
Welker is looking to gain money in the top five for wide receivers, something the Patriots are balking at.
The Patriots are being cautious whether Welker, who has taken an enormous amount of wear and tear, including a torn ACL in 2009, could last through a long term deal.
Brandon Spikes goes under the knife, but tweets first
Brandon Spikes underwent surgery yesterday morning and before he went under the knife, he tweeted the following:
“Surgery this a.m.!!!! Y’all pray 4 me please ….. #PoWwWwW!“
The Patriots confirmed later that Spikes underwent a scope on his right knee.
The former Florida Gator entered the league in 2010 and quickly became an integral part of the Patriots defense. Spikes came back from his MCL sprain to have a strong finish to the season and looks to be a force going into his third year.
Wes Welker Tops Marquee List of Free-Agent Wide Receivers, Other Options Also in Play for Patriots
Editor’s note: Jeff Howe will preview each position in free agency every day through Feb. 28. This edition highlights the wide receivers. The Patriots’ offseason begins at the receiver position, as Wes Welker should be viewed as the most valuable player on the market in their eyes. Whether they franchise him or lock him up long term, the Patriots have to secure Welker before putting together some other areas of need. And really, considering his achievements in New England and his desire to remain with the organization, the negotiations shouldn’t be overly tedious. From there, the Patriots should look for…
Brady’s mentor dies of heart attack
Longtime quarterback coach and Tom Brady mentor Tom Martinez died Tuesday at the age of 66 after suffering a heart attack during a dialysis session, WCVB-TV Boston reported.
Tuesday also marked Martinez’s birthday, according to NFL.com.
Martinez is considered one of the greatest coaches from the junior college ranks and is a member of the College of San Mateo’s Hall of Fame. Complications from diabetes led to serious health issues late in his life and he had been in need of a kidney transplant.
Last month, Brady tried to help Martinez in his search for a new kidney by reaching out to his fans for help, myFOXboston.com reported.
“This is just oh, so terribly sad,” Martinez’s widow told the New York Daily News.
“He had so much to offer so many people.”
Martinez worked with many quarterbacks throughout his career, but his most successful was Brady, a three-time Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots.
The relationship between the two began in 1992, when Brady was in high school. Brady continued to consult Martinez for passing tips and advice throughout his college and NFL careers, with the two frequently working on mechanics during the offseason.
Martinez retired from coaching at California’s College of San Mateo in 2005 because of his health problems but continued to work with quarterbacks at camps and on an individual basis.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated last year, Brady described Martinez as a “great man and coach,” adding, “no one’s helped me more as a passer.”
What Do Patriots Do If Matt Light Retires?
It has been reported that New England Patriots starting left tackle Matt Light might be considering retiring. The 33-year old four-time pro bowler has been a constant in the Patriots offensive line since 2001 and has been on each of the three Super Bowl winning teams.
Light signed a two-year contract extension on July 31, 2011 which would end after the 2012 season but it has been reported that Light is considering not playing out the remainder of that contract. Light is due to be paid $3.4 million with a $100,000 workout bonus in 2012. With a strong offensive line, the Patriots have done well at keeping Tom Brady upright throughout the years and Light has been a big part of that. So what do the Patriots do if Light does retire?
If Light does decide to finish his 11-year career, the Patriots are pretty well stocked with young talent on the offensive line. Most likely, his replacement would come from that group. One option is Marcus Cannon moving from right to left tackle. Cann…
Tom Brady’s QB mentor dies
Tom Martinez sadly died on Tuesday, his 66th birthday. He was receiving dialysis treatment and was hoping for a kidney transplant.
Report: Brandon Spikes Has Surgery on Right Knee
Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes dealt with a knee issue for the last three months of the season, and he tended to it Tuesday. Spikes had surgery to clean out some cartilage, according to the Boston Herald. The report indicated the surgery “went very well.” Spikes, who tweeted Tuesday that he was set for surgery, injured his right knee in Week 9 against the Giants, and he missed the Patriots’ next seven games. Spikes returned to become one of the team’s best defensive players in the postseason, despite wearing a knee brace all the way through the Super Bowl. Have a…
Matt Light Could Plan on Retiring This Offseason
The New England Patriots second-round pick in the 2001 NFL draft was well worth the selection as Matt Light emerged as one of the elite left tackles in all of football throughout the past 11 seasons.
Light, who’s turning 34 this summer, could end up retiring this offseason as he has one year remaining on his contract that’s worth about $3.4 million.
The Boston Herald’s Ian R. Rapoport believes that Light will not be back in 2012 and that retirement is “definitely possible.”
[Marcus] Cannon will be in the mix with Nate Solder, SebastianVollmer and practice squader Matt Kopa, who is promising. While it hasn’t been said officially, the expectation is that Matt Light will not be back next year (with retirement definitely possible).
Light has spent his entire 11-year career with the Patriots and he’s one of three players on New England’s roster that played in all three of the team’s Super Bowl championships.
It appears that New England will move forward with their first-round pick f…
Wes Welker and his fiance on vacation with Tom & Gisele
The gang is all here T…
Wes Welker and his new fiance Anna Burns, were caught on the Costa Rican beach with Tom Brady and his family — I guess this means Gisele isn’t mad at Tom’s receivers anymore. If you’re a Pats fan, this is a pretty good indication Tom and free agent Wes will be playing together next season. Thanks to X17 for the pics. -TO
Moves Like Welker Song
Welker Engaged to Miss Hooters International
Wes Welker Ultra Highlights (by XposeYourTDs)
In honor of the…
Wes Welker Ultra Highlights (by XposeYourTDs)
In honor of the open Franchise Tag window here’s a pretty sweet Welker highlight film.
I know there’s some discussion right now whether the Pats should let Welker walk, replace him with Edelman to run the slot routes, and use the money saved to go after someone like Mike Wallace.
I don’t think it’s totally insane to entertain thoughts of letting Welker go given his age, and the slot ability of Hernando moreso than Edelman. However I still don’t think that Hernando and Edelman together are a trade up from Welker, nor am I convinced that Mike Wallace has the noodle to pick up the Pats offense.
Anyone who remembers 2006 knows that you really shouldn’t screw with Brady’s favorite receiver. I’m still in the camp of re-signing Welker using the Franchise Tag as leverage if necessary. If he walks he’ll likely go to a team the Pats will have to deal with, so then I ask you, how do you feel about the Pats defense matching up on him? Because I sure…
Gisele spotted with Wes Welker and Anna Burns
The big news yesterday in Costa Rica was that while Tom Brady was busy building a beach campfire, his wife Gisele was directing a beach photoshoot with Wes Welker & his future wife Anna Burns. You might remember Gisele – post-Super Bowl – wasn’t exactly a big fan of Welker’s & N.E. WR’s catching ability in Indy. From the look of these photos out today, it seems everyone has buried the hatchet.
Damn, these paparazzi are good. Knew the exact beach where Gisele would be vacationing in Costa Rica. How do they do it?
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