Belichick, Brady write letters to support Ty Law, Richard Seymour for Hall of Fame
By Matt McCarthy, 985TheSportsHub.com
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have thrown their weight behind the candidacy of two former Patriots who are finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Brady and Belichick penned letters in support of Ty Law and Richard Seymour, who will find out on Saturday if they will be apart of the 2019 Hall of Fame class.
In his letter to the voters, Brady said Law “changed the game” forever with his dominant three interception performance of Peyton Manning in the 2003 AFC Championship Game.
“One of his most memorable performances came in the 2003 AFC Championship Game, when he continually knocked Marvin Harrison and other Colts receivers off their routes, intercepting future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning three times,” Brady wrote. “Following that season, the competition committee redefined illegal contact and cracked down on pass interference penalties, changing the way the game has been played for well over a decade. In that way, Ty Law changed the game of football.”
Brady credited Law with making him a better player, saying he was challenged by the two-time All-Pro every day in practice.
“I can remember how upset I would get when I would make a mistake in practice and Ty would capitalize on it. Looking back, I realize how lucky I was then to be challenged every day by one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play the game,” Brady said.
“Ty Law was a pain in the ass,” wrote Brady, who noted he was using a term of endearment to describe his former teammate.
Law has been a finalist for the Hall of Fame three times.
3 Feb 2002: Cornerback Ty Law of the New England Patriots waves to the crowd of fans as sports commentator Terry Bradshaw, left, and teammate Adam Vinatieri, right, look on at the podium after Super Bowl XXXVI. (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Belichick wrote that Seymour was one of the two best defensive lineman he has coached in his 43-year NFL career, along with Vince Wilfork.
“It is extremely uncommon to see a player of his size, at any position, be capable of doing so many things so well,” wrote Belichick, who cited Seymour’s dominance in 3-4 or 4-3 fronts, his ability to play both the run and pass, and contribute on special teams.
“Richard Seymour was unquestionably one of our key players and I do not believe we would have won three championships without him,” Belichick said in closing.
Seymour is a first-time finalist this year.
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