Magic Johnson doesn’t want Tom Brady to miss a single game
If Tom Brady isn’t playing on Sundays, then Magic Johnson won’t be watching, the Lakers Hall of Famer told WEEI on Monday.
“I’m a Tom Brady fan. I don’t want to see Tom Brady miss one game,’’ Johnson said while signing autographs at the Jeffrey Osborne Charity Softball game at McCoy Stadium. “We don’t want to see New England without Tom Brady. If you’re a great football team and a great football player, you want to have them at their best, and that’s who you want to beat.’’
Brady was suspended four games for his role in Deflategate scandal, which ensued after the New England Patriots’ footballs were underinflated at halftime of the AFC Championship Game.
Johnson seemed to point fingers at the Indianapolis Colts, who tipped the NFL about the deflated footballs, questioning why another team would want to remove a competitor from the field — especially a player of Brady’s caliber.
“That’s like me saying, ‘Larry Bird … please, league, disqualify him or make him sit down.’ No!’’ Johnson told WEEI. “I didn’t want that. I wanted Larry Bird, I wanted [Kevin] McHale, I wanted [Robert] Parish, I wanted DJ, I wanted Danny Ainge, I wanted [Scott] Wedman off the bench, I wanted [Cedric] Maxwell. I wanted M.L. Carr waving that damn towel around. I wanted everybody, just like they wanted our team to be at full strength, because that’s what it’s about. I want to beat you with your best, so there’ll be no excuses.’’
Johnson said he wants to see how the AFC East shakes out, calling it the best division in the NFL. Despite the Jets and Bills’ offseason additions, he appears to have faith in Brady’s Patriots. After he incorrectly mentioned Brady had five Super Bowl ring, he was corrected and said, “OK, four-time Super Bowl champion — five’s coming.’’
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