Morning sports update: Tom Brady explained why he thinks late-round draft picks can have an advantage

"You learn different skill-sets when you're not the top pick."

Tom Brady passes against the Steelers in Week 1. Brady shared thoughts afterward on Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski. AP Photo/Elise Amendola

By Hayden Bird

September 12, 2019

3 minutes to read

The Red Sox lost to the Blue Jays on Wednesday night, 8-0. Boston managed only two hits.

Elsewhere, U.S. men’s basketball lost to France in the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals, ending the team’s 58-game winning streak. And in sports legal news, LeBron James’s attempt to trademark “Taco Tuesday” was denied by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Tom Brady’s thoughts on being a late-round pick: As is universally known by this point, Tom Brady was once a little known sixth-round draft pick in 2000. He was the fourth quarterback on the Patriots’ depth chart, working his way up to become a starter and (eventually) a six-time Super Bowl winner.

On Wednesday, as he deflected from another question about Antonio Brown (and whether he shared anything in common with the wide receiver as they were both sixth-round picks), Brady instead offered some insight into what advantage he thinks late-round picks and undrafted players occasionally have over higher picks.

“I think you look at a guy like Julian [Edelman],” Brady offered. “We’ve had a lot of undrafted players, late-round picks. I think what they can’t evaluate at the combine are probably things that might help you prolong your career. You know, you learn different skill-sets when you’re not the top pick.

“A lot of times,” Brady continued, “I think if you can stick with it and you can keep finding a way, the things that make you successful as a player, to me, are continuing to evolve your game, continue to work at your skills, the things you need to do, continuous improvement, discipline, hard work. Sometimes, I think the guys who are later picks develop those traits and then you realize, “Man, those really paid off for me, let me keep doing them.”

Conversely, Brady — who has witnessed many top draft picks attempt to come in and immediately contribute to the Patriots — knows how the higher profile rookies can be in a more difficult position.

“I think sometimes it’s a disadvantage when you’re a high pick,” Brady explained. “Everyone tells you how great you are all the time, you get more opportunity than everyone else. So, I think the things that are sustainable are hard work, discipline, commitment, and I’d say we’ve had a lot of players over the years that have fit that mold.”

Trivia: Tom Brady has thrown a touchdown pass to 71 different players in his NFL career, which is a league record. What quarterback held the record before Brady?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He went to the University of Miami.

More from Boston.com:

Braves pitcher Chris Martin threw the fifth immaculate inning in team history on Wednesday night

Chris Martin, Immaculate Inning. pic.twitter.com/2EWSjAPzC3

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 12, 2019

Caroline Wozniacki, David Lee, Reggie Bullock, and Ashley Wagner are among the latest take take a class at Harvard Business School:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2PrIW9lEX7/?igshid=i4s6biloxlbe

Some Bruins news:

Bruins games will have a new booming voice on the PA in 2019-20, as longtime PA announcer Jim Martin apparently announced his retirement (via Facebook). Always loved his “Tuuuuuuuuuuuukka Rask!”

— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) September 12, 2019

On this day: In 1979, Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski collected his 3,000th career hit by sneaking a grounder past the glove of Yankees second baseman Willie Randolph. Boston won the game, 9-2.