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Brady all-in on Pats’ signing of Brown, Kraft says

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Brady all-in on Pats’ signing of Brown, Kraft says

9:18 PM ET

  • Mike ReissESPN Staff Writer

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    • Covered Patriots since 1997
    • Joined ESPN in 2009

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is “a million percent in” on the team’s signing of Antonio Brown, owner Robert Kraft told NBC on Sunday night.

Furthermore, agent Drew Rosenhaus told NBC at Sunday night’s game that Brady has offered to have Brown live with him and his family until the receiver is settled.

The Patriots’ impending signing of Brown contributed to an electric pregame buzz before the Patriots opened the 2019 season at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

That included fans bringing signs to the game welcoming Brown, one of which read: “New England is Boomin” — a reference to one of Brown’s favorite phrases, “business is booming.”

Because the Patriots have not officially signed Brown, he couldn’t watch Sunday’s game from the sideline. Brown was in the area on Sunday after landing at Rhode Island’s T.F. Green Airport around 11:30 a.m. ET.

In his pregame report on NBC, play-by-play man Al Michaels relayed a conversation he had with Kraft about Brown:

“Kraft told me that when he broke the news to Tom Brady, Brady initially said, ‘I’m a hundred percent in.’ Two minutes later, Tom came back and said to Kraft, ‘I’m a thousand percent in.’ Then he came back two minutes later and said, ”I’m a million percent in.'”

Brady told reporters after the game it was a private conversation, but added: “I think everybody is excited to add great players. It helps everybody when you have great players that are sharing the burden of a tough football season.”

Coach Bill Belichick declined comment on Brown in his pregame radio interview and he also wouldn’t comment after Sunday’s 33-3 victory over the Steelers.

Players were more expansive.

“It will be fun,” receiver Julian Edelman said. “He’s an explosive player and we’re happy to have him. The more playmakers you have out there, the better things can go.”

Receiver Josh Gordon, who joined the Patriots in September 2018, recalled his own transition to New England when asked what advice he might give Brown.

“For me, initially, it was a culture shock. It was definitely different,” he said. “I think as I grew in this environment, and got to observe other young men move and organize and act professionally, and expectations were high. … I knew ‘this is the way it’s done here’ and I could either get with it or look for a transition somewhere else. It’s tough, but if this is what you want to do, I think this is the best place to be.

“Antonio is going to have to figure out his way, just like everybody else has.”

In an interview with ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, receiver Phillip Dorsett noted the potential for offensive fireworks with Brown.

“It can definitely be scary. I just can’t wait for him to come in and I can’t wait to work with him,” Dorsett said. “I know how hard of a worker he is. He’s always been a guy I’ve looked up to when it came to football. I mean, I used to watch his highlights in college before games and stuff like that, so I can’t wait for him to just get in so I can work with him.”

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