Will Levis surprised by powerful message from Tom Brady
When Tom Brady taped a video message for Will Levis, he harkened to the most hideous day of the young quarterback’s pro career.
Remember when Levis spent all that time in the green room on the first day of the NFL Draft? He was expecting to be a first round pick, possibly top five. Instead, he sat there with his girlfriend and his family for several painful hours as three quarterbacks were granted their first-round dreams.
Tom Brady told Will Levis to embrace all those frustrating hours.
“Waiting around on draft day, it sucks,” Brady told Levis. “I know the feeling. It’s not easy. But I promise you one thing. It’s going to make everything that happens from this point on, that much sweeter.”
The Brady-Levis exchange was part of an emotional tribute that NFL greats paid to this year’s rookies who grew up idolizing them. Fanatics put together the tributes and released them as part of a four-minute video montage the company posted on Twitter.
Tom Brady passed along encouragement to more than just Will Levis. He also did a video for Anthony Richardson, who the Colts selected with the fourth pick of the draft.
“A lot of people tell me you’re a better person than quarterback,” Brady told the former Florida star. “That says a lot because I’ve seen some of the throws you make.”
If you watch the four minutes, it’s like a giant video collage of the league’s past and future. Joe Montana, Ray Lewis, Peyton Manning, Jerry Rice and LaDainian Tomlinson all did videos for the league youngsters. It was like one big Hallmark football moment.
And the rookies featured in the video weren’t all first rounders. The most emotional moment came when Adrian Peterson talked to Bears receiver Tyler Scott. who grew up idolizing AD.
“It’s truly a blessing to be in the position that you’re in,” Peterson said to Scott. “Remember this, you get out what you put in.”
The words triggered something in Scott, who immediately became emotional. He wiped tears out of his eyes. “He actually said a quote that my dad said to me all the time, to this day, you get out what you put in. Man, it’s a lot,” Scott recalled.
There was another touching moment as Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn heard Barry Sanders’ message to him. He then unwrapped an autographed Sanders jersey.
“This dude right there is the reason I play this game,” Vaughn said. “He’s the reason I work so hard. This is huge.”
Bryce Young, the top pick of the draft, admitted that “it’s pretty surreal,” to think he’s the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers. “I’m still adapting to it, honestly.”
Later in the video you hear Aaron Rodgers provide some words of encouragement to Young, the former Alabama star. “I really enjoy the way you carry yourself. It’s really, really important in this league.”
Meanwhile, we’re sure that Will Levis appreciated Tom Brady’s pep talk. Back in 2000, Brady was mostly a draft-day after thought. The Patriots selected him in the sixth round, with the 199th overall pick. Seven Super Bowl rings later, Brady doesn’t mind the snub (as much). After not hearing his name in the first round, Levis headed home to Connecticut. The Titans selected him early in the second round. It wasn’t like a Brady fall, but it still registered.