Tom Brady wants to discuss football, not babies

Tom Brady spoke to the press yesterday in Foxboro, MA following practice with the New England Patriots. The QB asked that the media respect his privacy, and not delve into questions regarding his two-week old son, John Edward Thomas Moynahan, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan.

I’d like to just say that there are a lot of those questions and I’m sure you want answers, but I’m really here to talk about football and that’s why I’m here. That’s why I come in here every week. I hope you guys respect that. I have a lot of great thoughts on it, but I’d really prefer to share those with my family and my loved ones. It’s a wonderful thing, as I’m sure all the parents out there know already. I’m ready to talk football.

Speaking of football, the Patriots season opener against the Jets takes place September 9 at Giants Stadium in New York.

Source: Boston Herald

Comments

What kind of parent doesn’t want to talk about his newborn child?

- Paula on September 5th, 2007

I THINK MANY OF US…KNOW…HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH BRIDGET HAS ENDED…BUT AS A NEW FATHER…IT JUST SEEMS HE COULD ACT MORE EXCITED…DOES HE NOT WANT US TO SEE HIM…ACTING LIKE A LOVING FATHER…..I KNOW HE HAS TO DO HIS JOB(FOOTBALL)….I THINK THAT IS WHAT HAS SOME BAFFLED…HE DOESN’T MIND SHOWING HIS AFFECTION FOR ANOTHER…BUT DON’T MENTION MY CHILD…THAT IS ALL PRIVATE…A LOVE FOR A CHILD ISN’T PRIVATE…IT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE RESPECT HIM…..

- Karen on September 5th, 2007

I think it is very sad that Tom Brady had multiple days off in a row and could have and should have flown back to see his son during all those days off!!!!! I do not care if he only was able or allowed to see the baby for a couple of hours during thoe days off. That is what any decent father would have done. It is disgusting he spent the entire “mini vacation” gallavanting around Boston and New York with Giselle very openly and publicly offering PDA shots for the paps to publish. He WANTS the photos to be taken of he and Giselle. It is sick, yes sick. It shows a great deal about both of their characters. The definitely DESERVE eacother. Selfish, self-aggrandizing, arrogant people. Persons with this type of personality should not become parents. They are incapable of giving to another because it will get in the way of their all important self.
People that want to defend Brady’s behavior and think it is just fine to have a brand new baby and spend your free time running around with your current girlfriend instead of seeing and bonding with your new baby have a moral and compassinate screw loose.

- kathy on September 5th, 2007

Tom, get a grip, it comes with being famous

I think it’s weird when some celebs don’t ever talk about their kids, they’re a bit part of their kids lives.

- Natasha on September 5th, 2007

I hope he is just trying to sound professional. Almost sounds like he really does care more about his career than his kids

- Oh Baby Gifts on September 5th, 2007

David Beckham talks about his kids. Tiger Woods talks about his daughter. People in general are always proud to talk about their children. Except Tom. I have great thoughts? Hmmmm, wonder what thoughts those are? and Loved ones?

For most men, their career is as important and having a child makes their career even more important because they feel the need to provide and protect.

I think this is such a disgrace of a grown man who could not even say “John is great and is doing fine. Thank you for asking” and hop on to Football.

- jean on September 5th, 2007

Please do not be fooled by the intentions of the press. The press doesn’t want him to only gush about his son. They want to hear details about his break up with Bridget, his relationship with Gisele, why the baby doesn’t have his last name, and all of the specifics in between. Football players have children every day and more often than not NOTHING is brought up in press conferences about their new role as father except for the initial congratulations and ordinary size, name questions. This is not the case with Tom. The tabloids and fans want all of the salacious details and he knows that and it is his right to refuse to answer or even have it brought up. Everyone knows that the questions will not stop with, “How is John?” so why even go there to begin with. Tom and Bridget both have always been somewhat secretive about their relationship when it comes to the media, even when they were dating, so no one should really expect anything different now. They have never had a relationship where each was running to the maagzines or tabloids describing details about what was going on in their lives. Tom does not owe the public any statement about his personal life PERIOD. He gets paid to play football. The way he loves and cares for his child should not be judged by what kind of interviews he gives to the press.

- lizzielui on September 5th, 2007

Everyone—why can’t you all just assume that they want their privacy? Tom was just the one that was put on the spot. How do you know that Bridget hasn’t mandated that he keep his mouth shut?

Again, the only thing I don’t like about this board is that most people seem to place the worst possible construction on the father’s actions and the best possible construction on the mother’s actions.

example…
Bridget gives John the Moynahan surname and everyone has her back. Tom doesn’t talk about his personal life at a press conference and everyone assumes he doesn’t like being a father.

Give me a break!

- cats on September 5th, 2007

give the guy a break! there’s a difference between tom brady and tiger woods and david beckham… him and the mother of his child are not together. it’s a sticky situation and i’m sure there is some feelings that he needs to adjust to because john is all the way in los angeles. we don’t know the real feelings between bridget and tom at this moment and sure, they may be adults, but even some adults can’t push aside their personal feelings for each other (for the sake of their child) in just two weeks. obviously, there are some things that need to be worked out and until they are, being a father won’t hit tom just yet.

- november on September 5th, 2007

cats, I’m on Tom’s side. I don’t know a thing about Bridget. I’m not going to start another debate about it, I think the baby’s last name should’ve been Brady.

Anyways, I think Mothers and Fathers alike should talk about their kids I’m not just beating up on Tom.

- Natasha on September 5th, 2007

and lizzielui, ya he probably shouldn’t be judged by what he tells the press, but since thats the only way I know him, that’s how I’m gonna judge him. Just like any other celeb.

- Natasha on September 5th, 2007

Natasha,

That is the very reason why a lot of celebs DO NOT talk about their personal lives or kids or want pics taken of them if at all possible. People look at a few pics in a magazine and see a few articles in the press and they make harsh judgements without knowing FACTS. A magazine interview or lack thereof says absolutely nothing about one’s parenting skills or what type of father they may or may not be. Yes television and magazines give us a slight view into the lives of celebs but it should all be taken with a grain os salt. The mere fact that this very blog has to sometimes retract stories and add updates to certain posts in order to separate truth from rumors and flat out lies speaks volumes about how one should not judge soley on what one reads in the press.

- lizzielui on September 5th, 2007

Don’t lump us all into sides on this! I think Bridget made the right decision in giving the baby her last name, one that more women (and married couples) should have the courage and foresight to make. However, I also think that Tom’s statement is perfectly reasonable. He said that fatherhood is great and wonderful and then turned the focus back to what he’s actually paid millions of dollars to do. Good for him and for his long-time fans (who are probably quite tired of hearing about the baby).

- Lara on September 5th, 2007

I would have to agree with you, lizzielui and lara. So many times people read magazines and look at pictures and think we actually know what’s going on with these celebrities, when we have no real idea. It seems as though it’s in Tom’s best interest not to comment on his personal life. As you can tell from the comments on the blog, he’s received a lot of flack and bad press for how he’s handled the situation with Bridget and the baby. It’s best for him to leave things unsaid, and comment more on objective things such as his career, which is why people are interested in his personal life anyway. I once watched a biography on Tom Hanks and he said that keeping his family life private is what has kept it together all this time. More celebrities should follow this practice….however I know I’m just as bad as anyone…I love watching entertainment shows and gossip shows too. I don’t think his comment was inappropriate at all. Face it, he’s going to get criticized whatever he says!! Hope the baby is thriving.

- renee on September 5th, 2007

Hmmmmm….I still think of Brady as being arrogant but I can see why he wouldn’t want to discuss the baby when he is suppose to be discussing football. Natasha, I still don’t get why you are still upset about John not having Brady as his last name when it doesn’t affect you personally. Bridget is and will probably be in the future the primary caregiver of John.I wish we could just respect how celebs take care of their children and stop attacking them for not being perfect people or parents

- Renee on September 5th, 2007

I think the baby is better off with his mom’s last name as he’ll be with her most of the time. For example, last week I had a back to school night for my students. Only moms showed up and most had different last names than their kids because of divorces and break-ups. It is nice to share a last name with the parent you are spending most of your childhood with. It makes sense.

- melanie on September 5th, 2007

i dont understand why people are complaining that john dont have the brady last name when britney name her boys everybody threw a fit cause they got the federline last name

- brittany on September 5th, 2007

“People in general are always proud to talk about their children. Except Tom.”

Jean – Tom Brady is the first celebrity to choose to remain private about his child? Really? Public interest comes with celebrity; the obligation to discuss your personal life does not. He very respectfully said he would prefer not to discuss a private, and clearly somewhat awkward situation with the press. You (and the public in general) being desperate to know every detail of a strangers life doesn’t obligate them to discuss it.

I am really surprised by what strong opinions people have about this situation. None of us know any significant amount of detail about ANY of it, because BOTH of them have chosen to remain quite private. Good for them. If you want full disclosure, get more interested in the Richards-Sheen family. That’s class right there.

- Andria on September 5th, 2007

Considering the fact that every time a celebrity opens their mouth to talk about anything there are tons of people picking apart every word they say, judging them, and making huge assumptions about their lives I can completely understand why there are celebrities who don’t want to talk about their children. Angelina Jolie is still being insulted by some for merely agreeing with an interviewer who referred to Shiloh as a blob. I’m surprised there are any celebrities who even want to talk about their children.

- Kate on September 5th, 2007

I think it is very sad that Tom Brady had multiple days off in a row and could have and should have flown back to see his son during all those days off!!!!! I do not think it matters if he would have only was able or allowed to see the baby for a couple of hours during those days off. That is what a father does. It is sad that he he spent the entire “mini vacation” gallavanting around Boston and New York with Giselle very openly and publicly offering PDA shots for the paps to publish. It apears from the outside that he WANTS the photos to be taken of he and Giselle. It shows a great deal about both of their characters. They definitely DESERVE eachother. I think choosing your girlfriend over your newborn son is Selfish, self-aggrandizing, and arrogant. Persons with this type of personality often become poor parents. They are incapable of giving to another because it will get in the way of their all important self.
People that want to defend Brady’s behavior and think it is just fine to have a brand new baby and spend your free time running around with your current girlfriend instead of seeing and bonding with your new baby have a moral compassinate screw loose.

- Kathy on September 5th, 2007

Natasha said “I think it’s weird when some celebs don’t ever talk about their kids, they’re a bit part of their kids lives.”

I think in this case it is clear that john is not a big part of his life. Whatever the reason might be he has chosen not to spend his free time off from work with his newborn. He chose instead to publicly run around with Giselle. I think it is quite hurtful to Bridget. All of us that have kids know the first couple weeks home with a new baby are tough. Very little sleep, hormones are trying to balance out, exhaustion, pain from a c-section. etc Glad to hear her Mom is there to help her out.

- kathy on September 5th, 2007

kathy,

At this point Tom does not have very much free time to spend with the baby because the two are on opposite sides of the country. Bridget is in California. Tom is on the East Coast about to start his football season this weekend. There is no way he can fly back and forth daily to see little John everyday at this point. He is contractually bound to be available to his team and be ready for the opener this weekend. Of course it is not the ideal situation but it just happens to be the one that Tom and Bridget find themselves in.

- lizzielui on September 5th, 2007

Cats,

I feel as though most of the posters on this blog usually diss the mom and mention nothing about the dad. So many times I have seen people say something along the lines…”Why did she leave her baby with a nanny and go back to work”… obviously if the dad is working he “left” his baby too… but nothing gets said.

As far as Tom goes… he has every right to not talk about the baby. I’d say the paps would just try to hound him about the relationship status and the last name. Which btw, I think it’s wonderful that John has her last name. I hate living in such a patriarchal society.
Just my opinion!

- Crystal on September 5th, 2007

OK, well, I’m a huge football fan and I do happen to catch their press conferences from time to time. Honestly? People watching those press conferences are mostly men (some women) who really do not care much about Tom’s private life but about football. That’s what he is there to talk about! He was nice about it and let everyone know, in no uncertain terms, his private life is PRIVATE. And why shouldn’t it be? He doesn’t have to tell any of us what’s going on in John’s life. He doesn’t owe us that.

- Stephany on September 5th, 2007

lizzielui

I disagree with your statement regarding Tom and his free time? Why does he have free time to fly to New York pickup Gisele, move her into his appartment in Boston but not enought time to see his only child? I hate to break this to you but the reason why TOM can’t bring himself to talk about his child has nothing to do with his privicy and a lot to do with his GUILT and PRIDE. Deep down Tom is ashamed of what he has done and he truly has no idea what to do to make it better. I have an uncle who treated his first born the way Tom is treating his first born and he has said on a number of occasions that it took him 18 years to talk about his kid and build a relationship with his kid because he was so Ashamed of what he had done. I hope it doesn’t take Tom 18 years to realize what a fool he is because he would have missed out on so much.

- mel on September 5th, 2007

tom you are selfish, even if you have fallen out of love with your babys mother you shouldnt have hooked up with another until after you were ther for the lady giving birth to your son. I am no longer your fan or a patriot fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Character is everything, when you lose that you lose it all.

- [e-mail] on September 5th, 2007

Naturally he can choose to not talk about his son at a press conference about football, but I think he seems overly defensive about his private life in all of his comments.

- terri on September 5th, 2007

Well, to be fair, it would be somewhat difficult for Brady to discuss his son in public. I mean, he’s only met him once, so what in the world could he possibly say? Far be it for me to be the one to point out that it’s his own fault…er, I guess I kinda did say it, didn’t I? Oh well:)

- Cindy on September 6th, 2007

Tom Brady cleans up nice in the new issue of VMAN, a men’s fashion mag whose cover boys

- Claudia on September 7th, 2007

I GUESS HE MENTIONED FATHERHOOD..IN SPORTS ILLISTRATED..AND PEOPLE…..

- Karen on September 12th, 2007