The Patriots began coming together the day Brady took over as the starting quarterback and since have authored a decade of excellence.
The season unfolded in the backdrop of Sept. 11. The Patriots were greatly affected by the tragedy, as guard Joe Andruzzi’s brothers, New York City firemen, were on the scene at the Twin Towers.
For the longest time Andruzzi had no idea whether his brothers had survived - only to find out they emerged safely and were true heroes.
Other sidebars, perhaps insignificant compared with the nation’s tragedy: Terry Glenn’s suspensions; the jelling of the defense, with playmakers all over the field; the great debate over whether Bledsoe, recovered from a collapsed lung, should get his job back.
Brady kept the job, of course, but Bledsoe had one last hurrah, coming in to relieve an injured Brady late in the first half to lead the Patriots to victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game.
The season culminated with Brady’s great 90-second drive in Super Bowl XXXVI vs. the St. Louis Rams on Feb. 3, 2002 and Adam Vinatieri’s winning kick. A wide-eyed Brady, the youngest Super Bowl MVP, turned to Bledsoe and pounded his shoulders, screaming, “We won!’’ as confetti flew around the Superdome in New Orleans.
“God had a hand in this,’’ said owner Robert Kraft.
It was a year in which Bill Belichick developed three key young players - Brady, left tackle Matt Light, and defensive tackle Richard Seymour. He saw Vinatieri flourish, and center Damien Woody emerge.
Veterans such as running backs Antowain Smith and Kevin Faulk, receivers David Patten and Troy Brown (who caught 101 passes), linebackers Bryan Cox, Roman Phifer, Tedy Bruschi, and Mike Vrabel, and defensive backs Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Otis Smith, Tebucky Jones, and Terrell Buckley jelled on the field.
Cox had said after Bledsoe went down, “You have to expect a dropoff from Bledsoe to Brady, but we have ways to make up for that.’’
