Tom Brady reacts to Drew Brees’ near-record-breaking touchdown

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady saluted New Orleans Saints passer Drew Brees after he nearly broke Peyton Manning’s record.

The New Orleans Saints were so close to pulling out all the stops for Drew Brees’ record-breaking touchdown pass, which would have been No. 540 in his career — surpassing both New England Patriots passer Tom Brady (538) and retired quarterback Peyton Manning (539), ranking for the most of any player in NFL history.

But a dubious offensive pass interference foul wiped it away, protecting Manning’s hold on the record. His thoughts on the near-historic moment aren’t clear, but Brady happened to be interviewing with Jim Gray of Westwood One Radio at the time, and shared his take.

“I know, a little anticlimactic,” Brady joked. “There might be some silver linings though. You actually get to celebrate the record twice. You know? You celebrated it once, maybe you’ll get to do it again here in the second half. He’s just playing incredible and that offense, once they get it rolling they’re pretty tough to stop.”

Brady also offered a hat-tip to Brees in his pursuit of the record and his performance on the year so far. It’s clear that there’s plenty of respect between Brady and Brees, and as fortune would have it, Brady was right: because Brees found tight end Josh Hill from five yards out to seal it early in the third quarter.

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