FOXBOROUGH — The truth is that we don’t really know the professional athletes we shower with adulation. We’re only privy to a two-dimensional version of a three-dimensional person. So, we’ll have to wait for Tom Brady’s memoirs to know just how much the almost-eight-month Deflategate saga affected his life and psyche.
If there was some effect that the NFL’s air pressure inquest/smear campaign had on Brady’s mind-set or preparation for the 2015 season it was imperceptible on Thursday night in the Patriots’ 28-21 victory in their prime-time season opener/Deflategate exorcism at Gillette Stadium. Credit his unflappable on-field mien or the Zen knowledge he attained from reading “The Four Agreements” but it was a banner night for TB12 in every way.
Exactly one week after US District Judge Richard Berman struck down Brady’s four-game Deflategate suspension and denounced NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for dispensing “his own brand of industrial justice” in punishing Brady, the Patriots unveiled their Super Bowl XLIX banner and Brady undressed the Pittsburgh Steelers’ pass defense. He set a franchise record by completing 19 straight passes and finished 25 of 32 for 288 yards and four touchdowns.
While Brady fully exposed Pittsburgh’s defense, he wasn’t into revealing his feelings or framing the victory against the backdrop of Deflategate afterward.
“It was a pretty special night. I was excited,” said Brady. “The whole team was excited. We haven’t had one of these games in a long time. It’s always fun being out there and getting the opportunity to go play. We took advantage of it, good win. I thought our guys played hard. Obviously, there are a lot of things we can do better.”
It was the first time the Patriots played a game that counted at Gillette Stadium since the now-infamous AFC Championship romp over the Indianapolis Colts, the game that launched the regrettable Deflategate imbroglio. In a display that was part celebration, part act of NFL civil disobedience, the Patriots unveiled their Super Bowl banner in a pregame ceremony.
Then it was business as usual for the NFL’s preeminent franchise and premier quarterback — the business of winning. This was Brady’s 161st regular-season win, the most by any quarterback with one team in NFL history.
It was as if the slings and arrows and anguish from Deflategate never happened. It was just Brady being Brady, surgical and nigh unstoppable.
Brady completed three of his first five passes. He ended the half by completing his final 12 passes, two for touchdowns. His next incompletion didn’t come until the fourth quarter.
“I didn’t even complete 19 passes in a game,” said Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, who was a college quarterback at Kent State. “It doesn’t amaze you because you see the work he puts in and the time he puts in to this. Everything he does out there he truly works for and he earns. It doesn’t surprise you.”
Rob Gronkowski, who did not play a snap in the four exhibition games, christened the 2015 NFL season with its first touchdown. Brady found the Steelers napping after a 19-yard seam route to Gronk. On the next play, no one from Pittsburgh covered Gronk, who was flanked wide to the right. Brady hit an uncovered Gronk for a 16-yard touchdown with 11:11 left in the second quarter.
After Steelers kicker Josh Scobee missed his second kick of the night, Brady marched the Patriots 64 yards in nine plays. On second and goal from the 6, he found Gronkowski in the back of the end zone out of an innovative four-tight-end set. It was 14-0, Patriots.
Brady picked up where he left off in the first half, completing his first four passes of the second half, the last of which went to Scott Chandler for a 1-yard touchdown that put the Patriots up, 21-3.
They can change the rules but they can’t take away the Patriots’ creativity. Chandler lined up at fullback before motioning out to the left with Gronkowski.
The Steelers pulled within 21-11 on a a 1-yard touchdown run and 2-point conversion pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Markus Wheaton with 6:43 left in the third quarter. But Brady responded with a fourth touchdown, and third to Gronk, with 9:20 left to put the Patriots up, 28-14.
Ballgame.
Brady has put Deflategate behind him. The closest he came to reflecting on the ordeal was when he was asked if playing again was a relief.
“Yeah, I love being out there with my teammates playing,” he said. “So, yes, I think it was something I really looked forward to. I was excited to go out there and certainly to win.”
TB12 said previously he has no ill will toward Goodell.
However, the Foxborough Faithful are not as forgiving. The same crowd that chanted Brady’s name derisively chanted, “Where is Roger?” with 8:29 left in the fourth quarter. Goodell skipped the season opener in Foxborough as part of the Cold War between the league office and Club Kraft.
Much of the Deflategate fight for Brady was about preserving his carefully crafted legacy.
Brady has engaged more with his adoring public through Facebook, but that is as much social media branding as true sharing.
Brady often says something is personal when he doesn’t want to divulge his true feelings on a subject. But this entire season is going to be personal for Brady in a different way. He will take Deflategate personally on the field.
He will internalize it like he has every other slight in his career all the way back to his days at the University of Michigan.
When you are as famous and scrutinized as Brady, it’s natural to want to keep an element of your existence for friends and family. It doesn’t all have to be for public consumption.
Brady won’t share his true feelings with us while he is playing. That’s perfectly fine.
He doesn’t have to do that because the two-dimensional version of Tom Brady remains a one-of-a-kind talent.
Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at cgasper@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @cgasper.