National Football League

The time Tom Brady crushed offensive linemen in beer-chugging contest

Published Oct. 7, 2014 11:29 a.m. ET

Brett Smiley

In a blowout win Sunday night over the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady silenced critics and doomsday-sayers who figured the 37-year-old was toast, one season if not weeks away from getting replaced full-time by rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. (For a good time, click on this Twitter search for terms including "Brady" and "end" and era.")

The offensive line firmed up, the Patriots exposed the Not Prime Time Bengals, Brady connected on 23-of-35 attempts for 292 yards and two touchdowns, and he got so damn pumped up that this happened:

Now, to the beer chugging: Retired NFL center/guard Ross Tucker and former Brady teammate (2005 and part of 2006) relayed a story about Brady's legendary competitiveness. Tucker had a lot to say about Brady's fiery determination in a Sports on Earth column titled "Tom Brady Silences Doubters," but this one story from 2005 stands out:

Considering our series on offensive linemen and tales of their voracious appetites, it's pretty shocking that Brady apparently manhandled the linemen in a contest involving consumption. But as the Kansas City Royals have taught us, speed kills.