Patriots Teammates, Coaches Share Tom Brady Stories for His 40th Birthday

Having spent 17 years with the New England Patriots, Tom Brady has collected five Super Bowl rings and many more lasting memories. With the iconic quarterback turning 40 on Thursday, those who know him well offered personal tales from on and off the gridiron.

Everyone celebrated the milestone in different ways. The team honored its G.O.A.T. by bringing baby goats to training camp. On ESPN.com, Mike Reiss rounded up stories from players, coaches and family to get a glimpse of the man behind the helmet.

As demonstrated by Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, his competitiveness extends to extreme lengths even beyond football.

"When we played golf at Pebble Beach two years ago, on the sixth hole, it's a big cliff. He's literally standing out there on the ledge, trying to hit the ball. The caddie is holding him so he won't like tumble 300 feet to his death into the Pacific Ocean. It's a golf ball. But I think that's kind of the competitiveness of Tom. I'm sure there's a picture of it. I'm thinking to myself, 'What the hell are you doing?'"

Brian Hoyer, New England's second-string quarterback from 2009 to 2011, recalled losing a beer-chugging contest to Brady, presumably before he adapted a super-strict diet.

"We don't usually get to experience him like this, but we finally coax him into doing it. He does it, and let me tell you, you couldn't have poured out the beer faster into a glass. It was unbelievable. And he slams the mug on the table and puts both fists in the air. He walks away with a look on his face that said, 'You really thought you were going to beat me on this?' The place went nuts."

Yet he's also modest. According to former Patriots offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, the star introduced himself to every rookie by saying, "Hey, my name is Tom Brady. I play quarterback."

That warmness, however, wanes on the field. While working on the goal-line team, linebacker Mike Vrabel learned not to call for the ball.

"I had maybe caught a couple touchdowns and was feeling pretty good about myself, and we went to practice one day and I broke free on a crossing route or something like that. So I start yelling, 'Tom! Tom! Tom!' and I'm waving my hands. But he doesn't throw it to me. I come back, and we're in the huddle when he says, 'Mikey, if you ever wave your f---in' hands and ask for the ball again, I'll never throw it to you. I know who's open. I'm the quarterback, I'll throw it to whoever the f--- I want!' That was the last time I ever called for the ball."

Reiss relayed more tales, including one from Tom Brady Sr. of his 4-year-old son hitting a golf ball 60 feet even though it sat two inches from the hole. It appears his efficiency took time to craft.

[Mike Reiss]