Tom Brady Knocks HBO's Hard Knocks

This morning on WEEI in Boston, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had the following to say about the HBO hit show Hard Knocks, which features the New York Jets this season.

"You know, I haven't turned it on, I hate the Jets. I refuse to support that show. . . .  I'm sure it's great TV and I'm glad people are liking it. But that's something I have no interest in watching."

This might be my new favorite NFL quote, right behind then Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Mora's play-off rant.

I love sports rivalries and I especially love it when the players are into it.

We, the fans are always into the rivalry.  No matter how bad our team or the other team is in any given season.  The wins and loses have the same affect on us.

However, for the players I get a different sense sometimes.

With the modern free agency era upon us, players go from team to team quite often.  One has to wonder how serious they take these rivalries.  After all, said player may have played for or will one day play for his current team's rival.

Not to mention that player probably has several friends who play for that rival. You just have to wonder how much a player truly "hates" that rival team.

This isn't like the 60's, 70's or 80's when teams truly hated each other.  I don't think any man took a rivalry more seriously than former Washington Redskins head coach George Allen.  He hated the Cowboys and made sure every player did as well.

Joe Thiesman says it best when he refers to his time under Allen.  "He taught me to hate everything about the Cowboys, from their silver pants to their blue star."

Now that's football!

So to hear Brady go out and say "I hate them..." is great for the NFL.

I want to hear more players speak ill of their rivals and not this modern sugar coated "They're a good team and play well, blah, blah, blah..." schtick we get week in and week out.

Before Week One, I want to hear someone from either Dallas or Washington talk some serious trash about each other.  I want a retort from a Jets' player or Rex Ryan about Brady.  I want a Raider player to talk about doing something unspeakable to anyone in the AFC West (because the Raiders hate everyone, not just one team).

Mostly I just want a return to "Old School" rivalries where it wasn't just the fans screaming for blood, it was the players who were actually out for it.

Until next time loyal reader.  Hope you're ready for the regular season it's less than a month away and follow me on twitter, @jomac006.