INDIANAPOLIS — We found another guy who helped build the New England Patriots dynasty.
The affable NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci.
Mariucci's part happened before Tom Brady stepped foot in Foxboro, Mass.
"You had to remind me," said Mariucci upon realizing where the line of questioning was going. "Just remember, I wasn't the only guy who messed up. There were 31 other teams, including the Patriots. They drafted six others before Brady."
Let me explain.
While Brady's dream was to someday play in the NFL, his "perfect" dream was play for the San Francisco 49ers, who were then coached by Mariucci. His family had season tickets and they rarely missed a game. Brady's hero was Joe Montana.
Heck, Brady was in the stands as a four-year-old when Montana threw that famous touchdown pass to Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC Championship game.
Well, heading into the 2000 season, the 49ers had planned on drafting their quarterback of the future. Jeff Garcia, then 29, had a subpar season in 1999 with 11 TDs and 11 interceptions for a 4-12 San Francisco club.
With the 65th pick, the 49ers chose Gio Carmazzi of Hofstra, the second quarterback taken. Carmazzi never played a down in the NFL.
"The thing was we knew of Tom. He played his high school ball the next town over, in San Mateo," recalled Mariucci. "We had him in for a pro day, with a lot of other quarterbacks. You know what, he didn't stick out one bit. Nobody said to me, 'Steve, that kid is going to be a Hall of Famer.'"
As the story goes, Brady was chosen 199th overall and the seventh quarterback taken. ESPN did a documentary on Brady and that draft, called the "The Brady 6," referring to the six quarterbacks taken before him.
"Everyone knows the story at the (NFL) Combine, when he ran a 5.2 40 (yard dash)," said Mariucci. "Tom didn't do well in the weight-lifting portion. And he didn't look like a specimen when he was wearing his shorts."
Brady had something else going against him. The fact that he had to fight every year to play quarterback at Michigan turned a lot of people away.
"Why isn't he the starter? Why is he fighting Drew Henson for the position? Isn't he a baseball player, first?," asked Mariucci rhetorically. "He did have a few really good games there, like that Orange Bowl (against Alabama) when he threw something like four touchdown passes."
Mariucci said not one coach, including Michigan's Lloyd Carr, said he would be an NFL quarterback.
"I like the input of former coaches. It helps a lot," said Mariucci. "I'm not blaming them. But it would've helped."
Since then, well, a lot has happened. Brady has become a Hall of Famer in waiting. So has his coach, Bill Belichick.
"I do wonder sometimes what would have happened if we did pick Brady. I might still be coaching the 49ers," said Mariucci, who was fired after the 2002 season. "Don't laugh. I really might be. Hall of Fame quarterbacks have a way of keeping their coaches around a long time."
Speaking of "a long time," Mariucci isn't about to call this Brady's last visit to a Super Bowl. He believes Brady, 34, has five or six years left.
"I really do," said Mariucci. "I feel he's playing his best football right now, as crazy as that sounds. He really is getting better. And you look around at those two young tight ends (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, both 22) and why would he leave that?"
As for his role in the Patriots' success, he'll accept his small share.
"And don't forget (Mo Lewis) who knocked Drew Bledsoe out, setting the table for Brady," said Mariucci. "Hey, I am a Patriots fan. I like the way they do business. They have it all, a great owner, a great coach and a great quarterback."
