Tom Brady can't take to the field with the New England Patriots, given that he's currently serving a four game suspension for his role in "deflategate," but he was there in spirit on Sunday as they took on the Miami Dolphins.
He was also there in a much more real and frankly creepy sense, as someone showed up to tailgate with the fans and watch the game in the stadium wearing a realistic Tom Brady mask.
The unsettling image of the slightly-too-big head and the slicked back hair made it an instant hit online, but it turns out that the people behind the move, Bleacher Report, had also sent Fake Brady to the Pats' game against the Cardinals.
As fans rushed to get their picture with the imposter, it was revealed to be none other than free-agent wide receiver Wes Welker, who spent many a season catching passes from the real Brady on the field for the Patriots. And he would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for those pesky kids...
There's a fake Tom Brady at the @Patriots game tonight...
Turns out it's Wes Welker!
[via @BleacherReport]pic.twitter.com/kXjvh1pbcL— NFL UK (@NFLUK) September 18, 2016
@JumboHart it's Wes! pic.twitter.com/gscCz8KuFa
— Zack Yahn (@Zackyahn) September 18, 2016
Welker signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis (now Los Angeles) Rams last season, but has yet to find a team to take his talents to this season.
Even though he's not allowed to set foot an a practice field with the Patriots, Brady was still seen keeping in throwing form this weekend after throwing a few passes with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh at his alma mater.
Honorary captain Tom Brady got some throws in with Jim Harbaugh before Michigan's game today (via @BradGalli) pic.twitter.com/MhGJLzv8uZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 17, 2016
Head coach Bill Belichick will be looking forward to the return of the real Brady even more after Sunday night, as the impressive start by backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was brought to a halt through injury. They now look set to hand Jacoby Brissett a starting role in their next two games, as Brady won't be back until Week 5, in their game against Cleveland.
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