Tom Brady wasn't at the Patriots' home opener Sunday afternoon. But his jersey was worn by a fellow Boston sports hero: David Ortiz.
Ortiz, serving as an honorary captain for the Patriots, charged out of the tunnel in a No. 12 Brady jersey, igniting the Gillette Stadium crowd. Robert Kraft handed him a No. 34 jersey (Ortiz' Red Sox number) on the field, with "Big Papi" on the back.
Patriots love Papi. @RedSox
LETS GOOOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/JO0iZH9N0R— Gary Striewski (@garystriewski) September 18, 2016
Patriots honor David Ortiz pic.twitter.com/8RaKBrfnd9
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) September 18, 2016
David Ortiz, wearing Brady jersey, honored at Gillette by Robert Kraft and Patriots. Gets his own No. 34 pic.twitter.com/VciphKs5KC
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) September 18, 2016
Ortiz wore a No. 34 jersey during warm-ups:
Hi @davidortiz! pic.twitter.com/1MNm3mhvyi
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 18, 2016
The Patriots won the game, 31-24, over the Dolphins. However, Jimmy Garoppolo, Brady's temporary replacement (Brady is suspended four games for his role in Deflategate), went down with a right shoulder injury in the second quarter. Rookie Jacoby Brissett, a third-round pick out of North Carolina State, was subbed in.
Garoppolo was 18-of-27 for 234 yards and three touchdowns before the injury, which should sideline him through Brady's remaining suspension.
In other news, Bleacher Report revived the Tom Brady mask. Former Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker surprised tailgaters with the creepy look.
Who’s under the mask this week? It’s none other than… #FakeBrady pic.twitter.com/bMlpRV5d1r
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 18, 2016
The party in the Boston area shifts to baseball. Ortiz and the Red Sox take on the Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball at Fenway Park.
-- Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband.
