2001 was TB 12’s breakout year, and the hits just kept on coming. Brady was lightly regarded as a prospect coming out of college and was not selected until the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft - 199th overall. Patriots owner Robert Kraft recalled: "I still have the image of Tom Brady coming down the old Foxboro Stadium steps with that pizza box under his arm, a skinny beanpole, and when he introduced himself to me and said 'Hi Mr. Kraft,' he was about to say who he was, but I said 'I know who you are, you're Tom Brady. You're our sixth round draft choice,'" recalled Kraft. "And he looked me in the eye and said 'I'm the best decision this organization has ever made.' In 2001, the Patriots went on to win eleven of the fourteen games Brady started, and six straight to finish the regular season, winning the AFC East and entering the NFL playoffs with a first-round bye, ultimately beating the Rams 20-17, as 14 point dogs, in SB XXXVI and earning his first of five SB MVP’s. This Ridell helmet shows nice use, with scrapes and gouges to the outer shell, and sweat-stains on the interior VSR-4 padding system. Player number “12”decal on the back, above the Patriots bumper. NFL shield and American flags decals surround the number on back. Player number “12” handwritten in black marker on the inside adjacent right earhole, along with a velcro patch for the radio piece. The clear clips holding the face mask are stamped with the date “4-01”. This helmet is properly marked, presented to us as game-used and in our opinion shows excellent wear. Accompanied by an SCD LOA.