In the world of Patriots football, dropped passes are rarely a laughing matter, and it's not exactly common for an offensive lineman to be running routes.
That was exactly the situation when Ted Karras dropped a pass from Tom Brady on Friday night, and yet, it was all smiles.
At Tom's annual Best Buddies Football Challenge, Patriots players, local celebrities and buddies joined together for a fun and competitive game of football on the Harvard Stadium field. Tom, Julian Edelman, James White, Brian Hoyer, Marcus Cannon, Joe Cardona, Joe Thuney, Ted Karras, Troy Brown, Dan Koppen and Christian Fauria all came together to get in on the fun.
Tom played quarterback for both teams, and the game saw inspiring touchdowns from Buddies, a trick Brady-to-Hoyer-to-Brady play and a classic Tom to Julian touchdown.
"He's always running faster than everybody out there, but that's Julian," James said with a laugh about his teammate's quick feet on the field. "He has a good time out there, and the fans love him."
Though the game ultimately ended with a Team Pepsi win over Team Shaw's, the score is not what mattered or why fans filled the stadium seats. Tom and his teammates snapped pictures on the sidelines and met with the Buddies who were playing, cheering and watching. Many of the guests have been in previous years and have built connections with the Patriots players, and that's what ultimately makes this event so special for everyone participating.
James said he got involved with Best Buddies a few years ago because his uncle worked in the same building as their headquarters. He heard about their mission and was hooked.
"It's awesome. This is a great program. What they're doing is amazing. It keeps getting bigger and better every year. It's about the Buddies. They really enjoy this event specifically," James said. "They get to go out there and show some of their talent as well. It's awesome."
You can check out more photos in the gallery below.
Presenting photos from the 20th annual Tom Brady's Best Buddies football game at Harvard Stadium on Friday, May 31, 2019. Among the Patriots, past and present, who participated in the charity game were Julian Edelman, James White, Troy Brown, Dan Koppen, Marcus Cannon, Brian Hoyer, Joe Thuney, Ted Karras and Joe Cardona. The non-profit event raises money for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
