FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady was done. Final question answered.

But before he could exit left out of the interview room, someone shouted, “So what’s your prediction?’’

“Red Sox, man,’’ said Brady, without hesitation. “Red Sox in five. We’ll give them one.’’

Brady and the New England Patriots have a lot of things on their minds these days: an offense that continues to sputter, especially on third downs (1 of 12 in Sunday’s loss against the Jets) and especially in the third quarter (nine points all season); a defense that has been wracked by injuries to key veteran players (so much so that the team brought back veteran defensive tackle Andre Carter, who had 10 sacks for New England in 2011); an upcoming game with the Miami Dolphins (a game with huge AFC East implications).

But Wednesday was Game 1 of the World Series between the Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. And the Patriots, like many of us, are fans.

“I’m trying,’’ said special teamer Matthew Slater. “I’m trying to get tickets to one of the games. We’ll see. I think I’m going to get a chance to go to one of the games. Either (Wednesday) or (Thursday).’’

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There is a symbiotic relationship between the Red Sox and Patriots, between all of Boston’s sports teams, actually.

They all want to see each other win. They all bask in the championship glow.

A World Series win by the Red Sox is as good for Boston as a Super Bowl title by the Patriots or a Stanley Cup by the Bruins or an NBA title by the Celtics.

When one team is playing for a championship, all others pay attention.

“Yeah that’s our team,’’ said Brady, who has a home in Boston’s Back Bay, not far from Fenway Park. “I’ve been here awhile so I’ve gotten to see a lot of Red Sox games over the years and watched them win a few championships. You know, you don’t take these for granted because you don’t know if they will ever come again.

“The Red Sox had a great year, and what they’ve done based on what happened last year shows everybody what fighting through adversity is about. They’ve obviously got a lot of mental toughness and it’s a great thing to see. It’s a great thing to watch to go from last place or whatever they were last year to playing in the World Series.’’

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Brady is an avid San Francisco Giants fan. He has reveled in their World Series championships in two of the last three years. But the Red Sox are his adopted favorite team.

“Everyone is rooting for the Red Sox,’’ he said. “It’s pretty cool and hopefully they pull it off.’’

Guard Logan Mankins isn’t sure he’ll watch much of the Series. “Those games start pretty late,’’ he said. “I hope (the Red Sox) win but you won’t see me at any of the games.

But kicker Stephen Gostkowski already grabbed tickets to one game and will watch them all.

“I mean, a position like mine, it’s not like I have to bring a lot of film work home with me,’’ he said. “I’m just a fan of all sports. I just try to keep up with all of them.’’

In addition to being a pretty good place-kicker, he was a pitcher for four years in college, at Memphis. So Gostkowski knows a little about baseball. This World Series brings together his two favorite teams. “It should be a great series,’’ he said.

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His prediction: “Sox in six.’’

Surprisingly, tight end Matthew Mulligan did not grow up a Red Sox fan in West Enfield.

“No, I wasn’t a baseball guy at all,’’ said Mulligan, the former University of Maine player. “I mean, the Red Sox were always on so you watched them on TV. But I really didn’t have a favorite team or anything. I didn’t really play baseball, just a couple of years.’’

Third base and pitcher, he said. “I threw it 88 (mph). I could throw the gas a little bit.’’

But he’ll be paying attention. “I’m not into making predictions,’’ he said, “but I hope the Red Sox win.’’

Asked if he could give them any advice, he laughed.

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“For me there’s nothing I can tell them that they already don’t know,’’ he said. “Just continue to do what they’ve done. Whatever it’s taken to get them to this point, continue to do that. It’s the best opportunity they’ll have to succeed and we wish them the best.’’

Rob Gronkowski, back to answering football questions instead of injury questions, said he and his teammates will find the time to watch the World Series, even as they prepare for a tough Dolphins team.

“Oh yeah, we definitely watch the games,’’ he said. “Best of luck to them. Hopefully we see them do what they’ve got to do. It should be a great series. I love watching them play.’’

Just like any other fan.

Mike Lowe can be reached at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com

Twitter: MikeLowePPH

 


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