Richard Seymour won three Super Bowl titles with Tom Brady and always will be loyal to the former New England Patriots quarterback.
But he's still a defensive end at heart.
When Seymour was asked Tuesday on 98.5 The Sports Hub's "Zolak & Bertrand" if he's surprised that Brady has had such a lengthy NFL career, the newest member of the Patriots Hall of Fame began with the usual platitudes.
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"It's just a testament to his hard work and commitment," Seymour said. "He's always been a heck of a competitor and always wanted to compete at the highest level.
"I think a lot of things have to go right in order for that to happen, just in terms of the team that the put around you, etc. I think it says a lot about who he is as a person and how he has taken care of his body over the course of the years."
That would have been a fine answer -- except Seymour couldn't resist adding one more line.
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"It doesn't hurt that they protect the quarterback," he added jokingly, referencing the NFL's rules to prevent QB injuries. "Can't touch them in practice, keep the red jerseys on 'em. Heck, I could play for 30 or 40 years doing that!"
Spoken like a true defensive lineman.
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We can see where Seymour is coming from: He was drafted a year after Brady in 2001 and is two years younger than the 42-year-old QB but retired in 2012 after 12 seasons of battling in the trenches.
As for Brady? He's still enjoying clean pockets and drawing unnecessary roughness penalties as he enters his 21st NFL season (and first with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Seymour certainly made the most of his 12-year NFL career, though, earning seven Pro Bowl nods between stints with the Patriots and Oakland Raiders. And all jokes aside, he still has Brady's respect.
"Love Big Sey!!!!" Brady wrote Monday on the Patriots' Instagram post welcoming Seymour to the Patriots Hall of Fame. "Congrats and one of the original Edgers!!!!"