Advertisement

Indianapolis Colts fan Gordon Hayward 'can't stand' Tom Brady

By Alex Butler

June 29 (UPI) -- Well, this could get awkward.

Free agent prize Gordon Hayward didn't hesitate to say he prefers Aaron Rodgers over Tom Brady when pressed during an NFL postseason interview with the Utah Jazz.

Advertisement

The All-Star small forward averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in (likely) his final season for the Jazz.

Last postseason, the Jazz produced a video featuring Hayward and his teammates, asking them which NFL quarterback they preferred.

Hayward didn't miss a beat when he responded, saying: "I can't stand Tom Brady."

"I'm a Colts fan, so I can't stand him just because he plays for the Patriots," Hayward said in the video. "I think he's a good quarterback."

Hayward, 27, was born in Indianapolis. He attended Brownsburg High School before starring at Butler.

He played at Butler in 2008 and 2009. But Hayward enjoyed plenty of success as a Colts fan in high school and college. The franchise won at least 10 games in every season but one from Hayward's time in fourth grad through his career at Butler, winning the Super Bowl in 2007.

Advertisement

Indianapolis posted a 1-2 record in the playoffs against the Patriots during that stretch.

Six of his nine teammates said they preferred Brady over the Green Bay Packers' gunslinger. George Hill, Shelvin Mack, Alec Burks, Trey Lyles, Joe Johnson and Jeff Withey all preferred the New England Patriots' quarterback. Rodney Hood and Derek Favors chose Rodgers.

Hayward has been linked to several teams in free agency, including the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. If he follows through on his Indian connections, he would choose the Celtics, who are coached by former Butler coach Brad Stevens. But that might be a little awkward if he is forced to play in the same city as a certain Super Bowl MVP.

Hayward will meet with the Celtics on Sunday or Tuesday, according to the Boston Herald. He'll meet with the Heat on Saturday, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Latest Headlines