Tom Brady: 'Lesson Learned' After Trademark Backlash

Tom Brady is no stranger to victory — or controversy. He may have invited more of the latter in the pursuit a trademark. Brady's company TEB Capital recently applied to trademark "Tom Terrific." The problem is that while Tom is certainly known as terrific across New England, that nickname belongs to another Hall of Fame athlete.

Tom Seaver, one of the all-time great pitchers known for his run with the New York Mets capped by a short stint in Boston when he was 41, is the original Tom Terrific.

Seaver never applied for the trademark, so while he was known as Tom Terrific decades before Brady earned a share of the nickname, Brady certainly could have a case. The problem lies in the timing: Seaver, 74, recently announced he is leaving public life after being diagnosed with dementia.

Brady on Thursday insisted he doesn't even like the nickname and was trying to trademark it to keep other people from using it.

"Lesson learned," Brady told reporters, saying he meant no disrespect to Seaver.

The backlash was significant — coming largely from New York, where Democratic and Republican congressmen, members of the World Series 1969 championship Mets team and the general public spoke against Brady's pursuit of the trademark.