Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has given New England fans plenty to cheer about over the past decade, however, there was some bad news on Sunday about the guy who helped mentor him.
 Martinez has been active in working with Brady during his career in New England, with Brady winning three championships and two Super Bowl MVP's. (FILE:Icon/SMI) |
"We have received some bad news that I wanted to share with all of you. I have been given a week to a month to live, depending on my body's response to medication. I want to thank you for the relationship that we shared and the friendships that allowed me to have a very successful career. As much as I would like to talk to you each in person, that is not feasible so please respect my family's need for some privacy now. If the number of lives that I've been involved with are in the thousands, then it isn't possible to talk to each and every one of you. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to teach and coach you all and I ask that you take one or two of my life lessons and pass them on to your family and friends and that will keep me alive forever. With much love and appreciation, I wish all of you a very successful and fulfilled life. TM."
According to the report, as recently as last Sunday Martinez gave another in a long series of tutorials to Brady at the Riekes Center in Menlo Park, with kids on hand at the event of the workout having a lot of fun catching passes from the Patriots signal caller. It appears that it may have been Martinez' final event, as the news he provided about his chance at prolonging his life sounded grim to say the very least.
"Physically I feel stronger than my numbers indicate,'' he said. "My numbers say I'm basically gone. My blood pressure is too low for me to continue with dialysis and without dialysis poisons build up in my body. Doctors say without dialysis I have a week to go. We're looking into transplants. I would need both heart and kidney transplants done simultaneously.''
According to Wikipedia his health concerns started back in 2005, which was when he retired from the College of San Mateo. However, he's still been active working with players, including former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Martinez mentored Russell and reportedly told the New York Times that the Raiders coaching staff was to blame for ruining what could have been a promising career.
Martinez also worked with John Elway back during the former Broncos' quarterback's early years, with Elway obviously going on to have quite an amazing career in the NFL.
Brady's father told the newspaper that when the hourglass does finally run out for Martinez, his loss will be felt by many.
"This will be such a loss to so many kids on the Peninsula, not to have him be there as a mentor," said Brady Sr. "In our family he helped all three of our daughters and our son as recently as last Sunday. He had just got out of the hospital Saturday, but on Sunday he was sitting in his chair directing what was to be done. He is one of the great tacticians ever. His passing will be a major loss."
This is an archived article originally published on
June 12, 2011.
Content reflects the editorial context of its original publication date.
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