New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady got a quick lesson in the ancient sport of sumo during a visit to Japan.
Brady, who visited China and Japan this week on a tour promoting football, stopped in at the Sakaigawa sumo stable in Tokyo on Thursday and stepped into the ring with sumo wrestler Goeido.
The pair took turns pushing each other from one end of the ring to the other.
The 39-year-old Brady, who led the Patriots to the Super Bowl title last season, described the opportunity to learn about sumo as ‘incredible” while adding that the wrestlers are “very strong” and are “strong in mind and body.”
“For them to welcome me means very much to me,” Brady was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency. “It’s hard to describe in words how special that was.”
Goeido, a 31-year-old winner of last September’s Autumn Grand Sumo tournament, said of the NFL superstar: “He has a lot of explosive power. I feel energized. It’s stimulating to have an opportunity to come in contact with athletes from a different sport.”
HARRIS SIGNS — The Patriots have signed former New York Jets linebacker David Harris.
The team announced the move Thursday. The Patriots also released receiver DeAndrew White.
Terms of Harris’ deal were not disclosed, but a person familiar with it told The Associated Press that it is a two-year pact that could be worth as much as $6.75 million.
Harris, a 2007 second-round pick from Michigan who has spent all 10 of his NFL seasons in New York, was released earlier this month by the Jets in a series of offseason moves to cut high-priced veterans. He was the franchise’s second-leading tackler.
He now moves within the division to play for Bill Belichick, who has lauded Harris’ play in the past. It also gives the Patriots some veteran depth to pair with Dont’a Hightower.
BOOK DEAL FOR MITCHELL — Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell can be sweet when he wants to be.
Mitchell has a three-book deal with Scholastic, the children’s publisher told The Associated Press on Thursday. The books include a newly illustrated edition of his self-published “The Magician’s Hat,” to come out next May, and two more original works.
Mitchell is a literacy advocate who founded the “Read With Malcolm” program. With New England, Mitchell caught 32 passes last year during the regular season and another six in the Super Bowl, when the Patriots came from behind and defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28.