Brady responds to 'Tom Terrific' trademark controversy

Tom Brady says he only submitted a trademark application for "Tom Terrific" to stop others from associating him with the nickname.

The New England Patriots quarterback drew criticism after news surfaced last week that he was trying to trademark "Tom Terrific," as many associate the nickname with former New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver.

"I was actually trying to do something because I didn't like the nickname and I wanted to make sure no one used it, because some people wanted to use it," Brady told reporters Thursday. "I was trying to keep people from using it, and then it got spun around into something different than what it was. Good lesson learned, and I'll try to do things a little different in the future."

The trademark application, which was filed by Brady's company TEB Capital Management Inc., stated that they planned to use "Tom Terrific" on a line of trading cards and apparel.