Patriots Honor David Ortiz Ahead Of Home Opener
BOSTON (CBS) -- With the Red Sox playing a night game on Sunday, it provided the New England Patriots with the perfect opportunity to honor retiring Boston slugger David Ortiz.
Big Papi was the guest of honor at Gillette Stadium ahead of New England's home opener against the Miami Dolphins, and was honored with a pregame ceremony.
Ortiz originally took the field with Patriots owner Robert Kraft wearing a special No. 34 Patriots jersey, but changed to a Tom Brady jersey to show his support for the suspended quarterback.
Big Papi is the honorary captain for today's game. Ortiz is in the house #WBZ pic.twitter.com/7GFpptmly5
— Levan Reid (@LevanReid) September 18, 2016
Ortiz also joined Patriots captains Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater for the game's coin toss.
Patriots president Jonathan Kraft spoke about Ortiz prior to Sunday's game on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
"He is obviously right up on that pantheon of the greatest in Boston sports," Kraft said of Ortiz. "Much like our quarterback, he's proving that age doesn't matter when you have the drive and the ability. It's all about yourself as a competitor, and David was kind enough to agree to come down so the Patriots crowd would have a chance to honor him."
Ortiz and the Red Sox go for a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on Sunday night.