This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 4/15/2010.
Following an injury to starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe at the beginning of the 2001 season, a little known backup named Tom Brady stepped onto the field and began writing the first Super story of his young career. On the strength of a surprisingly successful 11-5 regular season record, Brady and the second seeded Pats charged into the playoffs with a first round bye. The ensuing playoff run towards Super Bowl XXXVI was nothing short of spectacular, including a snowy overtime victory in their divisional round match up against the Oakland Raiders that offered a high profile test for the newly instituted video replay rule. An apparent fourth quarter Brady fumble was reversed on the strength of the “tuck rule”, which states that when a quarter back loses the ball after beginning his throwing motion, it is an incomplete pass. From there the sophomore QB never turned back, orchestrating a last minute drive in the last game of the season to give the Patriots their first ever Super Bowl victory in thrilling fashion. Cornerback Ben Kelly played on this championship team and his magnificent 2001 Super Bowl ring is offered here in its original wood presentation box. Fifty-Six diamonds adorn the top of this huge 68 gram (2-1/2 ounce) 14K white gold ring, with another 44 diamonds inlaid around its rectangular perimeter. On top is also a red and blue Patriots logo, lined with another 42 diamonds of its own, as well as a diamond version of the famed Lombardi trophy, which sports the ring’s three biggest stones. An unbelievable 145 diamonds in all. Surrounding that on top and bottom is the bold “WORLD CHAMPIONS” casting. On the left side panel of the ring is cast the player name “KELLY” along with his helmet, number “31”, and the Pats ’01 final record of 14-5. The bottom of this panel also shows an engraving of the word “TEAM”, which is complemented on the bottom right panel with the engraving “U.S.A.” The rest of the right panel is a casting that recaps the team names, “PATS” and “RAMS” and final score of 20-17, as well as another diamond studded Lombardi trophy and Super Bowl XXXVI logo. The ring is unworn and in MINT overall condition. Housed in a wooden box, an engraved “NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WORLD CHAMPIONS 2001” surrounds a centrally located engraving of the Super Bowl XXXVI logo. Stamped inside the right side of the ring is the manufacturer’s name “JOSTENS” and “14K”. A blue felt ring holder keeps the ring in place, under which is a gold plate with a “BEN KELLY 2001” inscription on it. The inside top cover of the box displays a red, white, and blue Patriots logo on black background, with the logo showing partial wear due to rubbing from this big ring.