In first lady's playbook, a pitch to Patriots' Brady

WASHINGTON -- Tom Brady, you've just led the New England Patriots to the AFC championship. Where are you going to next?

The State of the Union address, apparently.

Brady, the Patriots quarterback who's already won one Super Bowl and is headed to another championship game next month, was among 29 special guests last night of first lady Laura Bush. Brady was invited to a reception at the White House and was among a select group chosen to watch the president's speech live in the House chamber.

Brady was picked because he and his teammates "have made an impact in their community by hosting a sports camp for local youth," said White House spokesman Kenneth Lisaius, who declined to speculate whether the Bushes are closet Patriots fans but did confirm that no Carolina Panthers players were on the guest list.

Massachusetts native Army Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Douglas Combs Jr. was also invited. Combs, who has served in the Army since 1984, helped in the raids that captured Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the White House said. A Fall River resident, Combs comes from a long line of military men; a "Steve Combs" has served in every major military conflict involving the United States since World War II, according to the White House.

Brady, drafted by the Pats in 2000, was the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl and the third-youngest player to win a Super Bowl MVP award.

"It's great to see Tom Brady get the recognition he deserves for an outstanding season," said Representative Marty Meehan, a Lowell Democrat and longtime season ticket-holder.

Meehan attended the AFC championship game Sunday and accompanied Brady to the White House last night. "The Patriot players have done a great job of reaching out to the community," Meehan said.

-- SUSAN MILLIGAN