FOXBORO, Mass. (KRT) – While many people his age are still paying off student loans, 27-year-old New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has two Super Bowl rings and game MVP trophies.

New England’s hopes of repeating as NFL champion rest in large part with the highly poised quarterback about to enter his fifth season.

The Patriots kick off NFL 2004 Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium in a rematch of last year’s AFC championship game. With Brady completing 22 of 37 pass attempts for 237 yards and a touchdown in that showdown, the Patriots prevailed, 24-14, en route to the Super Bowl title, their second in three years.

Brady, however, is looking forward to this season and a chance to defend that title, not back at last season, when the Patriots held off the Carolina Panthers for the crown.

“Of course, you always feel you have to prove yourself to your team and your coach and yourself,” Brady said in a slow, soft-spoken voice. “Every time you step on the field, you’re learning.”

“It’s going to be exciting,” Brady said, looking ahead to Thursday’s game. “We’ve got to get ready to play a team we haven’t seen in eight months. There’s a lot of energy and focus.”

In terms of attention, he was overshadowed most of the season by quarterbacks Peyton Manning of Indianapolis and Steve McNair of Tennessee, who shared the MVP award. But it was Brady who earned his second Super Bowl title.

The learning process is far from over for Brady, who played his college football at Michigan, but he is far ahead of the curve.

He has accomplished more at this stage of his career than any other quarterback in the modern era. At age 26, Brady became the youngest quarterback to start and win two Super Bowls. Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Bart Starr are the only other players to win multiple Super Bowl MVP awards.

True, Brady does not have the rifle for an arm that Brett Favre has. Nor can he scramble like Michael Vick. But like Montana, Brady knows how to manage a game, a locker room, and the huddle. With a 7-0 record, Brady is the NFL’s all-time leader in overtime wins.

Perhaps most important, Brady remains unsatisfied. He gained about 10 pounds in muscle in the off-season and underwent surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder for what was described as “lingering soreness.”

“There was lots of just getting in the weight room,” he said. “I wanted to get my legs stronger and be better conditioned.”

The toughest part of going from a backup early in his New England career to a Super Bowl MVP, he said, has been dealing with the celebrity.

After the Patriots’ final preseason game last week against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars – a game in which no New England starters played – Brady dressed quietly while the reporters surrounded backup Rohan Davey.

Just like the old days, a reporter joked with Brady. He was referring to Brady’s time as a backup to Drew Bledsoe, who is now with the Buffalo Bills.

Brady may not embrace the spotlight, but these days it is unavoidable. According to nflshop.com, his No. 12 jersey was the 14th most popular sold between April 1 and June 30 this year.

While the red-hot Boston Red Sox rode a recent 10-game win streak and gained ground on the New York Yankees in the race for the American League East title, Brady’s jersey and Patriots gear still were sighted frequently in the sports-crazy town.

It is a good life for Brady. He has landed on the cover of magazines like GQ, been named one of People’s 50 most beautiful people, will appear in advertisements for Gap jeans, and dates model/actress Bridget Moynahan.

But staying grounded is important to him, he said. Fame takes a backseat – rather the trunk – to football.

“I do struggle with it,” he said of stardom. “I’m a little better at managing it now, but I like playing football. That’s the best part of the job.”

And the part he is best at.