Former Patriots QB Grogan Talks Playoffs, Tebow, Changing NFL [VIDEO]

When he introduces himself to younger children at speaking engagements, former New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan tells them, “I used to be Tom Brady.”

After all, they are the same person, Grogan says.

Both were low round draft picks—Grogan a fifth rounder from Kansas State, and Brady a 6th rounder from Michigan—and both were thrust into the lineup early in their careers when the star quarterback they once backed up—Jim Plunkett (Grogan) and Drew Bledsoe (Brady)—went down with injury.

But, there are three main differences between Brady and himself, Grogan admits.

“I didn't win three Super Bowls. I never made 15 million dollars a year, and my wife didn't make twice what I made modeling underwear," he joked.

“Otherwise, we’re the same guy,” he said.

A large gathering at the Brenner Conference Room on January 9 turned out for the . Before the awards ceremony, Grogan, the guest speaker, entertained the crowd with self-deprecating stories of his adventures as a professional football player (1975-1990, all with the Patriots), talking about everything from how the game has changed since his retirement to Tim Tebow to how he thinks to the Patriots will fare in the playoffs to underwear.

At the time of his retirement, Grogan led the franchise as the all-time leader in passing yards (26,886) and passing touchdowns (182). He is currently third lifetime in passing yards and passing touchdowns behind Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe.

Grogan set the NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season (12 in 1976)—a record that stood until Carolina’s Cam Newton broke it this season.

His 16 seasons are the most ever for a Patriots player. He also held the Patriots previous single-game record with a 153.9 quarterback rating, achieved by completing 13-of-18 passes for 315 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions against the New York Jets on September 9, 1979, before Drew Bledsoe posted a perfect 158.3 rating against the Indianapolis Colts on December 26, 1993.

Grogan currently owns the Grogan/Marciano Sporting Goods Store in Mansfield.

When asked to compare today’s NFL to when he was playing, he said, "There are many differences in the twenty years since I retired. Players are bigger, faster and stronger. Hall of Fame Offensive Lineman John Hannah was 270 pounds. Now, they are all over 300 pounds. It's much more of a passing league today. They throw first, and run as an afterthought. They are throwing 40-60 times a game. That's why there were so many quarterbacks throwing over 4000 yards this year, and a few over 5000. That was unheard of back then."

Grogan, who was known as a hard-nosed player, who frequently limped onto the field, also talked about the rule changes that benefit current offensive players. "They can't hit quarterbacks any more without drawing a flag. If they had these rules when I was playing, I'd probably still be playing," he joked.

Grogan played with three Hall of Famers (Hannah, Mike Haynes and Andre Tippett) and says he still misses the camaraderie and competition.

Grogan predicted a Patriots win Saturday evening against the Broncos in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs, and thought they would advance to face Baltimore in the AFC Championship game the following weekend.

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Take a look at video highlights from Grogan’s appearance at the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting in the media gallery above.