Peabody family goes all out to support favorite football team

PEABODY – Their answering machine might say “You?ve reached the home of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots,” but don?t let that fool you. The number you dialed really belongs to Rob and Monica Gaudet, your slightly more than typical die-hard Patriots fans.Their home on Washington Street in Peabody should probably be named a tourist attraction, and anyone who drives by would understand why. A hand-made goal post stands about 10 feet high on their lawn, and surrounding it are other Patriots paraphernalia that Rob, 44, made himself out of plywood.His current creations include a giant football with Brady?s signature number 12, a larger-than-life carving of the old Patriots mascot that Rob said took him over 40 hours to make, the clever “D” fence appropriately placed along his own wire fence, and several flags and banners everywhere in between. Rob also has painted a “4-0″, the Patriots? record prior to last Sunday?s win, on his windowpanes.?I?m making the offense sign in a week or two,” said Rob. The new addition will feature an electrical switch turned to the off setting, and, you guessed it, a fence.The Gaudet?s lawn didn?t always look like this. It started in 1996 when the Patriots played the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. Since then, they put everything up when the season begins and take it down when it ends.As for the inside of their house, that?s decorated to honor their beloved Patriots year-round. Books, magazines, and pictures with cheerleaders cover their coffee table in the upstairs living room.Downstairs, posters, more flags, framed photos, an empty Wheaties Box with the team on the cover, a Patriots-themed Santa Clause hat, a clock, a trash basket, and autographed helmets surround the bar. There?s even a seat from the old Foxboro stadium that Rob paid $55 for, tacked to the wall.It?s easy to see why residents in Peabody refer to their home as “The Patriots House.”?People beep all the time,” Monica said about cars passing by after a game. During the Super Bowl, some people have even stopped to take pictures.Speaking of the Super Bowl, the couple goes even more over the top with decorations when the Pats are involved.?We put up our jerseys and t-shirts around the (outside of) the house,” Monica said. “I put balloons up. Paint my face.” She even takes the next day off from work.?It?s very serious for us,” she said.So serious, in fact, that no one is allowed over to watch the games.?No phone calls either,” said their son Michael, 10, who, along with his younger brother Gus, 7, were taught to “duck” when passing by the television during a game.That means no football parties at this house.?Oh, no, no. We can?t,” said Monica, cringing at the thought.?It?d be too loud,” said Rob. “We?d miss something.”And missing a game is not in the cards for Rob. He swears he?s never missed a single game and actually tapes each one so he can watch them during the off-season.?My father calls him Bill Belichick,” Monica laughs.The kids don?t seem to mind their parents? obsession.When Monica asked Gus, dressed in a Rodney Harrison jersey, who her favorite Patriot was, he said “Tom Brady” without hesitation.?I tell my husband that I?d leave him for Brady in a minute,” she said. “He knows it, too.”For Rob, the roster is too talented to choose a favorite.?It?s hard for me to pick one,” he said. “We have too many good guys.”One would think that devoted fans like the Gaudets had season tickets, but that?s not the case for the Gaudets. They go to a few games here and there, thanks to a season-ticket holder friend from work.?We?ve met them at training camp,” said Rob, who makes sure to bring the kids to get autographs. “But never one-on-one.”