JACKSONVILLE (Feb. 6, 2005) -- Really now. Is there a person in America you'd rather be than Tom Brady? Anybody?

Brad Pitt, even if his heart is wounded?

Barack Obama, whose real happy days should be arriving sometime in 2008?

LeBron James, whose life has an awful lot of slam dunks left in it?

Maybe. Maybe any one of them. But probably not.

Brady is it -- absolutely it. Now and indefinitely.

Nobody is any hotter and cooler -- a contradictory combination as rare as the life he leads -- than the Patriots starting quarterback. He now has his third Super Bowl title in four years, a 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. He now has another near flawless Super Bowl performance, completing 23 of 33 for 236 yards and two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 110.2 quarterback rating. He now has a 9-0 postseason record, tying the NFL record of consecutive postseason wins that Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr once set.

He now has next season, and more seasons, to break it.

At the tender age of 27, does anyone doubt he will? Brady plays like he might not lose for another XII or so years.

"This is not that easy, you do know that?" Hall of Fame quarterback and FOX analyst Terry Bradshaw asked Brady as he experienced yet another confetti shower.

How should Brady know? In the NFL, he hasn't known any different. Each of the three Super Bowl victories that he led his team have come in February -- the only three NFL games ever played in that month.

Three years ago, on Feb. 3, Brady steered his team past St. Louis, 20-17, for its first Super Bowl title. Last year, on Feb. 1, Brady steered them to their second, beating Carolina 32-29. This year, on Feb. 6, Brady spearheaded another super victory, his third Super Bowl title.

Up until now no player in sports history ever has been Mr. February. Brady -- who has two Super Bowl MVP awards and nearly won a third this time -- is the closest thing to it.

Mr. February, and more.

"He's the captain," said Eagles linebacker Dhani Jones, one of Brady's former teammates at the University of Michigan. "He's the president of that country. I call him 'Cool Hand Brady' because he's so relaxed."

Tom Brady could get used to this kind of celebration every season.

He has been invited to the White House to meet the President, to the Vatican to meet the Pope. Everywhere but heaven to meet with Terrell Owens' good buddy and reliable trainer.

Now Brady also has another date -- one with with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Throughout the past week in Jacksonville, Kraft said he expected Brady's contract to be addressed in the offseason. It looks like it has to be. No way around it.

Its total value is $26 million -- less than the signing bonuses handed to quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Michael Vick this past year.

A rich young quarterback is about to become a richer young quarterback. Just as a decorated young quarterback has became even more decorated in Jacksonville.

"There's not a better quarterback in this league," said Patriots special-teams maven Larry Izzo.

Of course he has worked for this. He has worked harder than ever for this, as his coaches attest.

"I promise you while everyone else is enjoying Super Bowl week, two nights I've been sitting in my room between 10 and 11 going over the game plan per his request," said outgoing Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who has decided to leave Brady and New England for the challenges at Notre Dame.

"That says a lot when I get a phone call saying, 'Can you come up to my room? I've got a couple of things I want to go over with you.' He's actually getting to the point where his preparation is so good he's getting to be a pain in the butt."

He is a pain in the butt to his coaches, his opponents or to anyone competing with him for attention in any walk of life.

Brady has rendered Barry Bonds the second most famous athlete to emerge from Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, Calif. He is rendering Joe Montana and John Elway the second and third most clutch quarterbacks to play the game.

While Philadelphia is known for its boos, Brady lives in a city that is known for cheers. More are coming his way. A lot more.

"This will start sinking in the next few days," Brady said just before he headed into an offseason that will feature more endorsement deals, more speaking engagements, more attention, more money, more chaos -- more everything. "Once we get that Super Bowl ring, that's when it's really going to sink in."

Think about how much already has. Once at Michigan, before he ever became America's leading man, Brady couldn't beat out Brian Griese nor Drew Henson to be the Wolverines' starting quarterback.

Now, nobody in America beats him out for a life worth living.