Tom Brady isn't just the best QB

[KJJ]

Joe Montana. 4 Super Bowl victories in 8 years.

Montana's greatness is undeniable but what sets Brady apart from every QB that's ever played the game is his success spans 16 years with completely different rosters. He started winning SB's in 2001 and here we are in 2017 and and he's about to make his 7th SB appearance. He's had success with different WRs, RBs, completely different OL's and defenses. No matter who you put around him he wins.

Players keep coming and going but he keeps winning. Just look at some of the solid players that Belichick has either released or traded over the years but the Pats keep winning because the one common denominator that's been there all through the years is Tom Brady. They lose a huge weapon like Gronk but they keep winning. When Brady retires Belichick might as well retire with him because the magic will be gone in NE when Brady hangs them up.

 

[KJJ]

If you're not already versed in Sammy Baugh's history, go look him up. Today's players are "specialists" and have no versatility. Baugh was a great one. There are others, as well. It's kind of silly, IMO, to claim that Brady or any other player is "GOAT", because you simply can't properly account for differences in the game from different eras...stats mean nothing in those comparisons. I can only imagine Brady's (or any other current era QB's) reaction if he would have had to endure what the QB's of the past had to endure. Refs would probably have ejected him for excess whining.

Players during Baugh's era played both ways because that's was how the game was back then. Sammy Baugh was a great player during his era but couldn't compete with many if any of the QBs of today, especially Brady. The NFL is such a competitive league with 32 teams and a salary cap, it's amazing to have one team consistently win year after year with all the roster changes but that's how great Brady is. It's not that hard to remove the dislike you have for particular players and just be honest about their ability. NFL players are bigger, faster and better than players were decades ago. There's LBs today that are bigger than players that played on the OL during Baugh's era.

 

[LandryFan]

Players during Baugh's era played both ways because that's was how the game was back then. Sammy Baugh was a great player during his era but couldn't compete with many if any of the QBs of today, especially Brady. The NFL is such a competitive league with 32 teams and a salary cap, it's amazing to have one team consistently win year after year with all the roster changes but that's how great Brady is. It's not that hard to remove the dislike you have for particular players and just be honest about their ability. NFL players are bigger, faster and better than players were decades ago. There's LBs today that are bigger than players that played on the OL during Baugh's era.

KJJ, I am not saying that Brady isn't a great QB...he is. I'm simply stating that, IMO, it's silly to argue who is/was the greatest this or that because of differences in the game in different eras. That said, if the OP simply stated that Brady was the greatest QB of all time and left it at that, I might not agree with him, but I would certainly see the logic in his opinion. However, he didn't stop there. He stated that Brady was the best PLAYER (regardless of position) to ever lace 'em up. That's where I totally disagree.

 

[KJJ]

Another amazing thing about Brady is he'll tie Peyton Manning as the oldest QB to play in a SB but Manning looked washed up last season while Brady doesn't look like he's lost a thing. I see no decline in his game at all and to think he's the only player that remains on the team from the 2000 season which was his rookie year. Vinatieri is the only player that comes to mind that's still in the league other than Brady from 2000.

 

[KJJ]

KJJ, I am not saying that Brady isn't a great QB...he is. I'm simply stating that, IMO, it's silly to argue who is/was the greatest this or that because of differences in the game in different eras. That said, if the OP simply stated that Brady was the greatest QB of all time and left it at that, I might not agree with him, but I would certainly see the logic in his opinion. However, he didn't stop there. He stated that Brady was the best PLAYER (regardless of position) to ever lace 'em up. That's where I totally disagree.

I don't think it's silly at all because everything evolves with time and better technology and players come along through the years. The game has changed and a lot of players from many decades ago didn't have the size or speed to play the game as it is today. To judge players you look at stats which is why many have Jerry Rice as the GOAT but he played with 2 HOF QBs. QBs are judged by playoff success and no QB has had more playoff success than Brady. He could very well be the greatest NFL player to lace it up because he's had such an influence over his teams success spanning 16 years. What player can you name in NFL history at any position that's accounted for more wins and championship appearances than Brady? Regardless of all the personnel changes over the years the Pats keep winning because of Brady.

A QB like Bradshaw won 4 SB's in 6 years with the same corp group of players. Once teams start to lose players they decline but NE never declines because of Brady. Every year they're in contention and it's all because of Brady. There's not a player that's ever played the game that's had such an impact on a franchise as Tom Brady. If they held a fantasy draft where you could draft any player in NFL history, I'll bet Tom Brady comes up more than any other player #1 overall with only Joe Montana challenging him. Brady has been consistently great year after year and I see no drop-off in his play after 17 years in the league.

 

[Nova]

He already had the best career of any QB. 4 Championships, 6 SB appearances, more career playoff wins than most franchises, most regular season wins.

With those kinds of stats?!

He is the Greatest QB of all time.



All that said, I don’t equate this to watching Jordan.

Football, as a sport, just doesn’t allow for that kind of impact and wow factor from a single player.

I’ve been more blown away by other players like Randy Moss, JJ Watt, Barry Sanders, Ray Lewis in his prime, and Calvin Johnson to name a few.

I’ve never looked at Brady and said “he’s the best QB in the league”. I always thought Peyton was better, and I think Rodgers is better now. But when it’s all said and done, no one will probably ever touch his success and records.

I think I look at Brady the way others look at Emmitt. But I'm sure he's not worried about it.

 

[KJJ]

Jordan made such an impact because he was a spectacular player who played basketball where five players play offense and defense. One great player in basketball can lead to a number of championships. In football it's 11 on 11 it's a totally different game.

 

[KJJ]

Belichick was 5-11 in 2000 with Bledsoe and started off the 2001 season 0-2 with Bledsoe. Brady takes over...BINGO! It's been 16 years of consistent winning since.

 

[Tabascocat]

Seven SB trips in the era of parity and no cap is amazing. He could get the same # of rings as Dallas has in their history. Montana is great as well but Brady has done it with many different and less talented players.

BB sure helps a lot but as far as my #1.........Brady tops my list.

 

[Bohuntr97]

When Brady showed up in NE, the Pats were just another team and Belichick was just another HC who was on the hot seat. No player, and it's not even debatable has done as much for a franchise as Brady has done for the Pats. He's turned that franchise into the greatest dynasty in league history. No QB has the list of accomplishments and skins on the wall that Brady has. He's won every award imaginable multiple times. He led NE to a 17-0 season and FOUR 14 win seasons. What an incredible career he's had. Anyone who tries to downplay what he's meant to NE doesn't a clue about football and how valuable a QB is to a franchise.

Actually, Belichick was hired by the Pats the same year that he drafted Brady (2000). He wasn't on the hot seat.

 

[YosemiteSam]

eber, he's the best player that has ever laced them up. The MJ of the NFL, this is absolute greatness we are wAtching

Joe Montana. I'm guessing you're not old enough to have watched Joe play in his prime?

 

[Ring Leader]

Joe Montana. I'm guessing you're not old enough to have watched Joe play in his prime?

I saw Montana play, and Montana, sir, was no Tom Brady.

 

[KJJ]

Actually, Belichick was hired by the Pats the same year that he drafted Brady (2000). He wasn't on the hot seat.

I'm aware that Belichick was hired by NE the same year Brady was drafted in 2000 and he went 5-11 that first season. NE was 8-8 the previous season and 9-7 in 1998 before Belichick arrived. That 5-11 season tied for the worst season the Pats suffered since the 93 season. After re-signing Bledsoe to the richest QB contract at that time after the 2000 season which was over a $100M deal, NE started off 0-2 and fingers started to point at Belichick who Chris Mortenson reported was on the hot seat. NE wasn't improving, they were getting worse and the fanbase was becoming restless. Then the biggest break in Belichick's career happened when Bledsoe went down and Brady came in. Belichick was 5-13 with Bledsoe over 2 seasons and Brady took over and won the SB with same team. Brady completely turned that organization around as soon as he took over.

 

[KJJ]

I saw Montana play, and Montana, sir, was no Tom Brady.

Montana was great, arguably the greatest clutch QB in history and is regarded by many as the greatest QB ever to play the game but his throne is being seriously challenged by Brady who could take over the top spot with one more SB win. He may have already taken over with his 7th SB appearance coming up.

 

[KJJ]

When you look at the talent NE has lost over the years such as Mcginest, Bruschi, Harrison and many others due to age, trades and retirements they never decline because the one player that's still there is Tom Brady. He's the only player on NE's roster that was there in 2001. When Brady won his first SB in 2001 many of his teammates that he will be playing in the SB with in less than 2 weeks were in Elementary school. My gosh when Brady came into the league in 2000, Troy and Emmitt were still together with the Cowboys and Irvin had just retired the year prior.

NE keeps winning because Brady keeps playing great year after year. All the great dynasties started to decline once players started aging and moving on and they're QBs got long in the tooth but no matter how many players move on from NE, they stay in the hunt because Brady's game hasn't declined. There's no QB that's played as consistently great over the period of years that Brady has. The guy is pushing 40 and hasn't lost anything. The day he retires, Belichick might go along with him because this magic carpet ride that organization has been on all these years will flame out once Brady hangs them up.

 

[Bohuntr97]

I'm aware that Belichick was hired by NE the same year Brady was drafted in 2000 and he went 5-11 that first season. NE was 8-8 the previous season and 9-7 in 1998 before Belichick arrived. That 5-11 season tied for the worst season the Pats suffered since the 93 season. After re-signing Bledsoe to the richest QB contract at that time after the 2000 season which was over a $100M deal, NE started off 0-2 and fingers started to point at Belichick who Chris Mortenson reported was on the hot seat. NE wasn't improving, they were getting worse and the fanbase was becoming restless. Then the biggest break in Belichick's career happened when Bledsoe went down and Brady came in. Belichick was 5-13 with Bledsoe over 2 seasons and Brady took over and won the SB with same team. Brady completely turned that organization around as soon as he took over.

I don't want to argue too much but which is it? Is Belechick a POS or is he a good/great coach. I don't care what a washed up media Chris Mortenson reported. I know the circumstances at the time: do you stay with the hot hand or do you revert to the highly paid veteran? Belichick made a good call. He has not looked back, has the same record as Brady ever since and I have to give him credit for that. This is not a knock on Brady by any means, he deserves it. But it if BB went back to Bledsoe, who knows, he made a good call.

 

[Bohuntr97]

Since Belichick was hired, the boyz have been through many coaches. Remember Dave Campo? Parcells who loved playing Bledsoe (you cant dial 1-800-quarterback), Wade Phillips? and now the Red (although I'm gonna give a break. for now)

Out of curiosity, do any fans wish that Belichick wish he was hired as the Cowboys HC in 2000?

 

[YosemiteSam]

I saw Montana play, and Montana, sir, was no Tom Brady.

As they say, opinions are like ***holes. Everyone has or is one.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Is Tom Brady the best ever? Depends on how you define best? Best records with team accomplishments he is at the top of whatever lists there are or will be.

But best QB as in player? Or is he a product of the system and Belicheat?

The first thing you have to look at is how his team has fared w/o him. They were 3-1 w/o him this year. Thats a .750 winning %. The year he tore his knee up and Matt Cassel played the team went 11-5. And that was a young Matt Cassel. Not the veteran experienced QB that Garret couldnt win anything with. These two examples by themselves refute any best ever talk. No amount of stats, numbers or any other arguments can refute this.

Now, look at the Cowboys last year w/o Romo. Im not comparing Romo to Brady so save your howls and cries. But Romo last year being out devastated his team. When Brady is out his team just keeps on winning.

Brady has played with a great OL his entire career. We have seen how average he looks when pressured. It doesnt happen often but when it does he is very pedestrian. When he gets real pressure he is no Aaron Fraudgers, Romo, Staubach, Tarkenton, etc. Brady is very dependent on his system and executing it. When pressured he has struggled historically.

Brady has had the unique privilege and advantage of playing in a pathetically weak division so that lends itself to an easier track to a better record for post season seeding which means playing at home. We have seen how average he is playing on the road in the playoffs.

Often its brought up about how many no name receivers and different receivers he's played with and he makes them all look good. But is that all Brady? Or is it the system? Or is it Belicheat? Obviously its a combination, but to think its all Brady is naive and just trying to pad ones argument for a specific agenda.

His longevity is brought up to pad the best ever argument. Certainly a factor but once again his OL has kept him from taking a beating that so many other QB's have taken. The era he has played in doesnt allow for QB's getting hit and roughed up as QB's historically have over the decades. But its also a credit to his work ethic and taking care of his body which we hear about all the time.

When talking about Brady its imperative to take the cheating into consideration. The systematic cheating in NE early on in his career made it much easier for him to know what the defense was doing so as a young QB he didnt have to learn a lot of the game the hard way as it allowed him to keep from making typical young QB mistakes in his development. No team in the history of sports has been recognized for having a culture of cheating like NE has. Since cheating gives an unfair advantage then its safe to assume he has had numerous advantages that other QB's havent had.

Brady has played for the best coach in the NFL and in his era. Nobody else comes close to Belicheat. Brady is out and Belicheat's teams just keep winning. I would make the argument that no other top QB in league history has played with an advantage like this. During the Brady era the NFL has lacked for quality coaches. Instead we see the Marvin Lewis types. The Jason Garrett's, Chuck Pagano's, and Jeff Fisher's.

Super Bowls are a biggie when it comes to Brady. Yet he has lost TWO Super Bowls to E-Lie Frickin Manning, His last Super Bowl win was a gift from Pete Carroll and company with the biggest blunder in Super Bowl history. Seattle snatched defeat from the jaws of victory giving the Pats the biggest gift in Super Bowl history. Brady should be 3-3, thats .500%, in Super Bowls. The first 3 he won all came on late long field goals to win IIRC. Sure he got the team in place for the kick but the kicker was huge in those long field goals. So Brady isnt quite the Super Bowl stud that some make him out to be.

Tom Cry Brady the best ever? For best when it comes to team records and accomplishments, he's in the discussion. But best as in individual player? Nah, not even close.

 

[sean10mm]

People don't like Brady, so they are letting that cloud their judgment. Most of the arguments against him are deeply silly if you give them a second though

Belichick has 1 playoff win without Brady in his entire career. He never won a damn thing without him. Winning a couple of regular season games against what turned out to all be scrub teams this year isn't anything special. Using that to devalue Brady is dumb. Cardinals - crap. Texans - joke. Dolphins - lol.

Cassell turned an 18-1 Super Bowl team into an 11-5 team that missed the playoffs because of a Miami Dolphins team led by Chad Pennington's rotting corpse. He made the best offense in NFL history league average immediately. That's not comparable success, or even close to it.

And I laugh at the "system" arguments. If any idiot can win with that system, why can't any other team do it? And anyway, what team doesn't have a system? Hell, Montana benefited more from the system he played in than anybody in NFL history, because nobody had seen that offense in action before. Montana also played with a ridiculous number of Hall of Famers compared to Brady.

Brady is actually running an offensive scheme that dates back to the 1970s Patriots teams (Earhardt-Perkins, for the actually football literate out there.) There is nothing secret about it, Brady just executes better than just about anybody ever.