Who is the better... Brady or Aikman?

[royhitshard]

It all comes down to what you are looking for. I don't think Brady has the accuracy or the arm to be as effective in the offense that Aikman ran. And I don't think Aikman was as good at dealing with a changing roster as Brady has been. Troy really struggled when he didn't have his best weapons. Brady has persevered in those situations.

I think the Patriots are going to have a down period...I think their window is about closed. If they can get back to the top with Brady leading them, I will give him the edge.

Very well said.

 

[Hostile]

I think that Aikman has always been underestimated by many, even during the glory years.

Echo that.

 

[THUMPER]

It all comes down to what you are looking for. I don't think Brady has the accuracy or the arm to be as effective in the offense that Aikman ran. And I don't think Aikman was as good at dealing with a changing roster as Brady has been. Troy really struggled when he didn't have his best weapons. Brady has persevered in those situations.

I think the Patriots are going to have a down period...I think their window is about closed. If they can get back to the top with Brady leading them, I will give him the edge.

Very good analysis. It is difficult to compare the two because their skillsets are different as are the offensive systems they play in.

The relative competition they faced is irrelevent because even though Aikman had more around him he also faced tougher competition so it evens out.

Bottom line, I would take either one depending on which offense I was running but of course I favor Aikman because he was a Cowboy.

 

[RCowboyFan]

It all comes down to what you are looking for. I don't think Brady has the accuracy or the arm to be as effective in the offense that Aikman ran. And I don't think Aikman was as good at dealing with a changing roster as Brady has been. Troy really struggled when he didn't have his best weapons. Brady has persevered in those situations.

I think the Patriots are going to have a down period...I think their window is about closed. If they can get back to the top with Brady leading them, I will give him the edge.

I think part about struggling with new weapons, had a lot do with the type of offenses Cowboys ran. It had a lot to do with timing and precise pattern being run by WR and WR being good at catching the ball.

The thing people don't realize is, Brady, when taken out of his elements in NE, hasn't faired all that well. Example his Pro-bowl performances. I do think Brady is more of a system QB than Aikman, although I do think Brady might have done pretty well in Cowboys offense, but not as well as Aikman. Brady is not simply near that accurate to be as effective as Aikman and nor has he that strong of an arm, which you already stated.

NE offense, much like what BP wants to do, is predicated on having multiple JAGs ( just another guys) and not superstars at skill positions mostly. Thats why its kind of hard to scheme against NE, because, there is really no Big time WR you have defend or game plan against. They make you defend entire field pretty much and thats where the strength is. And thats where BP wants to head to, IMO.

 

[BAZ]

Now it's Aikman but by the end of Brady's career I think he will be considered top five ever.

 

[doomsday81]

Aikman has more talent.

If you had better talent around you in a more competitive league, you also had better competition. You can't have it one way and not the other.

Brady is great. But w/o the "tuck" rule, we wouldn't even be comparing them right now.

Didn't Brady throw for 4,110 yards last year with no running game and an injury-ridled offensive line? Yeah, all he has is the tuck rule to thank for his success. I think the 90s Cowboys would easily beat this latest version of the Patriots but I think that because their team was loaded. When the Cowboys started to crumble, so did Aikman. He was a good leader but he could never carry a team all by himself. Brady proved he could do that last year, as well as win Super Bowl titles. The only place this vote would even be close is on this board. I love Aikman but I answer questions as a football fan and this isn't even very close in my opinion. I think Brady wins easy and I believe I represent the non-Cowboy fan majority on this one.

 

[doomsday81]

It all comes down to what you are looking for. I don't think Brady has the accuracy or the arm to be as effective in the offense that Aikman ran. And I don't think Aikman was as good at dealing with a changing roster as Brady has been. Troy really struggled when he didn't have his best weapons. Brady has persevered in those situations.

I think the Patriots are going to have a down period...I think their window is about closed. If they can get back to the top with Brady leading them, I will give him the edge.

Most inaccurate observation ever made on this board. Brady doesn't have accuracy? Seriously, get the NFL Sunday Ticket and watch a Patriots game.

 

[Hostile]

Um...isn't this a blatant contradiction?

No, but we all understand you might not know what contradiction means.

Do you need some help?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Most inaccurate observation ever made on this board. Brady doesn't have accuracy? Seriously, get the NFL Sunday Ticket and watch a Patriots game.

I think he's saying that Brady isn't as accurate as Aikman was

 

[doomsday81]

I spoke to this in the McNabb thread just a bit. It's difficult to compare either because of the circumstances. Brady could never play in a timing offense. He doesn't have the arm. We all know that Aikman never really threw a great deep ball so any downfield offense is not going to be a match for Aikman. Both QBs are among the very best IMO but Brady's story is not finished yet. If he wins another championship, I think you gotta give the nod to Brady. After all, that's what it's about I'm told.

What kind of an offense do you think Charlie Weis ran in NE? I'm just curious because this sounds like opinions from people who have seen three Patriots games in the last five years. Bottom line: the Cowboys had a top ten defense, the NFL's best RB and the NFL's best O-line when they won those titles. Give me Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Jay Novacek and that line and we'll see how much Brady struggles with his timing. He might only throw for 4,500 yards with all those weapons.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

dooms, Aikman did most of his damage in the 1st half of games before the coaching staff went to the running game in the 2nd half

 

[doomsday81]

One last thing: Troy Aikman was NEVER considered the best quarterback in the NFL while he was playing. Not only is Brady considered the best right now, he gets compared to some of the all-time greats and he's only entering his sixth season. Keep that in mind, Brady is just entering his prime as he showed last year. Remember all the, "Brady is just part of a system" crap we heard? That he can't do what Peyton Manning does? I think he put that to rest last year. When it's all said and done years from now, this argument we are having now will be moot. Brady will go down as one of the two or three greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game and I don't think even this bunch of homers will say that about Aikman.

PS I love Aikman but I won't side with him on argument just because he's a Cowboy, despite how good he was. I just think this one is a blowout. If anyone was the system QB, it was Aikman. When he had to do what Brady did last year - playing without a strong supporting cast - he turned into an average quarterback. Sorry but that's the truth.

 

[SultanOfSix]

Didn't Brady throw for 4,110 yards last year with no running game and an injury-ridled offensive line? Yeah, all he has is the tuck rule to thank for his success.

I love how people invent strawmans to counter a non-existent argument from someone.

I think the 90s Cowboys would easily beat this latest version of the Patriots but I think that because their team was loaded. When the Cowboys started to crumble, so did Aikman. He was a good leader but he could never carry a team all by himself. Brady proved he could do that last year, as well as win Super Bowl titles.

You're comparing a loss of talent level that Aikman suffered (which was much higher than Brady's) against superior competition to a loss of talent level that Brady suffered (which has been much less - in fact he gained talent) against inferior competition.

No player carries a team all by himself. The only QB who probably could be considered to do such was Elway.

The only place this vote would even be close is on this board. I love Aikman but I answer questions as a football fan and this isn't even very close in my opinion. I think Brady wins easy and I believe I represent the non-Cowboy fan majority on this one.

Possibly. In the end, it's just an opinion.

 

[doomsday81]

dooms, Aikman did most of his damage in the 1st half of games before the coaching staff went to the running game in the 2nd half

I agree with that assessment up until 1997. Then what happened when the team needed to rely on Aikman more? He wasn't as effective because he was a great leader on a great team. But when the Patriots had a bad defense, no running game and injuries at receiver last year and had to depend on Brady, he finished third in the MVP voting. That's my point.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

here's my point, both Brady and Aikman are/were great QBs, can't go wrong picking either, to bash one to prove your point isn't right

btw, how can a HOF QB not be close w/ someone who isn't in the Hall?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

sad to say, dooms, you're one of the people why we have to explain time and time again how great Aikman was, you seriously underrate him and truly have the non-Cowboy fan mindset

shame on you

 

[doomsday81]

I love how people invent strawmans to counter a non-existent argument from someone.



You're comparing a loss of talent level that Aikman suffered (which was much higher than Brady's) against superior competition to a loss of talent level that Brady suffered (which has been much less - in fact he gained talent) against inferior competition.

No player carries a team all by himself. The only QB who probably could be considered to do such was Elway.



Possibly. In the end, it's just an opinion.

The league was already watered way down by 1998. The Vikings went 15-1 for Christ sakes. Sorry but arguing the 1992 team and the years from 97 and after aren't the same thing. Aikman played against a lot of terrible competition over the years. Didn't they make the playoffs with an 8-8 record in 1999? Who was the QB of that team against all that great competition? I think my point is proven.

 

[doomsday81]

sad to say, dooms, you're one of the people why we have to explain time and time again how great Aikman was, you seriously underrate him and truly have the non-Cowboy fan mindset

shame on you

I love Aikman and you don't have to explain anything to me because I've been following the Cowboys for over 30 years. I think Aikman was a great player and a first ballot Hall of Famer but I would take Brady over him in a heartbeat.

Anyway, I'm sure you know everything about the Cowboys, because you have the talent to post and misspell every other word on a message board and all, but you can get off your soap box. My guess is I've seen more Cowboys games than you can begin to count tough guy.

 

[Vintage]

sad to say, dooms, you're one of the people why we have to explain time and time again how great Aikman was, you seriously underrate him and truly have the non-Cowboy fan mindset

shame on you

Shame on him? For what? For trying to look at things objectively (for him)?

He would rather have Tom Brady. And considering what Brady has accomplished in 6 years, I am finding it very hard to fault him. At all.

Brady is an amazing QB.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I would take Brady over him in a heartbeat.

good for you, and I'd take Aikman in a heartbeat

Anyway, I'm sure you know everything about the Cowboys, because you have the talent to post and misspell every other word on a message board and all

show me where I misspell every, other word

My guess is I've seen more Cowboys games than you can begin to count tough guy.

and show me where I'm acting "tough"