Is Tom Brady Kaput?

[Wadcutter]

Pretty pathetic performance last night by Brady & Co. But I don't think we've seen the last of Tom Terrific just yet. But of course the sports media already has him dead and buried.

[RustyZombie]

I don't have a particularly vested interest in American football. However, I feel the general sports media isn't unlike the stock market; they tend to exaggerate the relevance of any change they see.

[Scott O]

His offensive line is done. They were awful. The D was really, really bad too. Not that Tom doesn't deserve his share of the blame but that was truly a team loss. But if they don't fix that O line, then yes, he is done. In New England at least.

[Fatstrat]

Originally Posted by Scott O

His offensive line is done. They were awful. The D was really, really bad too. Not that Tom doesn't deserve his share of the blame but that was truly a team loss. But if they don't fix that O line, then yes, he is done. In New England at least.

Good observation. Many people underestimate the importance of the offensive line. Even great QB's can't do much if they are running for their lives or on their backs. Case in point, the Dallas Cowboys. In the heyday of Staubach and Troy Aikman, the Cowboys had a GREAT offensive line. But those guys got old and left the game. And in recent years, instead of drafting high profile ball carriers, the Cowboys have been drafting linemen.

[mjz]

Originally Posted by Wadcutter

Pretty pathetic performance last night by Brady & Co. But I don't think we've seen the last of Tom Terrific just yet. But of course the sports media already has him dead and buried.

Actually, the media I see is burying the front office for their value first personnel policy that has given Tom an interesting supporting cast the past two years. They invested some money in some not too great players on offense -- in the trenches and the skill guys.

max

[LouieAtienza]

Well, to be fair, Edelman seemed to blow a few routes, and when he connected with Brady he dropped the ball more often than not. Getting rid of LeGarrette Blount looks like a mistake; I don't think Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley are as good. Amendola did nothing. Offensive line did not protect Brady. He made Geno Smith look like his peer; in fact Geno had a better game. Defense didn't help either...

But basically, the Pats couldn't establish a running game, so their receivers didn't have many chances to get open. I hate to say I took pleasure in the Chiefs running them over because I despise Brady. What can I say, I'm a Jets fan...

[LouieAtienza]

Whose head rolls first, Brady or Belichick?

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by LouieAtienza

Whose head rolls first, Brady or Belichick?

Neither. They're both there for the complete season.

Given the division that New England plays in, I think they'll make the playoffs. Don't expect much when they get there though. Even though the offense is sputtering it would be nice to see the Defense help out a little more.

[jpd]

Originally Posted by Wadcutter

Pretty pathetic performance last night by Brady & Co. But I don't think we've seen the last of Tom Terrific just yet. But of course the sports media already has him dead and buried.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!! No offensive line and he's past his prime...LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Within 3 weeks Kraft will o.k. the purchase of 3 offensive starters. The PATS will be back!

[robj144]

Letting Logan Mankins go was a big blow, but Belichick did it before when he let Lawyer Milloy and Richard Seymour go. So, I have faith in him for the time being.

If the O line starts playing better to protect Tom and open some holes in the running game, the offense will be, more or less, fine. What no one talks about is that the Pats have no deep threat to open the field. A deep threat does two things: 1) It opens the shorter to intermediate routes, and 2) It pushes the safeties further back so that can't push into the box and also stop the run. Granted, you must have time to throw deep, but the Pats still don't have a deep threat.

[Jim_G]

The offensive line is the biggest problem. So you're up against a team that has a hard time stopping the run. Your line can't provide adequate pass protection. Your QB is getting hammered, is a bit gun shy, and can't throw it very far.

Naturally the thing to do in this scenario is open the game with 15 passes in your first 20 plays. It's a mystery until you realize that the Offensive Coordinator is the same guy that burned 4 prime draft picks so he could move up to pick Tim Tebow. He must have copies of the Spy Gate videos. Not only is he still employed, there is noise that he is Belichick's successor.

They're going nowhere this year, but a good start would be to dump Josh McDaniels.

[Wadcutter]

My nephew, who has since retired from the NFL, played starting offensive right guard for the Pats and has three Super Bowl rings from playing under Brady and Belichick. He told me anyone who counts out Tom Brady & Belichick will do it to their everlasting regret. I tend to believe him.

[valleyguy]

Andrew Luck seems to have no problem playing with a lousy offensive line.

[Jim_G]

Originally Posted by valleyguy

Andrew Luck seems to have no problem playing with a lousy offensive line.

Yes, and he's 12 years younger than Brady. He's played in about 40 games vs 223 for Brady. Brady also has no foot speed, never has. Brady doesn't have a Reggie Wayne to throw to either.

And yet both teams are sitting at 2-2 at the moment. I'm pretty sure a bad offensive line is a problem for any team. That said, when Luck is 37, he'll have problems if his O line isn't any good. In between, I'm sure we'll be watching a future HOF player in the making.

[Greg Rappleye]

If Tom Brady is "finished" as an NFL quarterback (and I don't believe for a moment that he is), maybe he can come back to Michigan and coach.

Though I can't see Giselle settling in Ann Arbor.



Greg Rappleye