Gunslingers and Blingers; or, Sexy Picks Only
B. Traven | Monday, February 1, 2010 at 7:06PM | tagged NFL, New England Patriots, Sports, Tom Brady 10 Comments | in Football With Brett Favre concluding yet another season with an ill-advised across-the-body gunslinger-esque (read: rookie mistake) pass attempt and amassing almost 500 career touchdowns and 70,000 passing yards, heavy debate has recently raged across the open airwaves in regards to the “Best Quarterback Ever.” Although it’s moderately irresponsible and mostly unfair to compare specific players and teams across separate eras, attempting to determine The Greatest Ever in any particular sport is, at the very least, always interesting.
Although typically a fascinating discussion, it is presently played out, and therefore, I won’t bore you with my own Top Five opinions. No one cares about my Top Five. I don’t even care about my Top Five. One sticking point I’ve had, however, with the recent debate, and the purpose of this post, is the inclusion of Tom Brady in The Greatest Ever conversation. Admittedly, Brady is a great quarterback. Best ever? Top Five of all time? Certainly not. The beneficiary of a great defense early in his career, an obscure “tuck” rule, SpyGate, and an overemphasis on “rings,” Brady is nothing more than a glorified system quarterback of moderate talent and decent athletic ability.
Tom Brady was a sixth round compensatory draft choice in the 2000 NFL draft, but the love affair wouldn’t begin until an injury to then New England hero, Drew Bledsoe, in 2001. After a couple of clunkers, Brady finished the 2001 regular season positively. Incidentally, in this, his first, season, Brady went on to win the Super Bowl and its MVP award with an underwhelming 145 passing yards and one touchdown. Woof. This caliber of performance is worthy of being named Super Bowl MVP? Hardly. There are a few Super Bowl winning quarterbacks everyone cites when arguing against the value of actually having won a championship when determining a quarterback’s greatness and Hall of Fame resume. I speak, specifically, of Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson. Both quarterbacks, in their respective Super Bowls, outperformed Brady’s 2001 Super Bowl. We laugh at them for having won. We laud Brady for his savvy and accuracy.
This Super Bowl MVP award, however, would not have been possible had the peculiar, and still unexplainable, “tuck rule” not been called during the waning moments of the divisional playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. Conspiracies aside (the idea that the NFL wished the Patriots to prevail during a season in which the 9/11 attacks occurred), the rule appeared made up. Although there do not seem to be any credible sources regarding the number of times the tuck rule has been enforced since that game, a quick poll of football fanatics suggest the rule has only been called once in history – during the 2001 divisional playoff game between the Patriots and the Raiders.
In the AFC Championship game that same year, Brady injured his knee in the second quarter and required mid-game replacing. Drew Bledsoe regained his throne, albeit temporarily, and led the Patriots to a 24-17 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A seemingly fabricated rule, a solid relief appearance by Bledsoe, and a questionable MVP-worthy performance in the Big Game, and this guy’s on his way to being considered one of the Greatest Ever.
In the following season, Brady led the Patriots to a pedestrian 9-7 record, missing the playoffs. Brady did play the tail end of that season with a shoulder injury, an injury Belichick later revealed would actually have kept him out of the first round game had they clinched a playoff berth.
In 2003, Brady had a very successful season. In combination with a defense that allowed the fewest points in the NFL, Brady led the Patriots to their second Super Bowl in three years. This time, he put up great numbers in the Big Game, including 354 yards and three touchdowns. The year 2004 proved equally successful for Brady, winning his second straight Super Bowl championship. His solid 236 passing yards and two touchdowns did the trick as he and another great defense squeaked passed the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21.
An abundance of injuries to key players threatened to abruptly slam the door on the Patriots 2005 season. Brady, however, played admirably, and although tying a career high in interceptions, led his team to a commendable 10-6 season. In the divisional playoff round, however, Brady threw two key interceptions and the Patriots fell to the Jake Plummer-led Denver Broncos. After season’s end, the Patriots revealed Brady, in fact, was playing with a sports hernia, the second installation in a concerning trend of I-didn’t-play-well-because-I-was-hurt injuries.
In the 2006 playoffs, Brady and the Patriots were rolling until meeting the vaunted Indianapolis Colts. Leading 21-6 at halftime, Patriots players were seen laughing, jovial, and jubilant, having a good time on the sideline. Unfortunately, on the opposing side of the field stared a red-faced Peyton Manning plotting his revenge. In the second half, Manning led an unlikely comeback that set the stage for another fourth quarter Brady-led winning drive. Against his greatest rival, however, Brady threw a game-ending interception.
In arguably the greatest team season of all time, Brady led his 2007 Patriots to an undefeated regular season by not just defeating opponents, but devastating them. Heading into Super Bowl XLII at 18-0, the Patriots looked like a lock against a mediocre New York Giants squad. In the end, however, the Giants succeeded in forcing Brady into mistakes and the Patriots number one ranked offense came up small in the biggest game in organization, and perhaps NFL, history. Later, it was revealed that Brady had limited mobility because of a bum ankle. Right.
The 2008 season started similarly to how 2007 ended, with injury. Brady missed each preseason game due to a bad foot (although some suggest his injury was simply the sour taste left in his mouth following the previous year’s dramatic and disappointing ending). During the first quarter of the regular season opener, Karma interfered and Brady suffered a season-ending injury to his knee, not seeing the field again until the 2009 season. Brady would end the 2009 season with a broken finger, three fractured ribs, and three interceptions on wild-card weekend.
Amidst all of Brady and Belichick’s success and physical ailment, there hangs a black blemish in the shape of a six-pronged star – SpyGate. In 2007, the Patriots organization was fined $250,000 and docked a first round draft choice. Belichick, too, was fined, at $500,000, two hefty fines in the sports realm that sees monetary penalties usually no greater than $10,000. The infraction committed? Videotaping other teams’ play signals during practices and games in an attempt to gain a strategical advantage. It worked. Prior to meeting in New England, Brady was an untouted quarterback out of Michigan and Belichick was a failed coach in Cleveland, sporting an unspectacular 36-44 record between 1991 and 1995. In ten regular seasons with the Patriots, Belichick comprised a 112-48 record. Obviously coaching two separate organizations would produce completely different results, but the difference seems extraordinary.
Despite all this, the most damning evidence against Brady’s individual greatness comes perhaps from the season in which he played a total of eight minutes. Matt Cassel, a seventh round quarterback selection out of Southern California, a school where he spent his entire collegiate career as a back up to Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, alleviated Brady of his duties and marched the Patriots to an 11-5 season, producing superior first-year numbers than Brady had in 2001, his first Super Bowl season. Upon Brady’s return, Cassel was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. In his first season as a Chief, Cassel accumulated dismal statistics while leading the Chiefs to a brutal 4-11 record. Did Cassel lose his Midas Touch during the offseason, or had two mediocre quarterbacks benefited from a well-developed system and the foreknowledge of the opposition’s defensive plays?
When locked in this Greatest QB Ever argument, those who back Brady always cite one thing – three championships. I concede that this is a tremendous feat. Very few quarterbacks win one championship, let alone three. At the same time, Troy Aikman won three. His name sometimes creeps into a Top Ten discussion, but never Top Five. Terry Bradshaw won four, and the only thing people want to acknowledge is his Steel Curtain defense. Jim Plunkett won two Super Bowls and an MVP, and he isn’t even in the Hall of Fame. Bart Starr won five NFL championships, and he is rarely considered the best quarterback in Packers’ history. So, why is there such an emphasis on Brady’s bling?
Regardless of the aforementioned, there is no question Tom Brady is a great NFL quarterback, but to suggest he is one of the Top Five greatest is inaccurate, misleading, and insulting to those who have had more success, better statistics, and less of a supporting cast. Right now, names like Favre and Brady are sexy picks only. That being said, Brady is still only 32 years old and potentially has a lot of career ahead of him. He absolutely has a chance to move into that stratosphere, but the fact is he isn’t there quite yet.
The top American football quarterbacks ever, numbers 6-10:
6. Bart Starr
7. Otto Graham
8. Fran Tarkenton
9. Brett Favre
10. Tom Brady
Reader Comments (10)
Gratified. Agreed. When Brady met the constant rush of the Giants' front line in the Super Bowl, he looked constantly confused. By comparison, Peyton Manning shifts, adapts, and creates new ideas on the field when he's rushed. The recent AFC Championship is a case in point. He mostly wins points because he's a lot handsomer than Otto Graham. But better? No.
And where's Kenny O'Brien on this list? Hmmm?
Of course, I meant that Brady's handsomer than Otto Graham. The fact that Manning is also handsomer than Graham is not relevant because Manning is a better quarterback.
I hate all things Boston so this essay brings me much joy. The funny thing is that had this been written the day before the Epic Super Bowl 42 Giant Upset, this column would have looked silly. However, when one takes a closer look at Brady, his playoff performances after his last Super Bowl victory (5 years ago now) are rather McNabb-esque and pedestrian. In fact, one may want to take Kurt Warner as a better money playoff QB than Brady.
2 things I will say in his defense:
1. Had Reche Caldwell held on to an easy 3rd and 4 completion in the 2006 playoff loss against the Colts, the Pats (who had NO receivers) would have beaten the Colts in the AFC Championship and Brady would have gotten his 4th ring by beating a bad Bears team in the SB. And as great as my Giants were against him in SB 42, there were only 1 or 2 plays that could have gone either way that would have resulted in the Pats winning. That could have given him 5 titles in 7 years.
2. Up until 2007, he really did not have any good receivers whatsoever with the likes of Deon Branch, David Patten, Troy Brown, OK TEs and the like.
Cassell doing very well when he was injured, I agree, took some of that glow off his image. I think Manning has surpassed everyone to become the Greatest Regular Season QB of all time...tow more rings might just cement him as the greats period.
I agree with the manning pick. I also agree with Marty that better looking quarterbacks usually get overrated because they fit into some sort of prototype about quarterbacks we've been fed since high school. However, at some level being a champion plays a vital role in this prototypeas well. I'm not a fan of Brady but I would still rank him higher than most of his contemporaries who have not won the big game. This iswhy McNabb has been consistently doubted throughout his career. I think if he had a ring it wouldn't be out of bounds to include him in our top ten lists.
Great first piece! It's nice to have a truly authoritative, well-researched sports writer for the lunch break, especially considering sports make up so much of a person's lunch break discussion. Reading this, I could almost see the faces of sports fans heckling and chiding back and forth, interrupting each other, thus never leading to a sound conclusion as your essay did.
I think this piece enhances my ever growing distaste with football. I've been a fan of football longer than any other sport, but in recent years with the Any Given Sunday success, especially in the Super Bowl of all places, I have lost my once great appreciation. I am happy this year of course to see the games two finest QBs squaring off in the big show.
Finally, I must say that this essay provides great satisfaction to me. The only thing 2nd to NY hating is Boston smack talk. And while I know it wasn't your objective, I plan on printing this out and sticking a copy in my Costanza wallet for any time I encounter some obnoxious Boston fan who likes to brag about all of their championships and their pretty boy quarterback.
As a friend of mine once said in response to the inquiry of where Boston Ave. is in Baltimore, "F*** Boston!"
Thanks and I look forward to more insightful sports lunches!
I hate Tom Brady because he played so well against the Eagles and destroyed my hopes of an Eagles parade in Philadelphia, which I believe will be one of the greatest, chaotic events of all time, if it ever happens.
I remember Brady from his Michigan years. I think that was him. He tortured me being a Penn State fan and then he crushed me in the Super bowl. Bledsoe was a great quarterback but the season Brady took over was one of the most magical rides in professional sports. Today, it seems that many rookies come on and take over, but I don't think that was the case a few years back. The Patriots really were a defensive minded team but it goes to show the benefits when you have a balanced offense and a good line.
It is a really good article and indepth. I would put Brady in the top five for what he did in four years and three super bowls with hardly any receivers.
Thanks for the lunch -- Can I put Randel Cunningham in the top ten?
Thank you all very much for your opinions and kind words. I will try to address each of you in order:
Martin, Ken O’Brien was a great passer, and I feel he was quite underappreciated for his work with the Jets. Unfortunately, O’Brien will be looked at as the guy taken right before Dan Marino, although that’s not his fault nor should it be his concern. My favorite Ken O’Brien moment, though, has to be his brief appearance on Tim Allen’s Home Improvement.
CJ, your first example in Brady’s defense, I think, further proves my point. If only two plays, you say, had gone in the Patriots’ favor, Brady could have five titles. You are certainly correct. I will offer my own. Had Asante Samuel held onto a ball thrown directly at him on the final drive of Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots become the first 19-0 team in history. But whether Samuel holds onto that ball or not, it doesn’t make Brady or Eli any better or worse as quarterbacks, does it? Eli still threw the ball to a player on the opposing team at the worst possible moment and Brady still marched his team down the field for the go-ahead score in a clutch situation. Yet, Eli won the Super Bowl MVP and Brady was the goat, simply because Samuel didn’t look the ball into his hands. I suppose this admission doesn’t help my original essay, but I think it’s important to realize the fickleness with which we apply certain titles like “SB MVP” and “choker” and how these titles ultimately affect our perception of player worth and ability.
Nick, you’re absolutely right with regards to Brady ranking higher than most of his contemporaries. My intention was not to reject Brady’s accomplishments. Instead, I simply attempted to argue him out of the Top Five all time discussion. I suppose in terms of leadership and overall value, I’d rank Brady second in the last decade or so of quarterbacks, right behind Peyton. Peyton, in my opinion, will be regarded as the best quarterback of all time by career end. We’ll see!
Patrick, thank you for your comments. You’re right to assume my piece was not intended as “Boston smack,” but I’m glad you found it satisfying and enjoying. I also agree with your assessment that this year’s Super Bowl will feature the game’s two finest. I guess this goes back to one of my original points – the overemphasis of rings. Drew Brees is quite easily nestled, in terms of raw talent and skill-set, right behind Peyton, and although he does receive significant praise, it seems no one truly considers Brees one of the best due to his lack of a championship. Maybe that changes Sunday.
James, I am sorry that Brady ruined your parade. If Akers makes both of the field goals he missed, does this make Brady any less “great”? If Akers makes both of the field goals he missed, does that make Donovan any better?
Finally someone has exposed one of the most overrated statistics in sports for the fraudulent metric that it is. Although baseball statisticians are normally credited with a painstaking obsession to the numerical significance of records, admirers of football history should adopt some of these principles l to provide more accuracy toward the ordering of their medium's pantheon. One specific statistic in baseball seems to connect appropriately with the one that Brady has stockpiled, Superbowl W's.
Traven enhances the previous contention that, "Not all quarterbacks that win the Superbowl WIN the Superbowl," by providing Brady's actual stats in The Big Game. Traditionally, detractors of this statistic often cite Dilfer and Johnson, much like Traven, without acknowledging that highly regarded quarterbacks can receive ill gotten plaudits. Much like quarterbacks plagiarizing their teammates' accomplishments and accepting unwarranted praise, many pitchers in baseball stockpile wins on the merits of dominant offense.
For this specific misrepresentation, there are always outliers. Eric Milton had 12 wins by the end of June 2004, but he lead the majors in homeruns yielded. Jesse Crain, a reliever for the twins finished the 2003 season with 11 wins. Jesse Crain was a MIDDLE RELIEVER. He also was an opportunist as it turns out.
Again the examples above are outliers. However, many well known pitchers can help illustrate the irrelevance of wins as a measuring tool in baseball. Mike Mussina finished his career with 275 career wins. He never finished higher than third in Cy Young voting in any given year and his career ERA is in the Upper Threes. Conversely, Pedro Martinez, assuming that his final pitch was for the Phillies this previous season, finished his career with 215 career wins. His career ERA is below Three. He is the recipient of multiple Cy Young awards and in 1999 he put together one of the most dominant seasons by ANY pitcher in history. Even the most Pro-Yankee/Anti-Pedro baseball historian can not deny that Petey is head and shoulders above Mussina. This certainty can be attributed to the fact that baseball stat rats put an emphasis on individual accomplishment rather than team contribution with regard to Hall of Fame nomination.
Kudos to Traven for finally exposing this inefficient means of determining excellence among footballers. Since Tom Brady has now been identified as football's Andy Pettite, rings and backup without substance, one can only wonder, "What separates him from the rest?" The answer, sadly, is more than likely his arm candy and cleft chin.
Sal,
Calling Tom Brady the Football Version of Andy Pettitte was one of the best analogies I have ever heard. While I am not 100% certain it is spot on, there are enough similarities in it to certainly make a Brady Lover from Southie think a second before getting really annoyed.
A Professional QB today is by far the most difficult job in sports. Imagine everything you have to decipher pre-snap and then everything you must process post snap in the 2.2 second you have to throw the ball before a 290lb monster comes to crack your back in half.
CJ
There is definitely no denying that NFL Quarterback remains the most difficult career path in professional sports. This likely stems from the fact that it is so reliant on the surrounding parts. Even with the most dominant offense in NFL history, a porous Pat's D became Brady's undoing. This avalanche started with the last drive in Superbowl LXII and snowballed into the drubbing that the Ravens' average offensive arsenal placed on the Patriot's defense this year.
This Brady debate, coupled with the previously made point about the razor thin success margin that pro quarterbacks endure, makes one wonder, "Who truly would have been the greatest quarterback ever?" NFL fans chuckle about the running jokes of the position including Leaf, George, Harrington and The Class of '99 (save McNabb). However, these living punchlines could have been Canton shoe-ins if fortunate had smiled upon them in late April. If Leaf had slipped a mere four spots to the Rams, a team still searching for a signal caller, he would have backed into the nucleus that became a Superbowl winner three years later, likely boxing out the beloved Kurt Warner. David Carr could have decided to stay in school for his senior season, thus allowing a team other than the expansion Texans to nurture him, thereby preventing him from breaking his own sack record in three consecutive seasons. Perhaps the randomness associated with a quarterback's assignment is the cruelest part of the job.