Yah, but OPI is never called on the targeted receiver unless he pretty much throws the DB to the ground. You see more OPI for picks/rubs than you do for push offs (even though you see WR’s push off on just about every well-defended pass, as well as DB’s grabbing).
You could probably find at least 10 plays in that game with a similar pushoff which wasn’t called. At least.
Skipper
2048
Agreed he’s still great. But the Pats have a decision to make on how much they spend on, “still pretty good.” Especially so if they don’t think the cards are right for surrounding him with good targets. I’m sure they will and I’m sure they will try to keep him, but it can’t last forever.
Winning? Sure. Records? Provide evidence. I’ll wait.
You won’t find any, of course, because Brady never brags about his records. He may not be the most humble QB in the NFL, but for a man with his incredible achievements, he’s pretty humble.
I think Brady cares about the following, probably in this order:
- Not having his last throw be a pick-6
- Not having to sign some bullshit one-day deal to retire as a Patriot
- Still going and playing for an organization he loves, and the team thing, and putting off his retirement as long as possible.
- Winning
- Records
- Money
Makes sense. Might as well get paid to rehab.
“I may not always be humble, but when I am, I prefer to be humble in the most awesome way possible”
Skipper
2054
I mean, I have evidence of none of either to be fair so please don’t harp me for saying the guy is chasing something. Easily he is, I have no idea what. If I upset you personally with the “vain” or another comment, I’ve admittedly said, the guy is the best. He’s the winning(est?) QB is history, the most SB wins in history, it goes on and on. From what I understand he’s admittedly still healthy at 42. What’s still driving him?
Let’s say money they pay him is an issue for Pats. Maybe they have room next year for it but not 2021. The whole point I was making was … would Brady go to another team? In my opinion, he seems like the type to do so. He wouldn’t be alone … Farve, Montana, Manning, there’s many I’m missing, I’m sure.
A quick google got me this, which has changed since the time of this being posted, since Brady is now 42.
My guess is he’ll play again next year and we’ll have the same discussion then.
Less shitpostily, I tend to lump all athletes into the “pathologically competitive” bucket until given a reason to do otherwise. Generally you don’t get to the professional level without a pretty insane level of drive to excel at the thing, and that kinda leads to a reluctance to retire. I don’t see any reason to believe Brady bucks the trend.
Brady is not leaving the Patriots. Well, he’s trying to sell his house in Brookline, so maybe he is.
Whatever, do what makes you happy Tom! We had a lot of fun watching you play. This team was the punching bag of the NFL before you showed up.
rshetts
2057
Except when it’s the Lions.
rshetts
2058
Tua declaring makes Detroit’s draft position at 3rd kind of interesting now. Not that they will take him, they have far too many needs defensively to draft offense here but it opens up a number of trade possibilities for them and that could allow them to get more picks in a draft that’s deep in defensive players.
True, but until they are in full rebuilding mode, he’ll come back, unless he is knocked out and carried off the field on his shield, IMHO. And they are in no position to pull a Bill Walsh and trade him so they can start the Hall of Fame backup sitting behind him. They need each other for the following reasons.
- Brady wants another Super Bowl title, and he has a better chance where he is, until such time as he’s too damaged, Belichick retires, or they blow the whole team up (more than they have over the past 10 years).
- Kraft wants another Super Bowl title, and he has a better chance with Brady and Belichick and the current team, with a few additions. Kraft knows that w/o one (or both) of them, they will be in a deep rebuild.
With those two items in place (and they were the best team in the AFC for most of the season), there really is no choice for the Pats but to make another run at it. Sign/Draft some pass-catching help (WR + TE), and do the usual tinkering on Defense and the OL that they have done the decade plus to save money.
As to records, I think the only one Brady cares about is Super Bowl Titles. He already has it, but wants to put it completely out of reach.
I’ll go out on a limb and say he takes the vet minimum to play as long as he can for New England. Even with limited ability he’d be producing so far over his value that the Patriots can’t say no. There’s too much of a benefit in a salary cap league.
One of the few things he says about moving or not moving, is the price of the house means it’s going to be on market for a long time. I remember Bledsoe had to wait until Schilling came to town to take his mansion off him.
I agree, and I think most of the teams in the NFL would consider Brady an upgrade for QB. I am surprised that last year they didn’t move into a backup QB that could take over for Brady, I think this year, even if they sign him again, they will prepare for life without him. If he does, I see it for only one more year.
This all depends on if Bill thinks Brady’s decline was largely due to others around him more than Brady slipping.
So if he thinks it was the other players, can he get better players around him? If he can’t, then maybe a QB that can do more (more mobility) might make sense.
If Brady wants to stay and is willing to take a pay cut, I’m sure he stays. However, don’t put it beyond Belichick to draft or sign a QB and end up starting him over Brady if Brady isn’t producing. I’m not sure how Brady on the bench would go over but I could see it happening.
They had Garappolo and traded him to the 49ers. I think they believe Brady will play 2 or 3 more years.
But yes now is the time to draft and develop their next QB.
I think some of it was injuries. They were on their 3rd center, and I think some of the OL was out also. Some of it was bad decisions on WR. The AB fiasco set them off kilter. They may have kept DT if that happens. Gronk waiting to retire also affected them.
I didn’t watch the Pats enough, and when I did analytically, to see how many incompletions were him, or other factors
Scuzz
2065
Just like Joe Montana did for the 49ers.
Yeah, I don’t see him taking the minimum and I don’t see Kraft offering that. They will not give him top money but they will make him one of the better paid QBs. They could even sign him to some ridiculous five year deal where the money is front-loaded. so they can manage the cap better.
I also wonder if Belichick wants to win a Superbowl without Brady? Maybe he wants to prove that it’s really more him than Brady?
