New Year, New England?
Even with a
dozen games left in the NFL season we’re already looking ahead into 2020 to try
and predict what the next decade of football has in store for us. Some things
we know for sure, like Joe Burrow is keeping an eye on Cincinnati real estate
as we speak. LSU’s Heisman trophy winning quarterback’s historic senior year
has perfectly coincided with the Bengals’ abysmal 2-14 season to offer a
glimmer of hope to a city so accustomed to sporting frustration. Some other
things we’re pretty certain of but are still up in the air, like whether or not
Jason Garrett will remain in Jerry’s world. Dallas’ head coach has been skating
on the thinnest of ice for a long time now given the array of talent amongst
his group of players.
There are many topics we could cover
following 17 weeks of play, but you’ve got to start somewhere and where better
to begin our regular season run down than with the best there’s ever been? The
goat, the golden boy, Tommy terrific himself. First of all, I did tune in to
see Tom Brady clinch a record 6th SuperBowl back in February. I know
Brady’s the greatest quarterback we have and perhaps ever will see but this
season has looked like the beginning of the end for one of the greatest
athletes of my generation. Love him or hate him, you’ve got to respect him. Tom
Brady has guided New England throughout their dominant era. Starting with the
franchises first Superbowl win in 2002 over the St Louis Rams and culminating
in their most recent championship just ten months ago against the now Los
Angeles Rams. A record tying fourteen Pro-Bowls (9 consecutive between
2009-2018), a record nine SuperBowl appearances, six wins and four game MVP’s
amongst those SuperBowl outings another two records to add to the CV. Three
league MVP’s and second in all-time passing touchdowns. Not bad for a 6th
rounder. Back in February when Brady added more jewellery to his already heavy hands,
he broke yet another record, one that will definitely take some beating. At 41
years old Tom Brady became the oldest quarterback to lift the Vince Lombardi
trophy. Since that night Tom Brady has declared his intention to extend his
career into his mid-forties. Three more years. At the time I think football
fans across the globe just mutually agreed, 45 years old? No problem. The guys
won more SuperBowls than anyone else, he won the last one for goodness sake who
are we to doubt the goat? And then, 2019 played out.
For the first time since he tore his
ACL, way back in 2008, Tom Brady was snubbed for the Pro-Bowl. New England have
still clinched the division and extend their record play-off run to eleven
straight years but the drastic decline of both Tom Brady and the Patriots’
offense as a whole has many signalling an end to this devastating dynasty. This
season New England failed to amass 6000 total yards of offense and 4000 passing
yards for the first time since 2010. Are there alarm bells ringing in Foxborough,
Massachusetts? That was nine seasons ago, three SuperBowls ago in the Patriots
championship mind set. Brady’s come back from this sort of slump before, what’s
the big deal? That was 33-year-old Tom, with a 24-year-old Julian Edelman, 29-year-old
Wes Welker, a recently turned 21-year-old Rob Gronkowski and highly rated
rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez amongst the Pats’ arsenal. Father time wasn’t
keeping such a close eye on Tom the last time New England’s offense looked so
stagnant.
Of course, we can’t just use Tom Brady
as the scape goat, the Patriot’s haven’t exactly been spoilt for choice in the
receiving department this term. Seven-time Pro-Bowler Antonio Brown’s four
catches and solitary touchdown offered very little to New England as the boisterous
receiver’s personal life put an end to his promising athletic career for the
time being. Fellow wide-receiver Josh Gordon could only contribute half a dozen
receptions and one touchdown for coach Belichick before being placed on injured
reserve (IR) and later waived from the squad. Months after his release from
Foxborough, and now settled in the Pacific north west as a Seattle Seahawk,
Gordon faced his fifth performance enhancing drug (PED) suspension. Coach
Belichick rolled the dice with both Brown and Gordon given the baggage both the
talented athletes seem to constantly carry with them. Unfortunately for
everyone associated with Robert Kraft’s Patriots organisation neither signings
paid dividends. Future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski was arguably the greatest
loss to the offense following his decision to retire after the SuperBowl 53
victory. After leaving the field in Atlanta with his third ring the lovable
tight end drew curtains on his relatively short yet rather illustrious NFL
career. Four-time Pro-Bowler Gronkowski is literally a huge void on the Pats’ roster.
Whether Gronk would be catching passes or simply providing a decoy to bait
double coverage, this team just simply aren’t the same without the big man in
and around the camp.
Receiving problems aside the Patriots dynasty has something new
to look out for, something they haven’t had to concern themselves with in several
years. Competition in the American Football Conference (AFC). New England have
almost monopolised their conference during the Belichick/Brady era. In the last
eight seasons there has been just one year that future Hall of Fame QB’s Tom
Brady or Peyton Manning haven’t represented the AFC in the SuperBowl. 2013 when
Joe Flacco led Baltimore to their second championship. Other than the classic
Brady v Manning duels the AFC hasn’t been as wide open as the other side of the
league. Since 2015 the National Football Conference (NFC) has had five
different teams compete in the showpiece finale whilst Tom Brady has featured
in four alone. Suddenly, however, the AFC has picked it up a gear. Both Kansas
City and Baltimore are knocking on the door of Krafts’ Patriots team with the
help of their excellent young quarterbacks. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (2018
league MVP) and Lamar Jackson of the Ravens (2019 league MVP elect) are
altering the game of football we know and love with their unique playing
styles. Lamar Jackson has had a breakout season so far with his incredible running
ability reminiscent of the great Michael Vick. Patrick Mahomes set the league
alight last season with his innovative style of play. No look passes, side arm
passes, scrambling in and out of the pocket, lobbing the pig skin 50, 60, 70
yards downfield with ease, Mahomes’ MVP title was more than justified. The Tom
Brady type, pocket passers of the world are history it seems. Even within their
own division (the AFC East) competition looks fiercer. Josh Allen of the Buffalo
Bills (another extremely mobile QB) has rallied his side to a narrow second
placed finish in the division. Buffalo’s 10-6 finish this season their best
since the days of Wade Phillips and Doug Flutie.
Weeks into the season NFL insider Adam
Schefter pondered the possibility of Tom Brady leaving the state of
Massachusetts. Although it’s hard to even comprehend the goat suiting up in
anything other than the famous Patriots nautical blue uniforms, the Cali native
Brady dreamt of representing his boyhood San Fransisco 49ers as he grew up.
Brady was an avid supporter of San Fransisco as a youngster and often voices his
feelings of admiration towards the legendary Joe Montana. A fairy-tale ending
to Brady’s historic career would be leading his 49ers for his final year, closing
off his playing days simply having fun and fulfilling the dreams that Cali kid
had all those years watching Montana and co lighting up Candlestick Park. Three
years ago, this dream would’ve been achievable, nowadays it couldn’t look more distant.
Partly because of his old apprentice. Jimmy Garoppolo runs San Francisco now.
Following an injury inflicted first year at Levi’s Stadium, a torn ACL in week
3, the former Pats back-up has taken huge strides in his early NFL career. With
a narrow win in Seattle on Sunday the 49ers secured the number one seed in the
NFC. With a franchise QB, young receivers and a very reliable defence in place
49ers fans can finally see the light at the end of the troubling tunnel they’ve
been stuck in since Colin Kaepernick led them to SuperBowl 47. Of course, there
are other teams in California, one of which is in dire need of both a new QB
and a face to bring the crowds in. Since their switch from San Diego to Los
Angeles the Chargers organisation has had both on-field and off-field issues.
On the field, Philip Rivers is done, the 38-year-old has been a tremendous
servant to the Chargers since his first year as a starter in 2006. Eight
Pro-Bowls, an NFL comeback player of the year title in 2013 and eighth in
all-time career passer ratings, Rivers may have some real estate in a Canton
hallway when the dust settles on his career. Despite his efforts, the few
Chargers fans remaining seem to be at wits ends with Philip Rivers and would
welcome a year of the greatest player to ever do it. Brady spends a lot of time
in Southern California during the off-season and still has family in the state.
Along with some relatives Tom Brady’s trainer, Alex Guerrero, resides in LA.
Another incentive the Chargers could try and use to lure in the goat.
And if the whole playing football
thing blows up in Tom Brady’s face, Hollywood is just up the road. We all loved
that ‘Ted 2’ cameo, right? Could Tom Brady become the first guy to win a SuperBowl
AND an Oscar? Maybe I’m getting slightly off topic…
It doesn’t matter who you root for on
Sundays or where you grew up, if you claim to be a football fan and you don’t
love Tom Brady, you’re not a football fan. Tom Brady’s contribution to football
is like the Beatles impact on music. Even if it’s not your cup of tea, you’ve
got to applaud it. For years to come Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun
Watson etc will chase Tom Brady’s legacy. The benchmark he has set might never
be met. It’s only when he hangs up the cleats and the next generation fails to
accomplish what he made look easy will we truly appreciate just how special Tom
Brady has been to the game we love.
Tom Brady has still led the Patriots
to the play-offs. They’re not done yet, heck they’re one of the favourites! Brady’s
not retiring and this certainly isn’t a eulogy but the difference in
performances and consistency looks vaster than ever before. Brady has set such
a high standard for himself that even with another divisional title and a
respectable 12-4 regular season record we’re all pessimistic about the future.
For as long as he perseveres, I’m on his side, you’ve got to appreciate
greatness and Tom Brady is the greatest of all-time.
Now watch as he dominates the
play-offs and looks 25 years old again. Only Tom…
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