Brock’s Random Thoughts On Tom Brady

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady (pictured) added to his legend on Sunday, leading his Buccaneers to a 31-9 victory over the defending World Champion Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV.  It's Brady's 7th Super Bowl victory (a Super Bowl record) in 10 SB appearances (also a SB record).  He threw for just over 200 yards and three touchdowns on his way to a 5th SB Most Valuable Player Award (Yes, that's another SB record).

Ok, Tom is clearly the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) when it comes to quarterbacks in NFL history.  His accomplishments on the field back that up.  But, in my opinion, he has now surpassed that into the realm of Greatest Football Player of All Time, regardless of position.

Tom is now amongst Jim Brown, Lawrence Taylor, Otto Graham, Jerry Rice, and a few others in that select group of the greatest of the great.  He just is.  He's also one of the greatest athletes, regardless of sport, in the history of American sports (Muhammed Ali, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, etc).  And the thing is, in college, I didn't want him.

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I have to admit (and I will admit it to him if I ever meet him in person) that I was wrong about Tom Brady.  I was one of those people who wanted Drew Henson to start at QB over Tom in the 1998 and 1999 seasons at Michigan because of Henson's tremendous physical talent.  Plus, Henson was flashier and much more highly touted after a great HS career in football and baseball at Brighton HS.  But Brady had something nobody could really see...HEART.

Well, we all know things didn't work out for Henson in football or baseball (a subject for another day).  And I believe that had Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr started Tom over Drew in the 1999 season, it would have been Michigan playing for the National title against Florida State instead of Michael Vick and Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.  Michigan finished 10-2 and won the Orange Bowl in that season (an excellent season, but it could've been even better).

I'll be man enough to say to Tom that I was wrong about him.  I know I'm not the only one he's proven wrong.  Pick #199 in the 6th round in 2000, only got a chance to start in New England because of the injury to Drew Bledsoe, and now he's the GOAT.  Just an amazing story.

And Tom's not done yet.  He'll return for the 2021 season (he turns 44 just before next season).  And he said before Super Bow LV that he could play even past age 45 (his stated goal, he's said that publicly).  Yes, he shows signs of age sometimes on the field (Of course he does!!!!  He's 43 years old!!!!), but for him to play at the level he's playing at is unreal.

And he also showed everyone that he could win without Bill Belichick directing him.  In my opinion, this 2020 season is a little "screw you" to Bill Belichick ("We won those Super Bowls more because of me than you, Bill") and to all the doubters who thought he was finished after the 2019 season.

I also think he left the Patriots because he and Belichick were sick of each other, too (when you've been together 20 years like they were, that can happen).  You could see signs of discontent since the Deflategate scandal from a few years ago.

I don't doubt Tom Brady anymore.  Not after what he's done with the Bucs.  The end is coming for him as a player.  But if he plays three more years, I won't be surprised.  After all, he's the G.O.A.T.