Praising Tom Brady
January 6th, 2021
Joe is pretty sure that even a guy walking around with a white can see the main reason why the Bucs have gone from the NFL’s outhouse of NFC franchises to a playoff team can be summed up in two words.
Tom Brady.
Just reading how Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith described Brady as a guy with unyielding high standards but at the same time, a locker room pal to everyone on either side of the ball shows what kind of magnetism and respect Brady brings to the Bucs.
Oh, and production. Lots and lots of production.
Albert Breer of SI.com details that Brady’s importance to the Bucs both on the field and in the locker room is just about immeasurable.
Tom Brady deserves our praise. Coming into this year, the Bucs had a total of seven comebacks from down 17 points or more over their 44-year history, and a total of zero in over a decade. This year alone, they’ve had two. Coming into this year, the Bucs were mired in a 12-year playoff drought. This year, they locked up a spot in the postseason with a week to spare. And going into this year, the Bucs hadn’t won more than 10 games in 15 years. This year, they won 11. There are, of course, a number of reasons for that. But Tom Brady’s the biggest one, and there’s no close second. The belief regardless of circumstance, the overarching consistency and the constant rate of improvement we saw from the Bucs are hallmarks of teams Brady’s played for. So that, really, is part of what the Bucs bought in signing Brady to a two-year, $50 million deal in March. In fact, one Tampa official didn’t even dance around that being what the Bucs wanted in pursuing the QB back in March. “A thousand percent,” said the official. “The standard has just risen. What he brings is going to be, obviously, extremely valuable. But what he leaves behind, whenever that is, hopefully it’s more than two years, is equally as valuable. I think it’ll be … it’s awesome.” This guy then added, “He’s a different breed.” And at 43, Brady’s proven it time and again. This year, he had the second-highest TD pass total of his career (40), the fifth-most yards (4,633) and a passer rating (102.2) better than those in all but one of his six championship seasons. Is he the same as he was in 2014? Probably not. But that it’s even a question at this advanced stage is pretty remarkable. As is the difference he’s clearly made in Tampa.
There is no doubt about it: Without Brady, maybe the Bucs are a wild card team. Maybe.
Could part of the reason Brady and his offense have clicked so well recently be that Brady knew all along he had three months to get comfortable with all his new toys and then when December came around, he knew it was time to kick it into overdrive?
After all, it’s not like all of this playoff business is anything new to Mr. Six Rings.
Perhaps no QB heads into the playoffs as red-hot as Tom Brady.
Since Week 15:
1,137 Pass Yards (most in NFL)
10 Pass TD (most in NFL)
10.1 Yds/Attempt (most in NFL) pic.twitter.com/LE7GlwYAf7— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) January 4, 2021
January 6th, 2021 at 10:10 am
Why would anyone walk around with a white can unless it had beer in it?
January 6th, 2021 at 10:11 am
Joe, did you ban Ndog? 🙂
January 6th, 2021 at 10:11 am
Joe’s big on the VH references this week. This one’s at least relevant.
January 6th, 2021 at 10:24 am
A.R.
Perhaps you’re a bit new here. Old times can tell you Joe loves everything Van Halen except perhaps for Sammy Hagar…not sure he considers him worthy.
As for Brady…yeah it’s obvious even to the JW cult now.
I’ve always felt that teams need to win first and then perhaps the following year they can upgrade to becoming an actual contender. We are there! As Jon Gruden used to love to say…”The future’s so bright I gotta wear shades”.
I forget…before he took the Raiders job again did he also have the chance to get his job back with the Bucs?
Of course Gruden has never really been a great judge of talent…Brady OTOH is a stone cold killer when it comes to football! He didn’t take the first offer…he didn’t take the highest offer…he took what he could get and maintain respect because unlike Gruden, Brady IS a great judge of talent. He came to us because he clearly saw what this year was going to produce.
Don’t know if Tom wants to stay in football after his playing career. But if he does…I would love to move him in with Todd Licht as perhaps assistant GM to begin grooming him as Licht’s successor much as BA has done with BL…unless of course TB wants to coach.
January 6th, 2021 at 10:25 am
Another poster on here had a great point…
It almost seems like Brady, BL and BA were using the regular season to try different things out. Come December, they said, ok, let’s go!
January 6th, 2021 at 10:32 am
I have to say that IMHO, Sammy Haggar ruined Van Halen.
I much prefer David Lee Roth.
January 6th, 2021 at 10:32 am
Maybe one of the Joes thinks LEADERSHIP is irrelevant, because he doesn’t know what it looks like. FYI…This is what it looks like and this season is the result of it.
January 6th, 2021 at 10:42 am
Cannon, I agree. In one of his pressers, Arians indicated that they were intentionally keeping things kind of vanilla until everyone had the basics down pat. No he’s able to install new kinks and twists, none of which is on film for opposing coaches to prepare for. I have a feeling we’re going to see the full playbook on display over the next few weeks. First things first – beach the WFT (I hate that friggin’ name. I guess Snyder was just trying to stick it to the NFL for making them abandon their old moniker).
January 6th, 2021 at 10:43 am
no moniker? someone slippin?
January 6th, 2021 at 10:46 am
Agree with Cannon on that possible view. The regular season as the missing pre-season. Now comes the real games. I like that perspective.
January 6th, 2021 at 10:47 am
Lol
Praising Brady in January is as time honored tradition as dogging him in September.
Ps. I like both Sammy Hagar and DLR. I also like both Bon Scott and Brian Johnson as well.
January 6th, 2021 at 10:52 am
We all know Brady is the goat, I feel the coaching staff did a great job of self scouting over the bye. They totally changed their approach to starting games and FINALLY started throwing on first down. You don’t need to worry about third down conversion rates if you’re never in third down.
January 6th, 2021 at 10:57 am
There is a rhythm to championship teams. Most start strong out of the gate. They have a shakedown period where they work on getting things together. Many then suffer a mid-season lull, where the grind gets to them and boredom sets in. As the playoffs or championship nears, the top-notch teams turn bad-ass. They stop playing and start hunting. They have a goal and they destroy whatever’s in their way. It’s beautiful to see.
That’s what we’re seeing in Tampa Bay. While the defense has issues the offense is putting the season on its back. While some moan about how the Falcons came back, all that needs to be said is that the Bucs didn’t punt. The only time drive they were stopped on was a fluke bobbled catch. And they left points on the field.
If this is a championship-type team, we’ll see early on Saturday night. The offense won’t have time for “feeling out” the WTF’s D or for getting into a groove. It should be brutal. That will be the tell on the caliber of the Bucs.
January 6th, 2021 at 11:04 am
lotta doubters have disappeared….lol…
lets keep this train moving forward!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
January 6th, 2021 at 11:08 am
RIP ndog and el sucko
PMA Go Bucs!
January 6th, 2021 at 11:23 am
The price Brady pays for being able to do this at the age of 43? He can’t eat at waffle House
January 6th, 2021 at 11:40 am
keep plugging the vh tunez sir! waitin for you to use unchained after we win on saturday!
January 6th, 2021 at 11:57 am
Just wondering if anyone thinks weather may be a concern Sat. Nite kickoff temps are to be around 32 or less with lows about 26. Bucs have played in no temps even close to this yet.
We know Brady will be ready, just have to think it couldn,t hurt to get a practice or 2 in a cooler noncovid facility , say maybe at Panthers facility as it is cool temps in 40’s and chilly with more to come this week in Carolina.
January 6th, 2021 at 12:04 pm
going out and finally landing a quality QB has paid off greatly!..
Tom has made them winners and relevant in the playoffs….
Now hopefully they can land a young talent this offseason to learn behind Brady for future winning seasons to come..
January 6th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
LFG Bucs!
Brady is such a boss!
He threw for 4600 yards and had a 3.25: TD:Turnover Ratio. That’s damn impressive.
5K yards is less meaningful/impressive with a TD:Turnover ratio less than one, ala our 7-9 finish last year.
Go Bucs! Let’s get a W!
January 6th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
The story goes. David Lee wanted out and they had to get some kind of replacement. I don’t fault Hagar for being that replacement. Sure Roth was better, but Van Hagar did crank out some pretty solid tunes.
That’s my take anyways!
Btw Go Bucs!!! 🙂
January 6th, 2021 at 12:43 pm
Squeak in as a Wild Card without Brady? Not a chance.
– JW would be JW … that is worth more losses minimum
– No Brady = No Gronkowski
– No Brady = No AB
No to mention the absolute culture change that Tom brought to the team. He leads the team to wins
No Brady? We are 7-9 at best and we’re talking about the house cleaning that happened on Monday.
January 6th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning …
Sammy didn’t ruin Van Halen. It was actually Eddy and Alex that wanted to evolve their style of music. David wanted to keep it the same.
You have to think about as two different bands. Sammy was great. Right Now, Pound Cake, lots of great songs.
January 6th, 2021 at 1:19 pm
I mean how bad is that stmt
Without brady maybe they are wildcard
😂
You got to stop waking and backing at 6 AM
Yah cause they were so close the last 13 years.
January 6th, 2021 at 1:39 pm
I grew up listening to Sammy Hagar’s “Standing Hampton” album, among others. I liked David Lee Roth with Van Halen, but he kind of turned into a clown show in his solo career, IMHO.
January 6th, 2021 at 1:46 pm
It’s actually a no brainer Sammy Hagar was an awesome front man before VH, during VH and after VH. Roth is pretty much garbage. Terrible singer and only a decent performer in a vaudevillian sense. (I always found him too effeminate) Which is why DLR has done nothing outside of VH.
January 6th, 2021 at 2:14 pm
All those erroneous and negative posts by people that either just do not Brady or they like Jameis can see by all for what they are. Blatant Bias. Proof is in the pudding. Historic season so far for QB play “IN” Tampa Bay. And it is not even close. GO BUCS!!!!
January 6th, 2021 at 5:38 pm
Its been so many years that the Bucs have been to the playoffs and you bring in Tom Brady and BAM! your in the playoffs. Forget about the dude from Green Bay, Brady is the MVP hands down.