Tom Brady’s Race For NFL MVP
September 16th, 2021
MVP odds.
Joe is guessing those who wagered a few bucks on park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, helmet-tossing, football-punting, Bucs-Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady to win the NFL MVP race were smiling after Brady had such a fantastic night to open the season.
Brady’s icing on the cake was leading the Bucs with 1:24 left on a game-winning field goal drive that was vintage Brady, highlighted by him getting caught by NBC cameras shaking off Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.
Mike Tanier of Football Outsiders wrote a piece on the top MVP candidates and believes Brady, even at 44, is a safer bet than drama queen Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson.
Josh Allen held surprisingly steady at +1400. Sunday’s loss illustrates my concerns about Allen: the Bills schedule is tough, and even a tiny regression to the mean will utterly sabotage his MVP chances. Lamar Jackson was sitting at +1600 on Tuesday after Monday night’s loss. Too much is going pear-shaped around Jackson right now to get excited about him as an MVP contender.
Tom Brady is the anti-Allen: his schedule is soft, and his reputation and supporting cast provide a cushion if age finally catches up to him. Brady’s odds fell from +1400 to +1000 after the season opener. Betting on Brady requires a degree of meta-gaming the vote: will a great season be taken for granted or rewarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award? It’s less risky than wagering on [Aaron] Rodgers’ mood swings, but the payout isn’t as good.
There’s not much Joe can add there about Brady’s MVP chances. Interesting, Brady’s name was evoked earlier in Tanier’s column about a far different subject.
Tanier believes the only hope that unreliable Josh Gordon has to make any impact at all in the NFL without getting suspended (again) is for him to go live with Brady.
You know, it worked for another receiver who couldn’t otherwise find work.
Gordon’s five most likely landing spots:
5) Back on the suspension list.
4) Back on the suspension list.
3) Back on the suspension list.
2) Tampa Bay (He can live with Tom Brady! That never fails!)
1) Back on the suspension list.
No, Joe is not advocating the Bucs sign Gordon. Right now it has the feel that the Bucs will need another corner before they need another receiver.
September 16th, 2021 at 5:22 am
“Right now it has the feel that the Bucs will need another corner before they need another receiver.”
Yea verily Joe. I really like Carlton Davis as a shutdown corner, but the rest of our DBs aren’t there yet. Our Secondary is extremely dependent on our pass rush IMO, and if that doesn’t materialize, our Secondary’s in trouble. Seen it too many times now.
Of course the problem is that shutdown corners don’t grow on trees, and there are really none on the market right now that I can see. Later in the season as losing teams shed payroll? Perhaps. But Todd Bowles defense isn’t all that easy to learn from what I’ve read, and even a quality veteran CB would surely take time to pick it up. No easy answers.
September 16th, 2021 at 5:24 am
All good, but we see where MVP got the Packers, and we see where 5,000 yards passing got Winston. They amount to nothing for fans and the team when the team doesn’t get the ultimate prize.
As for shaking off Leftwich, I continue to believe it’s Brady coaching both Leftwich and Arians, not the other way around. I’m not saying that’s necessarily bad. But once again, I think Brady is so happy here because he basically has the full run of the yard, and the coaching staff and GM are all too happy to let him have it. It’s great to have the GOAT on our home team!
September 16th, 2021 at 6:21 am
Bucs should offer Patriots a first and third for Stephen Gilmore, he and pats could not work out extension he’s out first six games and pats have bunch of young good corners,if I’m the bucs I at least make the phone call !
September 16th, 2021 at 6:37 am
How in the hell does josh Gordon keep getting chances??? Tanard Jackson wasn’t given this many opportunities.
September 16th, 2021 at 6:52 am
Please not another problem child receiver…and a receiver we don’t need
September 16th, 2021 at 6:59 am
I could see Josh Gordon walking into One Buc Place his very first day w/ a sparked-up DOOBIE dangling from his lips b/c he forgot to leave it in the car….then gets suspended again
September 16th, 2021 at 7:40 am
Someone should let Rogers know that a vegetarian diet high in soy, plus a little Midol might help with those mood swings.
September 16th, 2021 at 8:28 am
Saints just got Bradley Roby for a 3rd and 6th rounder… maybe we should call up Jax about Shaquille Griffin?
September 16th, 2021 at 8:31 am
Lamar Jackson sucks. There I said it. I watched the Raiders game, he doesn’t know how to play NFL QB. Years in his instinct is still take off, and run rather than hang in the pocket, and find a receiver. So many times Sunday night rather than step up in the pocket, and throw it, he’d either take off running, or flee the pocket back door. He’d make a great joker player. You could line him up anywhere, even as QB at times, but not full time. The Ravens would be dangerous with a real QB, and Jackson in a joker roll. I know he was league MVP, but that was more about his running ability than his QB talent. I thought it was a farce when he won.
September 16th, 2021 at 9:16 am
I wish people would stop talking about Brady’s age and as far as Brady winning the MVP, he should have won it last year.
September 16th, 2021 at 9:53 am
It’s a pretty significant element.
Kind of like not talking about Pat Mahomes’ passing.
September 16th, 2021 at 10:25 am
He HATES being called Pat
September 16th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
Hodad. I disagree with you on that bro you have to look at the offense they got him running. He can throw the ball good I think if they call those types of pass plays like the quick slants or give him quick passes he will do good. I will have more of a pocket offense for him than a running offense and tell him to make his running secondary to the offense and he would be dangerous. But that offense he’s running now he’s not going to last that long.
September 16th, 2021 at 4:30 pm
Even though our defense knocked a little of the shine off of Mahomes, he’s a great player and the media loves him, so unless he gets injured, it’s his to lose. Lot of Brady hate out there and he would need to be significantly better than nearly everyone else to get a fair shot. Jackson would be the most talented player in the history of the league if he were a better passer. Rogers is toast.
September 16th, 2021 at 8:24 pm
hello kids: I can appreciate all the chatter about Brady being the real MVP last year. guys, Tommy doesn’t care. its not about MVPs, its about Lombardis. Tommy is focused on “the next one”. as are we. GO BUCS!