Lock To Be Better?
May 27th, 2020
Improvement.
If you believe a guy who knows how to build a dynasty, fly to Vegas the moment the casinos reopen and drop cash on any kind of prop bet you can find with park-violating, home-invading quarterback Tom Brady and bet the over.
Why? Because Gil Brandt wrote it’s a lock for Brady to be better in a piece on NFL.com.
Brandt, the personnel guy behind the Cowboys dynasty of the 1980s, cited seven players he believes are “locks” to be better this year.
And among those is Brady.
2019 stats: 16 games, 60.8 completion percentage, 4,057 yards, 24:8 TD-to-INT ratio.
The question of whether Brady or Bill Belichick deserves more credit for the Patriots’ unprecedented stretch of success will kick into high gear when they take the field with different teams this season. But I’m more interested in seeing whether Brady’s mediocre 2019 performance stemmed more from an age-related drop-off, a lack of top-tier talent at receiver and tight end or an offensive approach by coordinator Josh McDaniels that didn’t feature the kind of complementary running game that helped ease the team’s march to a sixth Super Bowl title two seasons ago. Brady won’t have to worry about skill-position talent in Tampa, with Rob Gronkowski emerging from retirement to join prolific wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and tight ends Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard. The quarterback is obviously entering uncharted waters as he prepares to play a season at age 43. According to CBS Boston, only five quarterbacks have ever attempted a pass in an NFL game at 43 or older — including Steve DeBerg, whom I drafted for Dallas in 1977 — and the results have not been pretty. We all know who will ultimately win the battle between Tom and time. But I get the feeling Brady will put up a much better showing in 2020 than he did last year.
Brandt is right. Joe has seen the NFL records and best-of stats for 43-and-older quarterbacks is frightening.
Let’s just say Brady could have his worst career year by far and still put up historic numbers for a 43-year old quarterback.
This is why Joe has been writing early and often that the most important task for the Bucs this fall is to keep Brady upright.
Yes, 43-year old quarterbacks historically are lousy, but Brady isn’t your run-of-the-mill quarterback. Keep him on his two feet and he should be OK.
The 0% financing offers are extraordinary at Bill Currie Ford, as is their nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles. And there’s nothing better than dealing with a true family-owned dealership, Tampa’s first family of Ford for the past 60 years. Click below to start shopping today. Joe and Ira Kaufman are proud Bill Currie Ford customers.
May 27th, 2020 at 8:21 am
Here’s to the OK, park-violating, home-invading quarterback
May 27th, 2020 at 8:22 am
park-violating, home-invading quarterback… park-violating, home-invading quarterback… park-violating, home-invading quarterback… park-violating, home-invading quarterback
May 27th, 2020 at 8:52 am
K2
Say it a 1,000 more times. Its gets better every time.
Its so funny. Everyone gets a kick out of it.
May 27th, 2020 at 9:01 am
I just think it’s a false equivalency to compare previous generations of 40yr old athletes in general. Brady has already defied the odds and threw for 500 yards in a superbowl for example at age 41. Most importantly, the curve is different nowadays with access to all kinds of supplements, deep knowledge of nutrition, knowing body etc. People simply do not age nowadays the way people have for centuries. I feel like some in “the father time is undefeated” crowd has some sort of weird desire to see older athletes fail because they started to look and feel like a sack of potatoes by the time they hit 35. Tom Brady to me is the tip of the iceberg, because more and more athletes work harder, and theyre smarter. Aaron Rodgers, Brees, Lebron James, Steph Curry – those guys can and will play and be effective in to late 30s and early 40’s as well. You will see more and more of this
May 27th, 2020 at 9:12 am
I agree with you totally Bird that’s my point. The Bucs get the greats QB in history and we need to write dribble?
May 27th, 2020 at 9:15 am
Glad you like it. 🙂
Joe aims to please.
May 27th, 2020 at 9:31 am
Joe ,, You insinuate Winston is the great American qb and mention his pro bowl and mock the goat … Pls don’t be prejudice against anyone.
May 27th, 2020 at 9:41 am
When comparing TB12 to older quarterbacks, you also have to factor in that for the last 10 to 15 years you could barely touch a quarterback, where with Johnny U, Joe Namath, and Joe Montana, they played in an era where you could absolutely beat the living hell out of a quarterback. The protection of the quarterback by the officials that all of us complain about may actually come back to help us. I’ve said this before, if you think this guy’s skills have diminished, go to YouTube and look at his 2019 highlights. You can probably find every throw he made. If he’s dropped off, it certainly isn’t by much.
May 27th, 2020 at 11:04 am
He may be park violating, and home invading but he’s also our “butt pants splitting“ QB and he’s all ours. We love him!
May 27th, 2020 at 1:28 pm
I’d be happy with a Brad Johnsonesque performance and good defense. That would make the playoffs.
May 27th, 2020 at 3:21 pm
How many of those 43 year old QB’s was married to Gisele?
May 27th, 2020 at 7:57 pm
They’ve been saying for years that 60 is the new 40. I’ll say it right now, 43 is the new 33. I bet Brady could play at a high level for another 5 years. Seriously. Proper exercise, nutrition, etc, along with some luck avoiding injuries and he will continue to be great longer than most people think. He’s one of a kind. Or rather he’s the first of his kind.
May 27th, 2020 at 10:02 pm
@Rob In Land O Lakes
You hit the nail on the head. Today’s sissya$$ rules are the main reason why a lot of these qb’s are playing for so long. It’s extremely unlikely that a small, not very mobile dude like Drew Brees would have been as good in the 70’s as he is today. Quarterbacks were routinely smashed and wideouts were mugged down the field on every single play.
Sports medicine and the player’s knowledge regarding their health has improved tremendously over the years, but it’s only a small factor when compared to the rules that are ruining the sport.
May 27th, 2020 at 10:35 pm
Two words that should be said to tom brady…thank you.
May 27th, 2020 at 10:37 pm
Bucs fans regarding tom brady. Say thank you to this man!!!!!