primetime

Scouts, Inc. did a feature on ESPN insider on the 5 toughest players in the league. They aren't numbered, but Tom Brady is the first one mentioned (along with Derrick Brooks, Byron Leftwich, Hines Ward, and Walter Jones).

"Tom Brady
We all know about Brady's postseason brilliance, but a true testament to his toughness was his performance last season. He probably had the best season of his career, despite losing his starting left tackle and center for almost the entire year. The Patriots also had multiple injuries at running back and wide receiver, and Brady played hurt for much of 2005 as well. He not only orchestrated the offense and called audibles, but helped make the offensive line calls. Brady makes every player on New England's roster better and is a vocal leader. No quarterback in the league is more competitive or fearless in the pocket; Brady will step into throws with total disregard for his body, despite facing a heavy pass rush. Praising Brady can get redundant, but he is truly special and the best (and maybe the toughest) player in the league."

Nothing we didn't already know, but interesting nonetheless.

MooseKnuckles

To think that assesment is so dead on is scary. I wonder if we all do appreciate what we have with this guy .. Ortiz & Brady , come on .. these were nobody type guys who hit it as big as you possible can in New England. We're lucky

Ichiro

Funny, I don't think Brady is the toughest guy on his own team. There is no doubt in my mind that the toughest guy to ever put on a Patriots uniform is Rodney Harrison.

D-cleater

Brady is the toughest man on the team because he takes it upon himself to be a leader. What's not mentioned in the above quote is that he put up his best year statistically with a sports hernia. He took us to the SB and won it with a bad shoulder.

You should read up on some of the older players as well, like Steve Grogan, John Hannah, Steve Nelson....

Chevy

I'd nominate Steve Grogan. Here's a guy that would get clobbered by a DL only to grab his facemask and trash talk. He took a beating (mainly because he couldn't throw well but could run) and never backed down.

jaychamp

He even played with a neck brace

I'm a Pats fan by default, but Grogan is the one that really made me love them.

upstater1

I also agree that the other players mentioned are very tough, although I might stick Steve McNair in there ahead of Leftwich.

mikey

I don't know how you can put Ortiz and Brady in the same sentence.

Brady (almost) single-handedly transformed a laughing-stock into a $1.2 Billion business empire, made Bob Kraft one of the richest men in the world, and escorted Belichick into the Hall of Fame.


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Ichiro

Bro, I've seen these guys play. I love Hannah and Nelson.
I think Brady brings a lot of leadership to the team. But part of me can never except the QB as tte toughest, even if its warranted, as in this case.They just don't go throught the contact on every play.

Harrison brings a certain passion that just rubs off on all the players. No one I've ever seen has done this to a Patriots team quite like Harrison.

jaychamp

Brady is unreal, and he was the missing piece, but I'd hardly call it even close to single handedly. Football more than any other sport is a team sport, which makes it so great.

Without Ortiz, the Sox don't win a WS after 86 years and let people die in piece(and we don't see that hilarious MasterCard commercial w/Denis Leary). Without Brady, the Pats win no SB's. They are both the most important players of their respective teams, and are absolutely both clutch. I think they deserve to be in the same sentence.

Speaking of tough QB's. What about Stan "The Man" Humphries? That guy was tough as nails, and ugly too.