MoLewisrocks

As Brady often says, one injury and it could be over. But that's the case from the time you first step on the field at any level...for every player regardless of age. Tedy underscores the key is protection, as most of us realize. And as Williamson notes the kind of weapons (like these 2 TE's) that allow you to avoid sitting duck kind of injuries.

His deal (as they all have been) is ideal for another incremental extension any time after next season if they want to manage him on their terms. At that point you are simply converting salary to bonus and tacking on a couple of more salary years. Those create potential dead cap, but not so significant - particularly with the cap rising exponentially in 2014 and beyond - as to be a roster killer given he will probably be followed by a youngster on an affordable rookie deal perhaps in tandem with a veteran mentor/backup on an insurance deal. And there is always the tag to play out the string. It limits who else they could use it on, but under the new CBA it's an affordable QB stop gap for a guy who has been earning at the top of the market anyway.

He has after all put up his best statistical production in his 30's. And with all time records increasingly in range as a result, he is nothing if not goal oriented and driven. He won't stay past his ability to be an elite player, but that said, barring another catastrophic injury, I honestly see him starting here in 2016 and possibly thru 2017.



How much longer for Tom Brady? - AFC East Blog - ESPN

scout

I was going to wait a few weeks to post. How quiet has Mallet been? No news of out late drinking, getting arrested, being a party animal, etc. Talent was never a question, he may end up being the steal of that draft. Having said that, and if Brady is here another five years, it's probably just a matter of show casing him for a #1 (and yes, BB will trade it down, which I don't have a problem).

FSUPatsFan

I could definitely see Brady playing until he's 40. That's how old Brett Favre was during his last season and I think Brady's game is much more suited to play into his 40s than Favre's was. As long as he stays healthy and keeps his arm strength, he can play well into his 40s. His decision making and ability to read a defense isn't going to slow down. QBs that take a lot of hits, scramble around, and make plays on the run (Roethlisberger, Rodgers, Cutler, etc) are the ones that are usually finished by their mid 30s. Of course, I would have said the same exact thing about Manning 6 months ago, so this is awfully difficult to predict.

Fixit

It's really hard to say. Have we ever seen another QB who has: a skill set touched by the football gods; an incredible work ethic; laser focus; a brain that was made for the position; an almost pathological need for perfection; the ability to throw to absolutely anybody; an FU attitude; teammates who'd run through a brick wall for him; a massive, 11-year-old (and growing) chip on his shoulder; and, oh, an all-time great coach and owner?

I don't think 40 is too much of a reach.

Gwedd

My whole worry recently has been a situation with Brady getting injured like Drew was, and having Mallet step up and take the reins. Potentially, I believe he's good enough to do that, but potential doesn't always equate to reality, as so many other QB's have shown in the past.

However, with Belichick's ability to see things we mere mortals don't, there still a very good chance that TFB's future replacement is already on the sidelines, watching and learning.

If Mallet is willing to do that, to wait and be the hear-apparent, then he might very well have a bright future here too.

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BradyMossWelker

When he decides to retire beeing this year or next, I'll just be happy that I got to witness greatness every sunday.

PatriotFan77

I think how this season ends up playing out could go a long ways in determining his decision. A SB win could shorten the time. A AFCC loss could lengthen it.

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vyrago

What a morose bunch of threads!

MoLewisrocks

They never wait. They are either too good to or not good enough to. Same deal with staff...

A lot of folks here need to believe an heir apparent is always on the radar if not in the wings. The beauty of the system the way Bill runs his is you don't need or necessarily even want that. Because he identifies and coaches up/develops stop gaps who can run the scheme at a reasonable level at worst and an above average level at best. That and the fact that he doesn't focus on one side of the ball at the expense of the other allows him to field a competitive team come what may. Not a slam dunk contender, but realistically that's not what he's focused on.

The mistake Polian made in Indy is he created a system to fit a pretty unique QB and then he failed to even attempt to develop his backups because quite honestly, he couldn't. Anyone who could run that system successfully should be starting. It's a simple scheme that is totally dependent on the skill of the QB to manipulate defenses and make pre snap reads and then execute with precision and timing. And there is zero margin for error since so much focus goes on offensive execution by the skill players in the passing game that by and large all other aspects of the game are treated as secondary concerns.

As a result there are going to be a lot of changes in Indy, wholesale changes on both sides of the ball as well as on the staff, just in anticipation that the Manning era is over. If it's not it's going to be even freakier... I know a lot of fans here and there think they slipped on a pile of poop and landed in a bed of roses. I think those folks are in for a rude awakening.

We run complex schemes on both sides of the ball. At the moment the offense is carrying the defense as it transitions (retools). That pendulum can and will swing in the other direction as needed, just like it had at the outset of Brady's career and at the mid point. That's part of the overall system here, and why it endures. It isn't one sided or top heavy or talent centric. It's adaptable and over time it strives to be balanced well enough that it can anticipate trends or adjust to fill needs. It's never built to win it all now. That's a recipe for disaster more likely to be employed by of called for by shortsighted individuals. It's built to be sustainable at a consistent level over the long haul and it would appear that teams who adhere to that philosophy win more often than not (see NE and PIT - winning half of the championships contended for in a 32 team league in decade). Pittsburgh has gotten a little sideways in the process, but getting back to their roots (system) appears to be on the agenda for them this off season. They got a little caught up in letting the tail wag the dog. I think that is the real reason Cowher took his sabatical. It paid off short term but the writing is on the wall long term and they know it.

Offenses and defenses have a way of catching up with each other. The most significant skill set that this organization will be looking for in Brady's eventual successor will be more than the ability to make the throws, it will encompass the humility to be situationally adaptable, the drive and capacity to do whatever it takes, and the poise to lead under pressure. Cause there will be pressure...and criticism. And oddly guys with first round grades don't always deal well with that kind of pressure because they seldom encountered it, or much adversity, on their path to the NFL.

As for young Mr. Mallett, this offseason will tell the tale. I'm hoping as a fan that he's too good to just wait and we can flip him for more picks that may one day down the road (say in 3-4 seasons become Brady's understudy who is his succesor. I don't expect that guy to be his replacement, though. Those don't come around all that often.

Haley

Why on earth would you be thinking about this today of all days?!?