Off The Grid

At the risk of offending Patriots "fans" who derive a dark, twisted pleasure from any failure...

Remember the victorious Tom Brady, after winning a tremendous, hard-fought victory over the Baltimore @#$%&, in the AFC Championship Game, last Winter?

"I sucked."

Everybody knew better. Well, at least those of us who appreciate how difficult it is to play QuarterBack effectively in the dark, icy depths of Winter, especially against a ferocious Defense like that of the Ravens, did.

It's true that Brady's FastBall wasn't flying and his CurveBall wasn't breaking ~ and he did make that one incredibly stupid throw ~ but, like Larry Bird on those rare nights when he couldn't seem to find the basket with a compass and a flashlight, Brady Used The Whole Pig and still managed to guide ~ to lead ~ his team to Victory, even despite himself.

But that didn't stop Brady from blurting out a statement ~ to wit: "I sucked." ~ that manifested his insatiable obsession with Excellence, his consuming desire for Victory...and his deep dedication to'is teammates.

That is to say: His fear of letting them down.

Contrast that, if you will, to this comment from one Peyton Manning, after Monday's Victory:

"It was so disappointing to have these Special Team mistakes."

NFL Recap - Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers - Oct 15, 2012 - CBSSports.com Game Recap

What a tool.

Every true Patriot Fan should thank his or her God Of Choice for the privilege of rooting for Tom Brady.

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Hebeill

And Integrity brother integrity. TB has it manning doesn't

DarrylS

Aside from his unparalled ability, Brady has shown many what it means to be a team leader... on the field he is a fierce competitor, off the field he is a man of character...

Surprised that it is this late in the week and there have been no threads about how, "Brady is a great quarterback, but Tebow is a better person"... for my money, will take our #12 over anyone else in the NFL...

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

manxman2601

I don't disagree with you except to say how were their respective win-loss columns updated the other day?

Peyton Manning may be a tool (not sure I agree he is), but he cemented himself as one of the greatest QB's the other day in an awesome display of leadership.

Of course, Philip Rivers is both a tool and a not very good QB so he gives us everything to dislike

I will say this though - Brady's looked a little petulant or sulky to me this year.

Clonamery

Manning is/was a great QB BEFORE last Sunday night (fall prey to media ballwashing much?) but has a history of throwing teammates under the bus.

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Paul Brown: A winner never whines.

manxman2601

I see. I say he's a great QB and am accused of media ballwashing - you say he's one and aren't. Don't quite see how that works tbh.

smg93

They're both great football players. Why the necessity to keep trying to glorify one and bash the other. I'm just happy the Pats have TB regardless of what Manning does or doesn't do.

IllegalContact

when it comes to the team, it is clear that players are only allowed to talk about themselves unless they are giving credit to others.

If someone does not talk about somebody else it was because they had nothing good to say.

manning would not say that here because he would not be allowed to say it

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“ I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4. ”
—Hank Bullough, who installed one of the first 3–4 defenses with the New England Patriots.

ForThoseAboutToRock

Perhaps the way the team atmosphere is built in New England prevents the need to bash one's team mates in and of itself.

The old "we don't need anyone but the people in this locker room" adage goes no where when you have a player who will use the media to call out his teammates. Players that haven't been on board with the NEP model for being a team haven't lasted long on, or been added to the roster in the first place.

SeymourTrophies

If you're a mouth, you talk, whether or not you play for the Patriots. Seymour did all of the time. Brady is very diplomatic; he has never looked like he was going to come close to slipping.

With that said, I'm sure those tantrums by Manning in front of mediots were followed up by Manning taking the folks he complained about out to dinner and apologizing. We're not talking about Allen Iverson.

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Forza Roma, Go Pats, Go Sox