Blast from the past: LA Times on Brady in 2002

[QuantumMechanic]

Thought people might be amused by this one from Feb 4th, 2002 (see the attachment) that a friend dug up.

But he is plainly a super athlete, having been drafted by both football and baseball teams—the latter the Montreal Expos. He's a catcher. In football, he has better catchers than he is—Troy Brown, the quick one, and David Patten, the fast one. As soon as next year, Brady, Brown and Patten could, with an assist from Belichick's pulverizing defense, make a mockery of the AFC race. It all depends on the mind-set of Belichick. If the head coach wants a passing team, he can start a dynasty. If he continues to think of football as a game of running the ball and stopping the run, it will be a struggle again for Brady next year. And every year.

 

[dales804]

Impressive article. Good foresight by the author to see that TB12 is a once in a generation QB. I love reading and watching about old Patriots teams.

Last night I watched the NFL Films work on SB XXXVIII. Always good theater. Funny though, that the narrator called Daniel Graham "David" during it. I had to rewind to make sure I wasn't hearing things.

Thanks for the article, rl.

 

[JJDChE]

I know people were high on Brady after the Super Bowl, but I don't recall anyone being THAT high on him. Calling a 1st year starter who put up an average stat line a 'world-class passer' is pretty premature, or great scouting.

If the Seahawks win this year i doubt anyone calls Russell Wilson a 'world-class passer', even though his stats this year are far better than Brady's in '01.

Really interesting article.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

The columnist, Bob Oates, was no rank amateur. He died in 2009 at age 93. He was a charter member of the group of sportswriters originally selected to be Hall of Fame voters in 1962.

Known as an analytical writer who focused on the Xs and O's of the game, Oates began his streak of covering the Super Bowl with the first one, played at the Coliseum in 1967. He worked each successive one through Super Bowl XXXIX on Feb. 6, 2005, and the Hall of Fame selection meeting the day before.

Bob Oates, longtime L.A. sportswriter, dies at 93 - Los Angeles Times

 

[randomk1]

I know people were high on Brady after the Super Bowl, but I don't recall anyone being THAT high on him. Calling a 1st year starter who put up an average stat line a 'world-class passer' is pretty premature, or great scouting.

Really interesting article.

Also predicted a dynasty and calling Brady a super athlete. Dude must be a wizard.

 

[JJDChE]

Also predicted a dynasty and calling Brady a super athlete. Dude must be a wizard.

That's an amazing and bold prediction seeing as the Pats were considered just about the worst team in the NFL at the beginning of '01. IIRC most though the win was a fluke, dream season kind of win.

EDIT: He lived to 2009 so he got to see his prediction come true.

 

[shmessy]

Thought people might be amused by this one from Feb 4th, 2002 (see the attachment) that a friend dug up.

Absolutely outstanding article by an 86 year old man. Incredible analysis. I never saw SB 36 in that light before. At the time, I just kept praying for Brady not to screw up under pressure in the end and become a goat - because he seemed like such a nice kid (instead he became the G.O.A.T.!)

Thank you for this, rlcarr!

 

[Uncle Rico]

Pretty amazing piece. First few paragraphs I actually thought he was being sarcastic. But he was about five years ahead of the curve in seeing what Brady eventually fully became. Loved the comment on the perfect passing form; I'm so used to watching Brady throw now that when I see guys like Cutler and Rivers throw their motion just looks awkward.


Also - -18 of his last 19 passes in The Snow Bowl. That would be pretty mazing in a dome, let a lone a snow globe.

 

[DocHoliday]

When did everyone "see the light" regarding Brady?

I feel like I kind of woke up and just knew after the 03 SB. I get the feeling the world didn't believe till 07 though

 

[JJDChE]

When did everyone "see the light" regarding Brady?

I feel like I kind of woke up and just knew after the 03 SB. I get the feeling the world didn't believe till 07 though

Pretty much everyone was sold by '04. The final hangers-on to the 'Brady is a system QB' bandwagon got shaken off in '07.

 

[Uncle Rico]

When did everyone "see the light" regarding Brady?

I feel like I kind of woke up and just knew after the 03 SB. I get the feeling the world didn't believe till 07 though

For me it started with the '02 season, believe it or not. A few months after that first Super Bowl, I was working in my yard wondering whether Brady will go down as a flash in the pan or will be ... something else. (Obviously it's been the latter). I was suitably skeptical, being a New Englander. That '02 season they started out hot and Brady was looking great and I was pretty excited. You could see a lot of growth. The next few years, he was pretty clutch, as the team stuck to a winning formula (while Manning out up the big numbers). Really, we was quite good; we just never saw a need for the type of passing game we see today. By '06 the game — and the Pats' approach — was changing and it was something to see what he did with those so-called receivers. And of course by ’07 the evolution was pretty much complete and it was eye-opening. And now here we are; Brady's a perennial MVP candidate who is one game from his 7th AFCCG in 11 full years as a starter. Just need to finish the job this year and maybe one or two or three or four more times.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Pretty amazing piece. First few paragraphs I actually thought he was being sarcastic.

I thought so, too, when I first saw it.

In addition to the Brady stuff, I thought it was interesting how he foresaw passing coming to the fore in general.

 

[Deus Irae]

Thanks for the stroll down amnesia lane....

 

[Mark.]

Great read! Brady won his first Superbowl February 3, 2002. Superbowl is February 3 this year-Be nice to see him win his 4th on the 11th anniversary of his first win.

 

[Anteros]

Wow, what a great read. That old man really knew his stuff!

 

[OMGWTFJUDD]

Great read. Thanks for that.

Send it to BB.

 

[Spergon Wynn]

The final hangers-on to the 'Brady is a system QB' bandwagon got shaken off in '07.

They're still out there unfortunately. It is also unfortunate that I know two of them.

 

[Danger Zone]

Thanks for the stroll down amnesia lane....

Where is that again?

 

[brdmaverick]

Last night I watched the NFL Films work on SB XXXVIII. Always good theater. Funny though, that the narrator called Daniel Graham "David" during it. I had to rewind to make sure I wasn't hearing things.

Thanks for the article, rl.

I bet he just mixed up the two DG's (Daniel Graham and David Givens).

 

[dales804]

I bet he just mixed up the two DG's (Daniel Graham and David Givens).

Possibly. I am just surprised no editor/producer caught it. Or even myself before last night!