Tom Brady, QB, Michigan

[PittPatriot]

A number of people? Get your facts right man, NO ONE thought Brady would make it this far. Absolutely no one thought this Tom Brady guy drafted in the 6th round would be arguably the best quarterback of all time.

Well put. I think BB/Pioli should be given the credit for recognizing that he was worth keeping on the roster but not for recognizing he would become THE Tom Brady.
NO ONE can say that they were going to replace Bledsoe with Brady even if an injury had not occurred. No way. Bledsoe (as frustrating has he was) was loved by all and certainly had the owner's ear. No way does he get benched without the injury.

 

[Michigan Dave]

A number of people? Get your facts right man, NO ONE thought Brady would make it this far. Absolutely no one thought this Tom Brady guy drafted in the 6th round would be arguably the best quarterback of all time.

No, but there were some people who knew that he could be a good, effective starting quarterback.

 

[Michigan Dave]

Well put. I think BB/Pioli should be given the credit for recognizing that he was worth keeping on the roster but not for recognizing he would become THE Tom Brady.
NO ONE can say that they were going to replace Bledsoe with Brady even if an injury had not occurred. No way. Bledsoe (as frustrating has he was) was loved by all and certainly had the owner's ear. No way does he get benched without the injury.

That's not true. Brady had closed the gap significantly by the end of camp in 2001. He's said before that he was close to winning the job, and is pretty certain that he would've replaced Bledsoe by 2002.

 

[bradmahn]

Well put. I think BB/Pioli should be given the credit for recognizing that he was worth keeping on the roster but not for recognizing he would become THE Tom Brady.
NO ONE can say that they were going to replace Bledsoe with Brady even if an injury had not occurred. No way. Bledsoe (as frustrating has he was) was loved by all and certainly had the owner's ear. No way does he get benched without the injury.

You'd be surprised at how disaffected Belichick was with Bledsoe and his play. In The Education of a Coach Belichick talks about it. Brady's play, coupled with the injury to Bledsoe, really facilitated the change that Belichick was itching for without the public backlash that he received in Cleveland when he parted ways with Bernie Kosar.

 

[1976pats]

Was searching through some article archives and I found some interesting articles about Brady in college.

The Sporting News
October 11, 1999

Draft watch - possible top ten quarterbacks that may be selected in the 2000
Quarterbacks
7. Tom Brady, Michigan, 6-5, 213. Classic, tall, drop-back passer with a decent arm. Has improved his play and could continue to rise. Could be an NFL backup.

8. Giovanni Carmazzi, Hofstra, 6-3, 220. Sturdy quarterback who has played against a lower level of competition and run a funky offense. Has decent speed. Accurate on the short routes.

wait a minute, wait a minute!!!

you mean we could have had Giovanni Carmazzi of Hofstra instead???

OK...now I'm pissed...:enranged:

 

[Bella*chick]

You'd be surprised at how disaffected Belichick was with Bledsoe and his play. In The Education of a Coach Belichick talks about it. Brady's play, coupled with the injury to Bledsoe, really facilitated the change that Belichick was itching for without the public backlash that he received in Cleveland when he parted ways with Bernie Kosar.

I just finished a reread of that book. Bledsoe was not going to last as a starter in 2001 unless his play picked up big time.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Before everybody goes into too much of frenzy about how smart they are and how stupid everybody else is. When Bledsoe got cleared to play again in 2001, half of Boston wanted BB rung of a telephone pole for keep Brady in and benching the starter.

Or has everybody forgotten that already?

As has been stated.......... By 2001, many were starting to sour on Bledsoe, I was one of them. I (and many, many others) were very happy in BB's choice to "stick with the hot hand" after Bledsoe got better. Of course we had no reason to think he'd turn out the way he did, bt he was hot and winning games. That's all most of us cared about.

Of course, you weren't around back then Troll, so we understand that you don't "remember" so well.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

As has been stated.......... By 2001, many were starting to sour on Bledsoe, I was one of them. I (and many, many others) were very happy in BB's choice to "stick with the hot hand" after Bledsoe got better. Of course we had no reason to think he'd turn out the way he did, bt he was hot and winning games. That's all most of us cared about.

Of course, you weren't around back then Troll, so we understand that you don't "remember" so well.

Belichick had issues with Bledsoe, that he wasn't very coachable, and the gunslinger always came out in him, often at inopportune times.
Even when he was the back up, he only thought of slinging it, and not necessarily making the smart play. Watch 3GTG1, the final drive. Weis told Brady, don't be afraid to play safe. Bledsoe told Brady, eff it, just go out and sling it.

 

[BradyToMoss]

"Could be an NFL Backup"

Wow, does anyone else just smile really big when you read that? I love the fact that we have the best QB in the NFL guiding our team.

I actually laughed for about 5 straight minutes when I read that rocket scientist quote: Tom Brady : "Could be an NFL backup"

And Randy Moss might actually be 5'10"

 

[Stop Being A Jerk]

Great thread turned into a bickering-fest. Wish I could say I was surprised.

If you find any more articles like this, please post them! These are fantastic reads.

 

[WeltRekord]

Great thread turned into a bickering-fest. Wish I could say I was surprised.

If you find any more articles like this, please post them! These are fantastic reads.

NEW YORK TIMES; COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Exhausted Brady Delivered for Michigan
By CHARLIE NOBLES
Published: January 3, 2000

It was approaching 1:30 a.m. today when Tom Brady stood outside the Michigan locker room explaining his career day against Alabama in the FedEx Orange Bowl. After several minutes, the senior quarterback had to plead off.

''Sorry, but I've got to sit down,'' Brady said, picking up his travel bags to head toward the team bus. ''I'm beat.''

The Michigan quarterbacks coach, Stan Parrish, described Brady as on the ''borderline of exhaustion'' late in regulation in the Wolverines' 35-34 overtime victory over Alabama at Pro Player Stadium. But Brady was still there to contribute a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Shawn Thompson in the overtime period.

The game ended when Alabama's Ryan Pflugner missed the extra point after Andrew Zow's 21-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Carter.

Brady said he was prepared to go on, even with his body telling him differently.

''You know, these guys are counting on you,'' he said, motioning to teammates walking past him. ''When you know that, it doesn't matter what it takes. But that's the way everybody would be; that's not just me. Those linemen were dog tired. Everyone was dog tired. It was just a matter of playing to the end.''

This turned out to be a game of extremes for Michigan, which finished 10-2 with five straight victories. It managed one first down in the game's first 28 minutes, but then became almost unstoppable.

The Wolverines decided at halftime to largely abandon a running game that wasn't working and instead put wide receiver David Terrell in as many one-on-one passing situations as possible. Terrell, named the game's most valuable player, finished with three touchdown catches.

Still, it was Brady, completing 34 of 46 passes for 369 yards and 4 touchdowns, who kept Michigan focused. The Wolverines twice came back from 14-point deficits fueled in large part by the Alabama star Shaun Alexander's 161 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns.

Brady drew praise from his coach.

''He's everything you want in a quarterback,'' Michigan's Lloyd Carr said. ''First of all, he's tough-minded and tough physically. He's very, very smart and makes good decisions.

''He's a lot like Brian Griese. He'll play in the N.F.L. There's a lot of guys out there who doubted Griese, and they've lived to see how wrong they could be. And anybody who doubts that Brady can play in the N.F.L., they'll find themselves in the same situation. The kid just can see things. And the guys around him, they love him. If you knew him, you'd love him, too.''

Brady, a Californian, lost his battle with Griese for the No. 1 quarterback job as a sophomore. With Griese going to the Denver Broncos, Brady seemed the heir for a two-season run. It didn't turn out to be that simple, with the touted sophomore Drew Henson's emergence this fall. Henson, a minor league third baseman for the Yankees, saw some playing time until the season's eighth game, against Indiana. Since then, it has been Brady's team again.

Carr says now that Brady could have disrupted Michigan's unity had he complained too much.
''He handled it in a way where he gained in the eyes of his teammates,'' the coach said early today. ''He gained in stature because he put his team first.''

Instead, a Michigan quarterbacking tradition is emerging.

''Brian passed along a legacy for me to uphold,'' Brady said. ''Now Drew has some great experiences here this season that he can draw from next season. That's what it's all about. You play to the expectations of the position.''

Those expectations, blossoming into reality as the season wore on, helped bear this distinctive fruit: Michigan's third straight 10-victory season.

 

[WeltRekord]

One last one about from 2001 about the Bledsoe/Brady QB controversy:


NEW YORK TIMES; Sports of The Times; Brady Is a New Traveler On the Yellow Brick Road
By WILLIAM C. RHODEN
November 29, 2001

About 11:45 this morning, the New England Patriots' unexpected savior walked through the door, navy blue cap turned backward, gray sweats, cross-training shoes. He had the countenance of a 24-year-old with the world on a string.

Meet Tom Brady, starting quarterback for the resurgent Patriots, a team left for dead two months ago. On Sunday the Patriots will play the equally re-energized Jets at Giants Stadium in what may be the most significant game of each team's season.

Tom Dooley? Tom Sawyer?

Who is Tom Brady?

Until the afternoon of Sept. 23 -- against these very Jets -- Brady wore the uniform of a backup: a crisp, clean jersey, clipboard, headset. Suddenly, the New England pro football tapestry changed when Drew Bledsoe was knocked silly by Mo Lewis with minutes to play. Enter Brady, a sixth-round draft pick from Michigan. He could not rally the team, and the Jets earned a physical 10-3 victory, dropping the Pats to 0-2.

Since that loss, Brady has been living a dream. With Brady as a starter, New England has won six of its last nine games. They have beaten Indianapolis twice, San Diego, Atlanta and New Orleans. The Patriots, a team no one thought much of at the beginning of the season, are 6-5 and in the hunt for a playoff berth.

And Brady is a celebrity. He received the Player of the Week award today for a four-touchdown performance against New Orleans in the Patriots' 34-17 victory. His quarterback rating for the game was 143.9.

Perhaps the most encouraging news of Brady's young career -- and the most demoralizing of Bledsoe's nine-year career -- came the Monday after a 24-17 home loss to St. Louis. Coach Bill Belichick called Bledsoe into his office and told him that Brady would be the starter for the rest of the season ''barring something unforeseen happening.''

Belichick had earlier told Bledsoe that he would be able to compete for his position. Belichick changed his mind and triggered a heated exchange between coach and veteran.

All this has left Brady on cloud nine.

But who is Tom Brady? Well, he takes care of the ball. That's the first thing to know.

Last Sunday he completed 19 of 26 passes for 258 yards with no interceptions. Over all, Brady has completed more than 70 percent of his passes. His 93.5 rating is second in the American Football Conference behind Rich Gannon and third in the league. He is the diametrical opposite of Bledsoe, who signed a 10-year, $103 million contract extension in March. Bledsoe was the first pick over all in the 1993 draft; Brady was the 199th player picked in the 2001 draft. Brady is also no stranger to quarterback controversy.

At Michigan he split some time his senior year with another Drew -- Drew Henson, now in the Yankees' minor league system. ''Obviously, it's a different level,'' he said. ''I think with the respect that everyone has for our quarterback here, it's been quite a bit more than I was exposed to in college, but at the same time, there are similar aspects of it.''

Namely that Brady won the competition.

Brady was 20-5 as a starter and threw 20 touchdowns in 1999, second to Elvis Grbac's school record for most in a season (21). In Brady's final game he rallied the Wolverines to a 35-34 overtime victory over Alabama in the Orange Bowl. He was even chosen by the Montreal Expos in the 1995 draft as a catcher.

On Sunday his season comes full circle. ''This is the biggest game of the year,'' Brady said. ''They're really forcing turnovers. They're hitting the guy and popping the ball out, and their defenders are making plays on the ball in the passing game and getting the ball deflected. That's what their game is all about: they're trying to get as many turnovers and keeping our offense off the field. We've got to take care of the ball.''

In nine starts the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Brady has been unflappable (he has thrown only seven interceptions). In fact, the most telling evidence of Brady's inexperience came today. Ten minutes into his remarks to the news media, several local reporters began to leave the room -- they had heard it all before. Brady finally stopped in midsentence. ''Where's everybody going?'' he said. ''Geez, am I that boring?''

Brady may be too overwhelmed to have grasped the larger lesson of the news media's mini-exodus. News travels fast and gets old very quickly. If the Patriots go into a tailspin, fans will call for Bledsoe's return.

In some ways Bledsoe's benching violates a time-honored tradition of not taking away a player's job as a result of injury (internal bleeding in Bledsoe's case). Especially a player like Bledsoe, who helped turn around the franchise. By the time Bledsoe was Brady's age (24) he was leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl. But that was five seasons ago.

Late this afternoon, in the Patriots' locker room, Bryan Cox, the former Dolphin, Bear and Jet who is now a Patriot, said Brady was the beneficiary and Bledsoe the victim of an increasingly mercenary business than knows no loyalty. Cox, who broke his right leg a month ago and may play Sunday, said: ''There's no loyalty in the N.F.L. -- no loyalty from organizations to a city, no loyalty to coaches, no loyalty to players. This is marketball; this ain't football anymore, it's marketball: who can market the quarterback and who can stay healthiest.''

In any event, the fairy tale part of Tom Brady's brief, shiny career is over. Beginning Sunday in December, the hard, cold reality kicks in. If Brady's career is an endless highway before him, all that Patriots fans want to do is watch and ride.

 

[bobmal99]

Wrong Redman. They are talking about a
QB not the running back the Pats drafted.

Even if his career never amounted to much, JR can be proud of the fact that he came up HUGE in the Pats' first superbowl shocker, especially in the last 2-minute drive.

JR Redmond and Jermaine Wiggins are unsung heroes of that game.

 

[ligermark]

Great thread.

It's always amusing to me that people marvel at how Brady fell to the 6th round. As if he was then what he's been in recent years with the Pats. Brady was not a great college QB and there was not the slightest sign that he would be inarguably one of the top 10 QB's in NFL history, and arguably the greatest. Remember when Brady first arrived in 2000, he was so skinny Belichick was hesistant to even put him on the field. The key to Brady's success is him deciding that he wanted to be the best and then using his unparalled work ethic to get there.

 

[WeltRekord]

Great thread.

It's always amusing to me that people marvel at how Brady fell to the 6th round. As if he was then what he's been in recent years with the Pats. Brady was not a great college QB and there was not the slightest sign that he would be inarguably one of the top 10 QB's in NFL history, and arguably the greatest. Remember when Brady first arrived in 2000, he was so skinny Belichick was hesistant to even put him on the field. The key to Brady's success is him deciding that he wanted to be the best and then using his unparalled work ethic to get there.

Sure, but it's always nice to read something like this from his college coach that foretold at least a little of his NFL success:

''He's everything you want in a quarterback,'' Michigan's Lloyd Carr said. ''First of all, he's tough-minded and tough physically. He's very, very smart and makes good decisions.

''He's a lot like Brian Griese. He'll play in the N.F.L. There's a lot of guys out there who doubted Griese, and they've lived to see how wrong they could be. And anybody who doubts that Brady can play in the N.F.L., they'll find themselves in the same situation. The kid just can see things. And the guys around him, they love him. If you knew him, you'd love him, too.''​

Yeah he was skinny, I'd feel better about myself now except he's still prettier