JoeSixPat
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2004
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Some interesting perspectives from Brady and BB on the thin air advantage the Broncos gain at Mile High Stadium:
That being said I would expect BB to use reverse psychology to help his team overcome any psychological advantage the thin air does provide for the Broncos.
We've all seen games where opposing team players are exceptionally winded, breathing off the oxygen tank following a long run. Additionally I would expect BB to be ready to rotate and rest guys - especially those that have to run play after play like in the secondary.
But I don't expect the game to be decided based on thin air.
Q.It's well-known that the thin air in Denver affects pitchers by altering the aerodynamics of the baseball. Does it affect quarterbacks by changing the flight of the football? Are athletes affected by altitude as much as us civilians?
Karl Rethemeyer, Albany, NY
A: Although he wasn't asked directly about the aerodynamics of the football, quarterback Tom Brady spoke on altitude during his weekly interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI: "The breathing part for me is not a big deal, but then again, I probably run 1/100th of the time of everyone else on the field. I know for some of the other guys it's challenging. I think the biggest factor is the way you play. If you play good, you're never really tired. If you play bad, you're pretty tired."
Do the Patriots leave earlier for Denver than they would have left for any other city to get used to the thin air?
Robert Sheehan, San Diego
A: No, the Patriots will leave the day before the game, as they always do. The subject has come up with Bill Belichick in the past and he usually reflects to his one year coaching in Denver (1978) and tells a story on how the Broncos used to make a big deal out of it to make opponents think the air was more of a factor than it really was. This is what Belichick said during his weekly radio segment on sports radio WEEI: "I think that's the least of our problems. I think it's mainly psychological."
That being said I would expect BB to use reverse psychology to help his team overcome any psychological advantage the thin air does provide for the Broncos.
We've all seen games where opposing team players are exceptionally winded, breathing off the oxygen tank following a long run. Additionally I would expect BB to be ready to rotate and rest guys - especially those that have to run play after play like in the secondary.
But I don't expect the game to be decided based on thin air.