ESPN First Take: "Is Brady on the decline?"

This is why I don't understand why Patriot fans hate so hard on this show.
Worth watching, especially Steven A. Smith at the end.

ALTERNATIVES

1) Brady is at the highest point he has ever been in his abilities and in his career.

2) Brady in on the decline.

I would note that

A) Brady had one his best years ever last year. His performance was truly amazing.

B) Even if Brady is not as good as last year or the year before (the definition of declining), we still have one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the NFL, and expected to have a top 5 quarterback through the end of his contract.

PATS16N0 said:

This is why I don't understand why Patriot fans hate so hard on this show.
Worth watching, especially Steven A. Smith at the end.

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Watch it for me, OK?

RayClay said:

Watch it for me, OK?

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What?

PATS16N0 said:

What?

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I think he means save him the click and give him the Cliff Notes' version....

People can watch it or not watch it. People who are sick of hearing idiotic pundits trash Brady will enjoy it as a breath of fresh air.

Steven A. thinks the entire Patriot organization has taken Brady's greatness for granted with bad moves that don't help him. He also thinks the entire conversation about Brady's decline is insulting to Tom and utterly ridiculous.

You can simply listen to it in another tab. It's not that hard. lol

Except for actual NFL or College football games, I have no use for FESPN. It'll be a darned cold day in Hades before they ever get me to return as a viewer. Not after all the crap they pulled in 2007. As a lifelong fan of New England I'll never forgive them that, or that moron Tom Jackson's drivels about "They hate their coach! They HATE their coach!" yadda yadda yadda.

Next to peter King's foppish tongue bathing of the NFL, it's the most ridiculous name in sports.

Stephen A. bothers me far less now than he used to. I find him usually, not always, pretty fair when it comes to our teams. I watch Mike and Mike (aka Mangirl and Meatball) some mornings just to see Mangirl's reaction when his Jets lose. I find both of them gleeful when any inkling of a Pats' problem or defect is observable.

Jackson 2 said:

Stephen A. bothers me far less now than he used to. I find him usually, not always, pretty fair when it comes to our teams.

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Steven A did a huge turn around on the Patriots in the 2012 season and especially last year following the Saints win with 6 seconds left on the clock. He was also the guy who said after the Superbowl, "I don't ever want to hear anyone talk about Peyton being the GOAT ever again.`

Skip is a little worried, but both he and Steven A have the Patriots as their Superbowl picks. Despite whatever trolling Bayless used to do on the network, ESPN's First Take is one of the Patriots greatest friends in the national media.

Depending on your definition of "decline", I would argue Brady has indeed declined.

I love what Brady has done, the success he's had, and especially all the wins while quarterbacking a very good (and at times, excellent) team. He is truly top 5 alltimer and arguably higher. He is dedicated, steady, intense. He is a winner. All of this is more than true. I love what he brings as far as intangibles.

Truth : regardless of what you think of his supporting cast, Brady has been subpar so far. Can he turn it around ? Sure, why not ? Will he turn it around ? Maybe not. The past is over. And as much as I love me some TFB, I think that it is FAR more likely Brady could be the QB of a Super Bowl winner along the lines of Elway (with an excellent cast moving the team) rather than the crazy 25-35 year old Brady who hauled decent teams with his skill and decision making.

Résumé : I hope Brady will get his game going. I am not necessarily expecting it to happen with certitude.

Of course he is on the decline. He is 37. However the question that should be asked is what degree has his decline factored into the current offensive situation? I think very very little.

He is still a top 2 QBs IMO and the only guy I seriously consider taking over him now is Rodgers who is in his prime right now.

Also what can Brady do but decline? His 06 07 and 10 years were the best examples of QB play i have personally ever seen for a stretch of time. He was masterful in all 3 (in 08 he was injured and in 09 he was still coming back... sad that injury happened right in the middle of his best years).

To say he has not declined IMO undervalues how amazing he was at that time.

he isn't getting any younger that's for sure

Patsfanin Philly said:

I think he means save him the click and give him the Cliff Notes' version....

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Nah, I wouldn't believe any of them if the told me my pants were on fire. I don't care what they think.

Sorry but proclaiming a quarterback's demise who doesn't have any protection is just flat out ridiculous.
I've defended Tony Romo in the past too, because his line was swiss cheese and defenders were on him the moment the ball reached his hands. Every single down Romo would be immediately running for his life, then afterwards the media would jump on Romo. It's just ********.

Pocket passers need, you know, a pocket. Instead Brady is being forced to make reads and throws while inside a MOSH PIT and people want to light his funeral pyre.

I have a question......

Why wasn't there talk of Brady getting Old back in 2006? His numbers were pretty bad that year. Very comparable to last year and this year so far.

Now ask yourself what 2006, 2013, & 2014 have in common?

How about 2007 when Brady got real NFL players around him?

PATS16N0 said:

People can watch it or not watch it. People who are sick of hearing idiotic pundits trash Brady will enjoy it as a breath of fresh air.

Steven A. thinks the entire Patriot organization has taken Brady's greatness for granted with bad moves that don't help him. He also thinks the entire conversation about Brady's decline is insulting to Tom and utterly ridiculous.

You can simply listen to it in another tab. It's not that hard. lol

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Im a huge Belichick homer/fan.. but I agree with Steven A. on this.

Nordberg said:

I have a question......

Why wasn't there talk of Brady getting Old back in 2006? His numbers were pretty bad that year. Very comparable to last year and this year so far.

Now ask yourself what 2006, 2013, & 2014 have in common?

How about 2007 when Brady got real NFL players around him?

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I have a question....

Why isn't there talk of Aaron Rodgers getting old THIS year? Or Drew Brees for that matter?

Maybe sometimes even the elite of the elite quarterbacks depend on things like an OL and actual #1 (and healthy) receivers.

Nordberg said:

I have a question......

Why wasn't there talk of Brady getting Old back in 2006? His numbers were pretty bad that year. Very comparable to last year and this year so far.

Now ask yourself what 2006, 2013, & 2014 have in common?

How about 2007 when Brady got real NFL players around him?

Click to expand...

Because you don't talk about players getting old when they are only 29?

Danger Zone said:

I have a question....

Why isn't there talk of Aaron Rodgers getting old THIS year? Or Drew Brees for that matter?

Maybe sometimes even the elite of the elite quarterbacks depend on things like an OL and actual #1 (and healthy) receivers.

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Aaron Rodgers is 7 years younger than Brady. Drew Brees' team is playing well, as in blocking for him and he has tons of weapons. If Brady had Brees' protection and weapons nobody would be talking about his age or decline, trust me. I think Brady is still as good as he was in 2010, he just has 1/5th of the talent/execution around him unfortunately.

Everything is Hernandez fault