Tom Brady: Fight or Flight
 

When a person is under acute emotional stress, such as a fight or flight situation, certain physiological changes occur to the human body. Circulation alters, and the Blood is drawn away from the extremities and toward the body's core. This change in circulation is reflected in altered heartrate, breathing patterns, and a sudden lack of coordination, especially in the hands and feet. Sport is a measure of man's ability to master himself in these moments, governing his instincts while still executing refined skills. Complex motions, especially involving the use of the arms and hands, become especially difficult. In real life I would put accurately firing a rifle in battle in this category, and in sports the act of throwing, catching and hitting a ball, among others.
I think 99% of people struggle in these situations, although with additional exposure over time they may learn to master their fear and adrenaline somewhat. This process explains why highly refined athletes like Steve Young, Peyton MAnning and Roger Clemens suddenly lose their coordination, are unable to throw strikes, hit open receivers or even think clearly, doing the inexplicable due to some innate emotional instability.
I think 1% of humanity has an innate genius whereby they naturally master this physiological process. They either are unaffected by the change in circulation, or the change, by some quirk of fate, does not even occur. I believe That is Tom Brady's gift. His talent does not consist in rising to the occasion under pressure, but merely in remaining himself, and staying the same. Therein lies his genius.

Re: Tom Brady: Fight or Flight
 

I think on a cellular level,all his cells look like little tiny footballs:)

Re: Tom Brady: Fight or Flight
 

You're on to something, Pony...when I watch other QBs, virtually everyone comes unglued a few plays a game due to something they didn't anticipate...in those very rare instances when it happens to Brady, it's a shock.

Re: Tom Brady: Fight or Flight
 

This reminds of a documentary on NGC in which courage of soldiers in WW2 was investigated. One percent of all soldiers were heroes, one percent were psychopaths without feat, and the rest were just followers.

Maybe this applies to sports as well.

Re: Tom Brady: Fight or Flight
 

I know I've seen this written about Brady before, along with Montana, etc. This is very deep stuff and I think very fundamental to why he is almost freakishly calm and calculating when everything is flying around him.

In fact, I see direct correlation of the respiratory and heart beat measurements of test pilots and astronauts to successful NFL quarterbacks. Whenever I watch old film footage of the Mercury and Apollo astronauts, I can easily imagine Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr and Lenny Dawson hanging out and fitting in with John Glenn, Alan Shepherd and James Lovell. I honestly believe there is an entire book that could be written about the similarity of components necessary between successful test pilots/astronauts and NFL quarterbacks.

I have been very critical of Matt Cassel last year and this year for having "happy feet" and looking jumpy in the pocket. It is not necessarily all Cassel's fault - - anyone would look that way in comparison to Brady.

Re: Tom Brady: Fight or Flight
 

I think it is a stretch to go from the psychological impact of war time or an astronaut going where man has never been to that of a game. The game is not life & death (except to us here in patsfans.com).

Re: Tom Brady: Fight or Flight
 

I think the physiological process is very similar. After all, football as well as many other sports were designed to mimic war, and often to train men for war. Wasn't the victory at the Marne won on the playing fields of Eton? That's why football in its origins was so fundamental at the US Service Academies in training cadets, and most of the great coaches were all WW I & II vets. Even BB draws on the Navy football background of his father, and others, with high regard. Many of the original drills, training habits, tactics and strategies of football were right out of military PT. Physical and close combat are "war" at its most basic level, with the injury risk diminished.

Re: Tom Brady: Fight or Flight
 

Wow......This sure is a whole lot of well thought out.....ummmm....psychobabble.

Re: Tom Brady: Fight or Flight
 

You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Force

Re: Tom Brady: Fight or Flight
 

If I was in Brady's shoes, I think I'd find a whole lot of comfort in the fact that: (A). I'm playing a GAME for a living and it's neither life nor death, and (B). no matter what happens, I'm a young, handsome multimillionaire already set for life. I think those factors might take a little edge off the extraneous stress.