Farinella gets maudlin over our Tommy

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2007/05/12/sports/sports4.txt

Something scary dawned upon me the other day. I realized that I am seven years older than I was on a day not unlike today, when I met a skinny quarterback from Michigan for the first time and asked him if he knew Attleboro's Leland Anderson.
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Brady hasn't missed a start since he took over for the injured Drew Bledsoe two games into the 2001 season, which is nothing short of remarkable. The law of averages aren't on his side for staying as healthy as he enters his 30s (he'll be 30 on Aug. 3), but again, this isn't alarmist nonsense. You can't predict injuries, so that's not the reason why I'm suggesting that the Brady Era may be in its sunset years.

I'm reminded that Bledsoe was entering his ninth NFL season when everything came crashing down around him. Once deified as the savior of the franchise and now generally (and unfairly) vilified for not having accomplished what Brady has, Bledsoe's career took a 180-degree turn when the Jets' Mo Lewis buried his helmet and shoulder pads into his chest and sent him to Mass. General with life-threatening internal bleeding.
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At some point, and it's different for every player, skills begin to erode and productivity slips. Bledsoe was posting Hall of Fame-worthy numbers before 2001, yet his shortcomings were magnified with alarming speed once he hit the Big Three-Oh.
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...and make no mistake - regardless of Bill Belichick's obvious fondness for his quarterback, if Belichick is still in charge and he sees signs that Brady's skills don't match his cap number, a change will be made. Maybe it won't be as sudden and as ignominious as Bledsoe's departure, but it will happen.
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The point of all this speculation? As I was reminded the other day, time flies when you're having fun.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Bledsoe was having great yrs up until the second half of the 99 season, after the Jets game he was never the same, avg at best.. Bledsoe was never fleet of foot , and felt he never had to work on his game, while Tom contiues to strive to be better.. Brady has got 4-5 great yrs left ahead of him.. Bledsoe stoped working on his game, once Parcells and Chris Palmer left in 97 , he felt his talent and arm would get him thru his bad descion making process..

 

[brabirschorr]

“Bledsoe's career took a 180-degree turn when the Jets' Mo Lewis buried his helmet and shoulder pads into his chest and sent him to Mass. General with life-threatening internal bleeding. If Bledsoe had somehow sidestepped the full impact of Lewis' hit, who knows what course history might have taken?”

In trying to compare Brady and Bledsoe at similar points in their careers, Farinella has forgotten one very important point. Bledsoe was never great. I always wanted him to be, but he just wasn’t. Very good, yes. Occasional flash of greatness, yes. But the fact of the matter is that he was on his way out anyway.

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

7 years went by awfully fast.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

He's right that Tommy's no baby anymore. That's why I'm excited that we brought some top WR in, the line is the same and signed for several years - and we have almost a double draft next year - the 4-5 year contracts those guys sign will end around the time that Tommy's career does so getting extra high picks should help supplement the team for his last year.

We won three SB quickly and have missed two. We have about six, maybe seven, chances left - we need two more to get 5 SB in the Brady era.

 

[stinkypete]

Bledsoe was having great yrs up until the second half of the 99 season, after the Jets game he was never the same, avg at best.. Bledsoe was never fleet of foot , and felt he never had to work on his game, while Tom contiues to strive to be better.. Brady has got 4-5 great yrs left ahead of him.. Bledsoe stoped working on his game, once Parcells and Chris Palmer left in 97 , he felt his talent and arm would get him thru his bad descion making process..

Didn't Bledsoe's best season come in 2002, AFTER getting hit by Mo Lewis?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

He's right that Tommy's no baby anymore. That's why I'm excited that we brought some top WR in, the line is the same and signed for several years - and we have almost a double draft next year - the 4-5 year contracts those guys sign will end around the time that Tommy's career does so getting extra high picks should help supplement the team for his last year.

We won three SB quickly and have missed two. We have about six, maybe seven, chances left - we need two more to get 5 SB in the Brady era.

One (not so) minor point here--you're falling into the trap of thinking that the Pats are betting the farm on Brady's tenure, so to speak.

The Pats' mission statement is to build "a big, strong, fast, tough, smart, disciplined football team that consistently competes for championships."

Yes, they want to win now, but they also want to be in a position to compete once Brady inevitably leaves, too; the Krafts don't want to see the Pats return to the Dark Ages, so to speak, any more than we fans do.

 

[sarge]

He seems to have a fairly good imagination about the two seasons prior to Mo Lewis burying his helmet in Bledsoe's chest.

Does Michael Bishop not ring a bell?

Bledsoe's best days had left him two seasons before that play.

And if Tom accomplishes nothing else the rest of his career, he is still a first ballot HOF!

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

One (not so) minor point here--you're falling into the trap of thinking that the Pats are betting the farm on Brady's tenure, so to speak.

The Pats' mission statement is to build "a big, strong, fast, tough, smart, disciplined football team that consistently competes for championships."

Yes, they want to win now, but they also want to be in a position to compete once Brady inevitably leaves, too; the Krafts don't want to see the Pats return to the Dark Ages, so to speak, any more than we fans do.

You're right but there's also the reality that replacing a Brady will be difficult - possibly impossible. I'm sure we'll plan for it and draft a potential starting QB in 3-4 years but I'm glad that we've loaded up for next year and that the next draft will help us load up for the rest of the Tommy Era.

 

[patsox23]

I don't think he is as actively "buzz-killing" as you people do. It's a fair article and it's hardly "down" on Brady. An interesting and worthwhile perspective. Nice work.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Didn't Bledsoe's best season come in 2002, AFTER getting hit by Mo Lewis?

Drew started off smokin' hot the 1st half of the season but once opposing DCs studied how BB defensed him with pressure up the middle ignoring any (non) ability to shift in the pocket, Drew's season and career went downhill.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Drew started off smokin' hot the 1st half of the season but once opposing DCs studied how BB defensed him with pressure up the middle ignoring any (non) ability to shift in the pocket, Drew's season and career went downhill.

I dont think he had his best season with the Bills.. He was fine till once again BB found a way to defend him, and the rest of Drew's carrer is history..

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

He made the Pro Bowl with the Bills in 2002. His 1st half season stats were off the scale.