The moment Tom Brady became Tom Brady

[sarge]

It was clear that year that Tom Brady was going to be a good QB. When he came in for Drew, while it was clear he didn't have all the physical attributes Drew had, it was also clear his quick decision making and poise was something as Patriots fans we had not seen before out of a Patriot QB. But even back then I never would have dreamed he would have turned into the QB he is now.

It feels like it was just a few seasons ago. Hard to believe it will be 16 years ago this Saturday. Funny it was also before HD.

For me, this was the moment Tom Brady became Tom F'n Brady!

 

[PatsWSB47]

I saw him in the 2001 preseason and was very impressed. I was at his first start and saw a young quarterback that had what I said at the time was "it". Though he stumbled in Miami, he kept his cool all season. His comeback against the Chargers did it for me. Of course I never imagined he eventually become the Goat, I knew we had a winner. Wasn't surprised at all when he stood toe to toe with the Rams, but like Madden, what Tom Brady did on that last drive, "gave me goosebumps"

 

[Tony2046]

When he hit Troy Brown running across the middle our house went nuts. We couldn't believe that they would get a shot at a field goal.

 

[sarge]

When he hit Troy Brown running across the middle our house went nuts. We couldn't believe that they would get a shot at a field goal.

That was the moment I when I thought "wow, they might actually win!"

 

[Drewwho]

Snow Bowl did it for me!!!

His TD run in the snowed in end zone! Fell to the ground and spiked the ball. Classic image of TB12 that will live on forever!

 

[Nikolai]

When he hit Troy Brown running across the middle our house went nuts. We couldn't believe that they would get a shot at a field goal.

I remember that too.

I've never heard the call since the game, and I had no idea they were so subdued about that. Our house went ****in nuts when Vinatieri nailed that kick. I almost fell down a set of stairs

 

[maust]

That's the obvious 'birth of a legend' moment but for me the holy crap after all these years we have a QB that has 'IT' was the regular season game that year against the Saints. He took some ferocious hits against New Orleans. I can remember him getting crushed multiple times, popping up and patting the Saints player on the helmet and then just picking them apart incrementally taking whatever the D gave him. It was both clinical and beautiful at the same time. Something we had just never quite seen here before. We've seen it a lot since and come to take it for granted but damn...

 

[dustcover]

Poise, with a capital 'P'. His hallmark then, and his hallmark today.

 

[Pats2000]

It was clear that year that Tom Brady was going to be a good QB. When he came in for Drew, while it was clear he didn't have all the physical attributes Drew had, it was also clear his quick decision making and poise was something as Patriots fans we had not seen before out of a Patriot QB. But even back then I never would have dreamed he would have turned into the QB he is now.

It feels like it was just a few seasons ago. Hard to believe it will be 16 years ago this Saturday. Funny it was also before HD.

For me, this was the moment Tom Brady became Tom F'n Brady!

Watching that guy vs. the Tom Brady we have today... man, Tom Brady today could have scored 2 TD with that much time against that defense. The guy is incredible how he has just gotten better and his mental game is off the charts

 

[mosslost]

I saw him in the 2001 preseason and was very impressed. I was at his first start and saw a young quarterback that had what I said at the time was "it". Though he stumbled in Miami, he kept his cool all season. His comeback against the Chargers did it for me. Of course I never imagined he eventually become the Goat, I knew we had a winner. Wasn't surprised at all when he stood toe to toe with the Rams, but like Madden, what Tom Brady did on that last drive, "gave me goosebumps"

he was pretty average up until Belichick committed to him (5-3, just barely above average statically)

 

[Brick27]

It’s amazing that the moment Brady became Tom Effing Brady can be almost looked at as a point of infancy of his career, particularly when factoring in his success of the last 4 years or so.

He was obviously the man by the time he won 3 Super Bowls, but he’s managed to make his former self pale in comparison to his more recent self.

Then you have his MVP years in 2007 and 2010. Regardless of being some of his greatest statistical years, would anyone take 07 or 10 Brady over the Brady we’ve seen over the last ~4 years? If it came down to winning the big game, I’d take atleast 3 or so versions of Brady in other seasons.

If you could split Brady in half between 2000-2008 and 2009-2017, you’d have two separate hall of fame quarterbacks.

Bottom line, Tom is God.

 

[fnordcircle]

For me it was either his game-winning drive in the 2001 SB or when he did the photoshoot where he's holding goats.

 

[Ivan]

What would be birth?

I’ll take Peyton’s neck for 500 Alex.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

When he came out of the womb and his mom declared: Lets name him, Tom fricken Brady!

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Tom Brady is an incredibly cool cat.

 

[PATS16N0]

It was real easy to get on the Brady bandwagon early. I feel like kind of an ass saying this now, but at the time I was so over Bledsoe. His Jay Cutler'esque style of quarterbacking was losing its charm. Dude would throw rockets into double and triple coverage, but not in a sweet-completion kind of way. More like a WTF-interception kinda' way.

Was all in on Tom after the Colts game.

 

[Pats1989]

Snow Bowl did it for me!!!

His TD run in the snowed in end zone! Fell to the ground and spiked the ball. Classic image of TB12 that will live on forever!

Yep. That moment when he spiked the ball was it for me. Got a feeling he was something special.

 

[luuked]

What stands out most is how much better off we are with even the worse commentating crews nowadays. The lack of any emotion and reduced fan noise in that broadcast is absurd. AV makes the last minute kick for a SB titles against a 10+ favorite and it seems to have zero impact on both Madden and Summerall.

I will take Michaels/Collinsworth, Buck/Aikman and especially Nantz/Romo over any of this dead ****. Hell give me any radio announcer... even Zolak..

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

2001 Pre-season game 4. The guy looked better than Bledsoe, but we all chalked it up to him playing the scrubs. Drew had a terrible game the week before and you could tell Brady knew how to run the offense.

 

[borg]

Prior to Bill Polian effectively changing the rules in favor of the WRs over the DBs, Brady was a very successful QB on a team that embraced a balanced attack.
Post Polian meddling is when BB placed the entire weight of the offense and the team on Brady's shoulders. For me, this new era is when Tom Brady became Tom Brady.
The handcuffs were off......and he has shined like no other. 2007 was his coming out party.