Maybe...maybe not about Brady having a similar career path somewhere else. I believe he would have, but I don't expect to change anyone's mind over a theoretical. I wouldn't call your theory far fetched; it's a distinct possibility.
But I'll ask you, when you list out those points, is this the type of reasoning you'd use when describing another quarterback who was little heradled or heavily doubted coming into the pros but became an all-time great? That's really my issue with it...not that it's invalid and that you're wrong...but just that the way it's often presented as some outlier situation and not something that happens all the time with players turning out to be overlooked, which is why I steer back to the Scottie Pippen portrayal of Belichick.
How is Brady's situation different from other players? Other than the unique Belichick/Patriots viewpoint that exists?
- Aaron Rodgers was passed over by almost every team in the first round in an embarassing draft day free fall. The Packers, despite having Brett Favre, still drafted him and developed him for four years. But the credit the Patriots get for developing and believing in Brady seems to get about 100X more credit than the Packers. They had faith in him and developed him, no?
- Drew Brees was a late first round pick but was underperforming in San Diego through 2003, which is why they drafted Rivers. Brees was starting to put it together before his injury...but regardless, there is a much stronger case that his success was enhanced by Sean Payton than Brady's was enhanced by Belichick. It isn't that Brady's wasn't enhanced by Belichick; it's that there's really no reference point either way, and yet the consensus would say Brady is a product of Belichick but not Brees of Payton.
- Russell Wilson was a third round pick, and the team had just signed Matt Flynn to a pretty big contract.
- Joe Montana was a third round pick. Basically red shirted first year. I know from your knowledge of football history that you'd say the same about Montana as Brady and you're right. Again, my issue is that the overwhelming amount of football fans don't see it that way and it stems from an outlier take about Belichick's powers.
- Johnny Unitas was a ninth round pick (though about 100th overall), got cut by the Steelers, worked construction, got a tryout with the Colts, made the team, was horrible, stuck with it, and became the best player of his generation. No one really attributes his success to Weeb Eubank.
- Tony Romo and Kurt Warner were UDFAs; Warner was bagging groceries. The Rams are credited for "discovering" his talent but not for developing him in the same way the Patriots are with Brady.
With all of those situations above (except Brees), which quarterbacks would this formula not apply to?
- ____'s program scouted ___.
- ____'s program drafted ___.
- ____'s program identified ____'s strengths and potential in rookie training camp. They kept him around as opposed to cutting him.
- ____'s program developed ____, coached him and put him in a position to have a CHANCE at succeeding.
The last two points definitely props to the Patriots.
They implemented an offensive and team-building system so Tom was surrounded by talent so the team could compete for championships every year.
They consistently came to an agreement on his contract extensions.
