OT: Did the Pats Consider Trading Brady Instead of Bledsoe After SB 36?

[JarOfMayo51]

Would you take Mahomes on your team over Mac Jones? What about Mahomes over Allen, Jackson, and Baker?

Pretty easy yes to those questions right?

One game does not make a career.

I come here looking for mature discussions with another fan base. But honestly it appears most of this board doesn't want to acknowledge that there are other great QB's out there sans Brady. And there's other great teams besides yours.

no one here has an issue acknowledging or giving credit to other talented qbs, we’ve just grown numb over the years to all the arrogance spewed from people after their QB wins 1 super bowl and then immediately elevate their status up equal to Brady who is a legend.

 

[MahomestoKelce]

Yeah for sure and I totally get that. It's cool. You SHOULD be a fan of Mahomes - dude is off the charts great. But here's the thing. Brady - the unquestioned greatest of all time - won three in his first five seasons (counting his rookie year when he sat all season). It looked like he'd never ever lose a playoff game. Then, even with probably the greatest individual team ever (2007), he didn't win another SB until a decade later, and even then it took some things going right for that to happen. The point being that even the all-time greats find it INCREDIBLY difficult to win a single title, never mind multiple championships. You have every right to be hopeful that Mahomes will just keep winning, but the fact is, even for him it's going to be super duper difficult.

I mean, just look at his last three seasons. Loses in the AFC championship to the Pats and yes, a coin flip and/or a terrible offsides penalty (correct call but terrible by Ford) away from winning that game and probably winning the SB (though the Rams did beat KC that year so who knows). And then last year were banged up all along the OL. But this is exactly why it's so hard to win a SB. Injuries here and there. (the Pats have suffered more than their share of those that derailed championship runs - no way they lose to the Giants in SB 46 if Gronk isn't one-legged) A bad break or a terrible call by an official. Another team just getting red hot at the right time. All this stuff happens, and because in the playoffs all it takes is one slip up and you're gone, it's just crazy hard.

So I encourage you - by all means be fully optimistic and full of expectation. Just understand that there's reasons why only 3 QBs have ever won 4+ SBs.

I agree.

There's more parity than ever now.

Obviously it'll be tough for Mahomes & company to win another SB.

This isn't the NBA. You don't simply win a championship by having the best players.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

I think there were a few big fans of Drew in the media who were upset, and pushed some narratives for the subpar 2002 season. But if they didn't play Drew in the Super Bowl after he was healthy, they certainly weren't going to go back to him once Brady actually won the damn thing.

In 2002, Pats took out the Bills 2x. Bledsoe threw for a million yards but only had a 24TD-15INT ratio. Bills got blown out by NE I think 38-7 the first game.

Brady down 24-13 with 3 minutes left took out a very very good Miami Team to rob them of a division title. That's when I knew Brady was as clutch as they get. We won the division title for a couple hours until GB sat their starters and jets blew them away.

2002 Brady played great, led the NFL in TD passes. We had an atrocious run defense.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I wonder if the Bills ever thought to themselves: "Wait. If this guy is our savior, why are our rivals willingly trading him in division"?

Maybe it was simply a box office move to sell tickets by Buffalo. More than a football move per say.

Donohoe was desperate.

He took over a 2000 8-8 team and went 3-13 in 2001. Drew made them an 8-8 team in 2002. At least in Year 1 he wasn't wrong.

 

[MahomestoKelce]

no one here has an issue acknowledging or giving credit to other talented qbs, we’ve just grown numb over the years to all the arrogance spewed from people after their QB wins 1 super bowl and then immediately elevating their status up to Brady who is legendary.

Brady is a once in a lifetime type QB. Maybe not athletically. But in terms of stats, leadership, and accomplishments. I'm willing to acknowledge that's there's a pretty darn good chance we will look back in 20 years and not say Mahomes was greater than Tom. What Brady has done is the exception to every rule.

 

[mgcolby]

Yes but Seattle also had to play their part too. Why did their coaching staff think passing with 20 seconds left made any sense? Carroll was/is a smart coach. You'd think he would override that call.

That's my point. Butler made the play. But he doesn't get the opportunity if Seattle just does what every other team would do. Run!!

The Tyree catch is so fluky that I bet you'll never see it again. But still...you had the best offense in the league only mustering 14 points. And a CB unable to come down with a pick.

He is a smart coach. He knew the numbers and for all of beast mode this and that the fact was in 3/4 and less than 2 he was among the worse backs in the league statistically. Like 45th in the previous 2 or 3 years. Pete played the numbers and lost.

Amazes me that big time sports media could not have a single person point that out to the masses.

 

[amfootball]

Is there a team currently in the league who could survive injuries to their best TE & receiver?

Tampa.

 

[sb1]

Donohoe was desperate.

He took over a 2000 8-8 team and went 3-13 in 2001. Drew made them an 8-8 team in 2002. At least in Year 1 he wasn't wrong.

Donahoe picked Rob Johnson over Flutie. Oof.

 

[MahomestoKelce]

In 2002, Pats took out the Bills 2x. Bledsoe threw for a million yards but only had a 24TD-15INT ratio. Bills got blown out by NE I think 38-7 the first game.

Brady down 24-13 with 3 minutes left took out a very very good Miami Team to rob them of a division title. That's when I knew Brady was as clutch as they get. We won the division title for a couple hours until GB sat their starters and jets blew them away.

2002 Brady played great, led the NFL in TD passes. We had an atrocious run defense.

Looking back, I feel like the 2002 team is what the 2001 team ended up being. And the 01 team ended up being what the 02 team should've been.

In otherwords, the Patriots might've been way ahead of schedule in 01. And a letdown in 02 was inevitable.

But from 03 onwards, it was clear they were just a great team who were unstoppable at times.

I'm looking back at articles and many were proclaiming in 03 that the Pats won a fluke SB against the Rams and were destined to decline big time. The decline never happened. Proving there was no fluke.

 

[MahomestoKelce]

Tampa.

No Mike Evans hinders their offense though.

 

[Sicilian]

In 2002, Pats took out the Bills 2x. Bledsoe threw for a million yards but only had a 24TD-15INT ratio. Bills got blown out by NE I think 38-7 the first game.

Brady down 24-13 with 3 minutes left took out a very very good Miami Team to rob them of a division title. That's when I knew Brady was as clutch as they get. We won the division title for a couple hours until GB sat their starters and jets blew them away.

2002 Brady played great, led the NFL in TD passes. We had an atrocious run defense.

I should have been more clear: When I say subpar 2002, I meant for the team.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Looking back, I feel like the 2002 team is what the 2001 team ended up being. And the 01 team ended up being what the 02 team should've been.

In otherwords, the Patriots might've been way ahead of schedule in 01. And a letdown in 02 was inevitable.

But from 03 onwards, it was clear they were just a great team who were unstoppable at times.

I'm looking back at articles and many were proclaiming in 03 that the Pats won a fluke SB against the Rams and were destined to decline big time. The decline never happened. Proving there was no fluke.

Rodney Harrison aquisition in 03 was maybe the best FA signing in patriots history. A hall of fame player still in his prime, whom Marty "one and done" Shotty thought was finished.

Players like Law, Mcginist all hit their peak in 03...all in there prime HOF talents. Bruschi at his peak.

We may have had 4 HOF talents in their primes on those teams. Our defense was ridiculously good. Asante Samuel was an incredible pick in the 4th round in 03. led the nfl in INT's multiple times.

 

[MahomestoKelce]

Rodney Harrison aquisition in 03 was maybe the best FA signing in patriots history. A hall of fame player still in his prime, whom Marty "one and done" Shotty thought was finished.

Players like Law, Mcginist all hit their peak in 03...all in there prime HOF talents. Bruschi at his peak.

We may have had 4 HOF talents in their primes on those teams. Our defense was ridiculously good. Asante Samuel was an incredible pick in the 4th round in 03. led the nfl in INT's multiple times.

That SB against Carolina was one of the best too. Crazy good game.

 

[amfootball]

No Mike Evans hinders their offense though.

You said survive. Tampa could survive well with Godwin and AB.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

That SB against Carolina was one of the best too. Crazy good game.

Yup. Deion Branch 10 catches for 143. Vrabel catching touchdowns and playing great D. Brady's 17 yard completion in heavy traffic to Givens at the end of the game.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

That's my point. Butler made the play. But he doesn't get the opportunity if Seattle just does what every other team would do. Run!!

I love this lazy argument.

Pats has a jumbo goal line package in, specifically to stop the run which is why Carroll passed.

Not sure how this ridiculous idea started that all seattle had to do was run the ball to win. They tried running it earlier on the game on 4th and inches at midfield, which is much harder on the defense because they can’t go goal line in that situation to 100% commit to run and have to be prepared for a pass, and they stuffed the “unstoppable” Lynch on the backfield causing a turnover on downs

but we’re supposed to believe Seattle was GUARANTEED a victory if they just tried running it right into the teeth of a goal line package defense lol

Seattle’s fluke catch is what put them in the position to begin with, they used up all their golden horseshoes and got shut down

 

[mgcolby]

Gun to your head, would you rather us or Buffalo win the SB this year? I'm guessing you'll say Buffalo because they have none and Allen will never be compared with Brady.

Obviously injuries to our key players would hinder us. But that's true for every NFL team.

Is there a team currently in the league who could survive injuries to their best TE & receiver?

Can I go with option C? None of the above. If I had to pick all things being honest and I don't even dislike you guys. After the what the Bill's fans have gone through, four straight SB losses, then having your coach make one of the biggest boneheaded playoff decisions ever in benching Flutie for Johnson in 99 then not making the playoffs again for whatever it was 18 years. And yet those dudes show up week after ****ty week often in the crappiest weather.

I have to say the Bills because of their fan base. You guys got yours.

I need a ****ing shower now...

The Bill's could, we could now. The biggest secret to the Pats success over the 20 year run other than the obvious BB and Brady was depth. But not just depth but quality depth. Where often times the fall off from the starter to the 2nd stringer was minimal. Brady's contract among other things, not spending max money on FA etc..allowed for that.

But if you are honest you know your depth on that team is non-existance. The fall off from your best players to their backup is drastic.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Brady is a once in a lifetime type QB. Maybe not athletically. But in terms of stats, leadership, and accomplishments. I'm willing to acknowledge that's there's a pretty darn good chance we will look back in 20 years and not say Mahomes was greater than Tom. What Brady has done is the exception to every rule.

Brady's accomplishments are off the charts, it's almost impossible for Mahomes to catch him. Brady also has important head to head victories over him in championship games at age 41 and age 43. Mahomes could be the second best ever, but Brady holds the GOAT honors forever.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Donahoe picked Rob Johnson over Flutie. Oof.

According to Flutie, it was Ralph Wilson who chose Johnson over Flutie

John Butler was GM of the Bills. He signed Flutie.

Wilson made him sign Rob Johnson.

HC Wade Phillips loved Flutie.

Butler's contract expired after the 2000 season. Wilson didn't make him and offer and Butler didn't ask for one.

Butler joins San Diego as their GM in 2001.

Butler signs Flutie as their starting QB.

 

[amfootball]

It's funny that you still think Mahomes can catch Brady after losing to him twice in the post-season. If the Bills win, Allen will have the same amount of rings as Mahomes. Lol