Most Underrated Part of Brady's Career

So I was just thinking about this today, I feel like what Brady did his first year as a starter is supremely underrated by just about everybody (outside this board). Imo, what Brady did his first year as a starter was legendary but it almost never gets brought up when people discuss his career. Most seem to gloss over it without even mentioning it.

We all know the numbers here obviously but they look more amazing imo when actually written down. The Pats were 5-13 under Belichick with Bledsoe at QB, Brady takes over when Bledsoe goes down and leads them to an 11-3 record and their first title. Also of note that no one really talks about is that the Pats had the 26th ranked offense in 2000 and only scored 20 points total in the first 2 games of 2001. Brady got them to the 6th ranked offense in the league that year.

This is one of the most legendary parts of his career, especially considering it was his first year as a starter. They looked destined for the cellar again and Brady turned their whole season around. I hear people talk about how bad Montana's first super bowl team was but no way was it worse then the 2001 team Brady had around him, at least on offense. I'm surprised no one brings this up more often when discussing Brady's legacy.

Thoughts?

Even though he missed a year in 08 his health and durability has been the most impressive aspect of his career to me.

Brady was slight over-hyped actually imo that year. The team won games that year in all phases. His stats 2800 yard 18 TD 12 INT not spectacular. (14 games) The offense only score THREE total TDs in all the playoffs. He was great considering it was his first year playing, but he was actually just barely over rated for that season. (Just a tiny bit)

EDIT: And one of the three TDs in that post season was a Bledsoe TD Pass. Brady had one TD pass and one TD run in that post season.

The thing about Brady was he wouldn't make the dumb mistake that would cost them. He was basically a game manager that first year. Now, it's his offense.

Interesting....other quarterbacks who didn't make the big mistake and also made some big plays as first year starters: One was Russell Wilson and the other was Dak Prescott. Both reminded me of Brady traits.

mosslost said:

Brady was slight over-hyped actually imo that year. The team won games that year in all phases. His stats 2800 yard 18 TD 12 INT not spectacular. (14 games) The offense only score THREE total TDs in all the playoffs. He was great considering it was his first year playing, but he was actually just barely over rated for that season. (Just a tiny bit)

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Maybe I'm reaching here but I think Brady's leadership, even that early in his career, had a huge impact on the team that trickled down to the other facets for the Pats. Bledsoe had all the talent in the world but he never struck me as a great leader. I think leadership is, maybe, the most important trait for a QB and has more of an impact on a team that a lot of people even realize.

The fact that he even got them to the playoffs (With a 1st round bye no less) was astounding. Even if they didn't score a lot of TD's in the playoffs, he lead the game tying and game winning drive against the raiders in the playoffs, then lead that game winning drive in the super bowl. He was still great.

The last 3 years have been amazing - since KC in 2014, there really has not been a game NE was out of that Brady played. That was what made the SB so shocking to start - NE was getting housed. So a comeback was not surprising. But that they made it back from 25 down with 17 minutes to go is so legendary that most of us don't even realize how legendary it is. We have come to expect it.

bormio said:

The last 3 years have been amazing - since KC in 2014, there really has not been a game NE was out of that Brady played. That was what made the SB so shocking to start - NE was getting housed. So a comeback was not surprising. But that they made it back from 25 down with 17 minutes to go is so legendary that most of us don't even realize how legendary it is. We have come to expect it.

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The Super Bowl 51 comeback was easily one of the most anything things I have ever seen in sports, and easily one of the most amazing parts of Brady's career. But I also think what Brady did his first year was just as special.

richie021501 said:

Maybe I'm reaching here but I think Brady's leadership, even that early in his career, had a huge impact on the team that trickled down to the other facets for the Pats. Bledsoe had all the talent in the world but he never struck me as a great leader. I think leadership is, maybe, the most important trait for a QB and has more of an impact on a team that a lot of people even realize.

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The team got on a heck of a roll no doubt. But if you take for instance, Brady's first ever start against the Colts. The Pats demolished them and had little to do with Brady. He through zero TDs but we scored like over 40 points, with Pick 6's and just great team football. That team had tons of veteran leadership too.. Law, Bruschi, Ted Johnson, McGinnest, Otis Smith, Troy Brown, pretty long list.

Pat

bormio said:

The last 3 years have been amazing - since KC in 2014, there really has not been a game NE was out of that Brady played. That was what made the SB so shocking to start - NE was getting housed. So a comeback was not surprising. But that they made it back from 25 down with 17 minutes to go is so legendary that most of us don't even realize how legendary it is. We have come to expect it.

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Pats really should have just three-peated.

Brady's 5 INT game in 2001 was pretty amazing.

mosslost said:

The team got on a heck of a roll no doubt. But if you take for instance, Brady's first ever start against the Colts. The Pats demolished them and had little to do with Brady. He through zero TDs but we scored like over 40 points, with Pick 6's and just great team football. That team had tons of veteran leadership too.. Law, Bruschi, Ted Johnson, McGinnest, Otis Smith, Troy Brown, pretty long list.

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You bring up some good points. He had a couple of bad games, as just about every QB does in almost any season. Honestly, those guys were there the year before as well and the first 2 games of 01, it didn't do them any good.

bormio said:

Brady's 5 INT game in 2001 was pretty amazing.

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he had 5 in one game?

mosslost said:

Brady was slight over-hyped actually imo that year. The team won games that year in all phases. His stats 2800 yard 18 TD 12 INT not spectacular. (14 games) The offense only score THREE total TDs in all the playoffs. He was great considering it was his first year playing, but he was actually just barely over rated for that season. (Just a tiny bit)

EDIT: And one of the three TDs in that post season was a Bledsoe TD Pass. Brady had one TD pass and one TD run in that post season.

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Garbage stats. Brady rescued a sinking ship . It was obvious in his first game and all the way back to preseason how the offense was different with him in there.

Most underrated or what I hear alot of people say about Brady is that he Can't throw the deep ball very well. Or to be more specific touch passes going over the top of a defense.

I think it wasn't his best strength but also He hasn't had to many big time down field receivers for most of his career.

But this season in particular he was awesome.

So I am going to say his deep ball is now under rated.

He was way bet

bruce_w said:

Garbage stats. Brady rescued a sinking ship . It was obvious in his first game and all the way back to preseason how the offense was different with him in there.

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He was way better than Bledsoe, no doubt. Brady most definitely did not rescue that particular ship though. I do think that team woke up and played hard and rallied around their new QB though.

He is the GOAT now, was not the GOAT yet then though.

mosslost said:

He was way bet

He was way better than Bledsoe, no doubt. Brady most definitely did not rescue that particular ship though. I do think that team woke up and played hard and rallied around their new QB though.

He is the GOAT now, was not the GOAT yet then though.

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I agree he wasn't the best QB in the league at that time but he had the most to do with the turn around in my opinion. His intangibles lifted that team up and got everyone to play their best, something Bledsoe, despite his talent, couldn't do.

Brady's 2006 season is the most underated of his career bar none.

richie021501 said:

I agree he wasn't the best QB in the league at that time but he had the most to do with the turn around in my opinion. His intangibles lifted that team up and got everyone to play their best, something Bledsoe, despite his talent, couldn't do.

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I agree with this.

You guys are FUNNY. No part of TB12's career is underrated. He has been celebrated since winning a Lombardi in his first campaign. How long has he been the GOAT? Let's close this thread.

mosslost said:

he had 5 in one game?

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I was wrong - he had 4 vs the Broncos. He has never had 5 - maybe he had a fumble - somehow I remembered a 5 TO game.