Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years Old?

[PatsFans.com Article]

Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years Old?
By: Russ Goldman

Can Tom Brady still be an elite quarterback at forty years old?...

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[Advil]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

Anything Favre can do, Brady can do better.

 

[Joey007]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

Anything Favre can do, Brady can do better.

If Favre played that well when he was 40, Brady can do that much better. Problem for Favre was what happened at 41.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

No the problem was what happened to Favre at 35 or 38, when his skills started to erode. He was just too proud to admit it.:snob:

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

Sure anything's possible but history suggests it isn't the most likely thing. Favre is the only one I can think of that put up elite #'s at 40.

 

[IllegalContact]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

skills erode overnight

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years Old?

Because Jets fans say so, that's why.

 

[BananaRepublican]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

Can Tom Brady still be an elite quarterback at forty years old?...

Tom is a very fit guy too. He's ripped without being Hulk Like (remember how McNabb's career took a dip after he went Hulk?)

 

[TheBeers]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

Tom is a very fit guy too. He's ripped without being Hulk Like (remember how McNabb's career took a dip after he went Hulk?)

McNabb didn't go Hulk... he went Steven Seagal!

 

[Joker]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

Deus swings...and there's a LONG drive!!!!

Tom Brady can't possibly be an elite QB when he's 40 because the superest of all super Jet fans, Ray Ray 19 has already declared Brady is "in the twilight!!!!"...and no one has EVER come out of the twilight to throw for over 5000 yards...except of course, Brady...who did it last season...after Wacknutz Wacknutz declared twilight victory for his Elite-chez...

 

[RayClay]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

Yes and no.

 

[Patjew]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

I disagree.

I'm thinking 50...

 

[bagwell368]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

TB's ability to move away from pressure is fractional compared to 2007. His ability to sense pressure and take a step or 1/2 step to avoid it also seems to have slipped.

Either injuries due to the above and/or inability to set himself to throw will accelerate, lowering his effectiveness and making him more prone to injury.

I have him for two more elite seasons, one injury plagued season, and one OK season, and then retirement after 2015, when BB retires from coaching and hands the job to the current OC or DC.

 

[Patjew]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

TB's ability to move away from pressure is fractional compared to 2007. His ability to sense pressure and take a step or 1/2 step to avoid it also seems to have slipped.

Either injuries due to the above and/or inability to set himself to throw will accelerate, lowering his effectiveness and making him more prone to injury.

I have him for two more elite seasons, one injury plagued season, and one OK season, and then retirement after 2015, when BB retires from coaching and hands the job to the current OC or DC.

I have to agree, unfortunately. If you watch film from 2007, it's amazing how much more nimble TFB was. Not that he's not amazing now, but nevertheless...

 

[Snake Eyes]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

If BB puts together a beast O-line and gives TFB nice targets to throw to there's no reason he can't be elite at 40.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

I have to agree, unfortunately. If you watch film from 2007, it's amazing how much more nimble TFB was. Not that he's not amazing now, but nevertheless...

Everyone ages dfferently. For all the bashing Favre received (and deserved) he was a freak of nature health-wise. To maintain that level of agility and reaction time at that age was pretty impressive.

There is no doubt that TB is in supreme physical condition and will continue to keep his body in tip-top shape. But at 35, things tend not to stay as healthy or recover as quickly from injury as a 30 year old. I can't say that I've noticed TB "slow down" noticably but I don't doubt you for a second. It happens and in the NFL where the players are big, fast and strong a play that a 25 year old can make in their sleep might take 8/100s of a second longer at 35.

 

[mayoclinic]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

It's obviously a very difficult thing to do. History tells us that QBs hit the wall quickly, their bodies break down, and they can go from elite to over the hill very quickly. Most don't have the competitive drive to push themselves when their bodies start to hit the wall. Brady could be the exception, due to his exceptional physical conditioning and incredible competitive drive. Brady's game has never been based on athleticism, so I don't think his movement skills will be key, but slower reflexes and a little less ability to sidestep the pass rush can lead to more hits can certainly add wear and tear.

I think that as long as Brady maintains his current level of intensity and health/conditioning he will be elite. 5 years is a long time, but I wouldn't rule it out. Brady's made a career out of shattering expectations.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

QB's are a lot like pitchers, they don't tend to work on conditioning as intensely as other position players. Tom is an exception to that rule, among others. And those who are most dependent on physical skillset will see that erode sooner than those who are more dependent on cerebral or intangible skillsets. They are more likely to wear down than fall off a cliff. The pressure of maintaining begins to lose it's charm vs. the thrill of winning. We have seen little sign of that in Brady's case to date. He seemed to be wearing down mentally towards the end of seasons back in 2005-06, and Bill sensing that told him and several vets to gt away from the game during those off seasons. Then after the most draining season of all, he got sent away for a season. And that glimpse into life after football seemed to refocus him on how much he wants to continue playing the game for as long as he possibly can. He went from is this all there is to WTF could ever top this...

The day this guy starts coasting or resting on laurels or talking about life after football without being forced to by lazy mediots trolling for a preconceived soundbite will be the day we should all start worrying about saying goodbye to an elite Brady and Belichick should start seriously scouting something other than viable backups or transitional players and start focusing on identifying a replacement for the position. He's not going to hang around and embarass himself or detract from the legacy. Barring injury he's clearly not remotely there yet, as his demeanor and performance this off season underscores.

I don't forsee him arriving there for at least another 3-4 years given the young players surrounding him and the excitement this roster is building once again. As long as the next ring lurks on the horizen it will be hard for a guy wired to compete to walk away unless he's forced to via injury or he begins to sense he can't or clearly doesn't give this team the best chance to. Which is also why he will finish his career here.

People would be wise to as Junior used to say enjoy the journey because the only thing for certain is it won't last forever. And the transition won't be a piece of cake no matter how much fans focus or obcess over it. The organization won't crumble, but it probably won't project to dominate the way it has and whoever replaces him isn't likely to approach team let alone league GOAT position status because there are only a handful who manage to in a generation and roughly two dozen other organizations at all times scrambling to ever land even one who can approach it.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

TB's ability to move away from pressure is fractional compared to 2007. His ability to sense pressure and take a step or 1/2 step to avoid it also seems to have slipped.

Either injuries due to the above and/or inability to set himself to throw will accelerate, lowering his effectiveness and making him more prone to injury.

I have him for two more elite seasons, one injury plagued season, and one OK season, and then retirement after 2015, when BB retires from coaching and hands the job to the current OC or DC.

I think you're basing that on personal negativity driven preconceived notions that couldn't be farther from the way these guys think. Belichick in particular is still having waaaaaaay too much fun building rosters and identifying and teaching young talent and approaching achievable legacy goals that appeal to the football lifer/historian in him. His youngest son is still in college and given how deeply the coaching gene seems to run in the Belichick clan, with even his only daughter persuing a lacross coaching career, I think he will want to work Brian into the mix as he has begun to with Steven. And he can't even begin to do that for at least 3 more seasons.

 

[goheels22002]

Re: Why Can't Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Be An Elite Quarterback At Forty Years O

Because The Hammer will be going to his second Pro-Bowl and deflecting questions about being the next Steve Young.

Let us not forget that the Patriots went to Super Bowls before Brady and will go to Super Bowls after Brady. This Peter Pan crap is starting to really annoy me.

The Patriots organization is built to last right now and as long as the Krafts own it and maintain the values they brought to Foxboro when they bought the team, we can believe that transitions mean renewal not collapse.

Look at the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NY Giants. The Patriots have a similar approach. Quality depth, develop young coaches, shed expensive veterans when their value has diminished and keep winning. Change is a constant in the NFL. Brady's stepping out from behind the wheel will be a big deal but not necessarily the end of the ride.