Pretty good insight into arguably the GOAT. Interesting passage from the article.

." He knows, as his dad says, that as soon as Belichick gets "a quarterback who is better for a dollar less, he'll be gone." He won't allow himself to be outworked or overpriced. He won't allow himself to feel doubt. He will always test the limits of what he can control, because it's the only way of controlling what he loves to do.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9227157/new-england-patriots-quarterback-tom-brady-leads-charmed-life-espn-magazine

 

In response to jri37's comment:

Shotgun spread preference.

Bye bye Welkie.

Thank you, BB for making the divorce happen.

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

That's all you got out of that article?!?!

It for me just cements how lucky we are as Pat's fans to have this guy as QB. Russ without this guy we are talking about a totally different Pat's history over the last decade plus. This is not a shot at BB because I am sure they would have had some success it is more a testament to how good a QB TB turned out to be for this team.

In response to jri37's comment:

 

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

 

In response to jri37's comment:

 

Pretty good insight into arguably the GOAT. Interesting passage from the article.

." He knows, as his dad says, that as soon as Belichick gets "a quarterback who is better for a dollar less, he'll be gone." He won't allow himself to be outworked or overpriced. He won't allow himself to feel doubt. He will always test the limits of what he can control, because it's the only way of controlling what he loves to do.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9227157/new-england-patriots-quarterback-tom-brady-leads-charmed-life-espn-magazine

 

 

Shotgun spread preference.

 

Bye bye Welkie.

Thank you, BB for making the divorce happen.

 

 

That's all you got out of that article?!?!

It for me just cements how lucky we are as Pat's fans to have this guy as QB. Russ without this guy we are talking about a totally different Pat's history over the last decade plus. This is not a shot at BB because I am sure they would have had some success it is more a testament to how good a QB TB turned out to be for this team.

 

Agree. I don't want to look at past laurels or legacy now, though. Does he want to win or what?    It's concerning.  I am dead serious. When people start reveling in how great someone used to be, it could be a sign they're satisfied. Look at the Stones. By 1981, they were done.

 

They haven't put out a good album since.   Stones are still a good show, even now, but it's also very limited, where all they're doing is playing songs from 1964-1981.  

I just thought that particular statement was very telling with regards to the shotgun spread preference.

It's basically proof of what I've been saying.  Damning evidence for those who pathetically don't believe BB shapes the offense around Brady himself.

I think those times are changing with his age and the fact what he preferred, flat out failed one too many times.

Also, not a huge fan of how he comes off staring down teammates when they don't run a good route or whatever.  He's been way too inconsistent as a passer to be pointing fingers.

Look, I get it. Everyone gets it. The guy is a HOFer and one of the greatest ever, but if you're not understanding what it's going to take to win a SB, then what does it matter?  I actually think Gomer is hungrier than Brady.  I also think Brady buys into it being more about the young D not picking up the slack and he's not responsible for his poor play. I really haven't seen any admittance to it from him.

And, why does he continue to not see why we're losing these games? It's maddening.

Why even bother putting the helmet on?  I cannot believe some of our fans are so satisified with his play in these many postseason games.  It's unbelievable to me.

I wish someone would interview him about the offensive ideology so we can get real answers.

This is a fluff piece.

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

You are missing the point. The article drives home how self motivated he is and how important winning is to him. Sure any article you read is going to be skewed or agenda driven. read in between the lines and you can see how important being the best QB he can be is to him and how it translates to how badly he wants to win.

jri37 that article wasn't just good, it was an awesome read! Thank you for posting it. Loved the Kurt Warner quote....

I will believe that when he's back under Center more and also making wiser decisions with the ball. Stop trying so hard to tell me you want to win and show me you know what the path to winning is.

He needs to realized this D is a lot better than he realizes and that it's not about him passing trying to score, almost primarily through the air. If he does want a ring, he'll get back under Center and learn to trust more.

I read these fluff pieces every offseason. SB 46 in particular will eat at him for the rest of his life if he doesn't do what is best for the team. 

You can slam all day long here, but 2007's quest for records, change him as a QB.  Plain as day to me.

There have been times where he's exuded the will to win, but it's those mental lapses that leave everyone speechless, that have been the difference between him reaching his goals or not.

Look, I don't want to argue. Let's just hope this problem is being rectified as we speak and the offensive style changes.

I honestly cannot take another AFC title game with this guy in the shotgun that many times.

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

Not going to argue but one day 10 years from now I think we will all realize just how lucky we were as a fan base to have had him behind center.

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

 

I will believe that when he's back under Center more and also making wiser decisions with the ball. Stop trying so hard to tell me you want to win and show me you know what the path to winning is.

He needs to realized this D is a lot better than he realizes and that it's not about him passing trying to score, almost primarily through the air. If he does want a ring, he'll get back under Center and learn to trust more.

I read these fluff pieces every offseason. SB 46 in particular will eat at him for the rest of his life if he doesn't do what is best for the team. 

You can slam all day long here, but 2007's quest for records, change him as a QB.  Plain as day to me.

There have been times where he's exuded the will to win, but it's those mental lapses that leave everyone speechless, that have been the difference between him reaching his goals or not.

Look, I don't want to argue. Let's just hope this problem is being rectified as we speak and the offensive style changes.

I honestly cannot take another AFC title game with this guy in the shotgun that many times.

 

Well, looking at the comments on the article a guy names "HallowedHoodie" put:

 

Step 1 was making the divorce happen from Welkie. Step 2 will be for Tom to get back under center more than he has been in many years.  
 
The 40+ passes of a shotgun spread has failed even though it was Brady's preference.

 

know him?

In response to jri37's comment:

 

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

 

I will believe that when he's back under Center more and also making wiser decisions with the ball. Stop trying so hard to tell me you want to win and show me you know what the path to winning is.

He needs to realized this D is a lot better than he realizes and that it's not about him passing trying to score, almost primarily through the air. If he does want a ring, he'll get back under Center and learn to trust more.

I read these fluff pieces every offseason. SB 46 in particular will eat at him for the rest of his life if he doesn't do what is best for the team. 

You can slam all day long here, but 2007's quest for records, change him as a QB.  Plain as day to me.

There have been times where he's exuded the will to win, but it's those mental lapses that leave everyone speechless, that have been the difference between him reaching his goals or not.

Look, I don't want to argue. Let's just hope this problem is being rectified as we speak and the offensive style changes.

I honestly cannot take another AFC title game with this guy in the shotgun that many times.

 

 

Not going to argue but one day 10 years from now I think we will all realize just how lucky we were as a fan base to have had him behind center.

 

 

Again, that's a separate discussion. I completely agree he's arguably the best of all time, but that doesn't really matter in the present in 2013, does it?  Are you going to be happy watching him toss away opps just because he's one of the best ever? I am not.

If he chokes again in the postseason this year, will you feel differently?

Dude, let me be clear:

You live in Florida, and maybe you don't have any non Pats friends (not saying it as a jab, bu t just saying), but MANY people believe in Spygate and Tom Brady isn't helping himself with these playoff performances.

Sorry, had to say it, because SB 46 and the Spygate baloney will follow him forever unless he erases it with a SB win. It's just the truth.

Blame Mangini, Woody Johnson for their selfish motives for pushing Goodell to punish the way he did, blame morons for believing it, etc, but that premise is on the table.  It will sit on that table until Brady himself does something about it, and that means scaling back the shogtun spread stuff that flat out doesn't work.

The kiddies who live in the Boston bubble don't get this because they don't leave home or have any friends who aren't Pats fans, apparently.

I just ignore it, but it's a huge, huge elephant in the room under the NFL umbrella, and I think this shotgun spread obsession is partly Brady's thinking for his way to squash that idea.

Apparently, his preference to throw through problem spots in games isn't working.

With Welker out of the picture and the last tie to the finesse offense now gone, this is a HUGE season for Tom Brady. HUGE. Only he can be a better QB.

Anyway, thanks for posting it. I didn't mean to derail. I just thought that one comment really stood out.

In response to patsbandwagonsince76's comment:

haha

 

Great article, jri.  Thanks for posting.  How can you not get goosebumps reading that article?  We are a damn lucky fanbase to have this man be the face of our franchise.  So selfless, but yet so competitive and driven.  I wouldn't want anybody else to be our QB.  

Here's to another 5+ years of appreciation.

Thanks jri!

Look, I agree with jri that we are NOT grateful enough about Brady, who even if he never wins another SB, may well be the greatest of all time....his like will be very sorely missed and we all know that if we are honest about it....

 

However I also am glad we have cut away TB's binky and think getting more deep and verticle in their passing game is what they need to do...they have decent rb's now, guys who can take the place of the short dink and dunk game, away from the "spread" offense based on a small quick guy getting open or you die on the vine.....and other teams have it all figured out, hence the losses in big games...it's NOT all on the D.

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

I live in Nj and my brother has season ticketsd to the Ravens In nj all i hear is spygate in the ny post. When i go out in Baltimore with my TB Shirt - all i hear is  about spygate ( well until i talk about muerders and wife beaterwss - lol)

It jsut too easy for these other fans to take a shot. So unfortunately until TB wins another to shut them all up - I am afraid that you are correct. - Even tho TB could have played better in the 18-1 SB - He did lead them down the field for the go ahead - and then we had to watch AS butcher an INT =- the world would have been different - Eli would have been a goat - he and the coach might have been of of NY - And Tb would have been the "greatest" but something he didn't control gave him the loss

but its what life death him-  he has more than almost all- but what i like about TB is that with all the celebirity i think he still gets it

 

 

 

In response to seawolfxs' comment:

 

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

 

I will believe that when he's back under Center more and also making wiser decisions with the ball. Stop trying so hard to tell me you want to win and show me you know what the path to winning is.

He needs to realized this D is a lot better than he realizes and that it's not about him passing trying to score, almost primarily through the air. If he does want a ring, he'll get back under Center and learn to trust more.

I read these fluff pieces every offseason. SB 46 in particular will eat at him for the rest of his life if he doesn't do what is best for the team. 

You can slam all day long here, but 2007's quest for records, change him as a QB.  Plain as day to me.

There have been times where he's exuded the will to win, but it's those mental lapses that leave everyone speechless, that have been the difference between him reaching his goals or not.

Look, I don't want to argue. Let's just hope this problem is being rectified as we speak and the offensive style changes.

I honestly cannot take another AFC title game with this guy in the shotgun that many times.

 

 

I live in Nj and my brother has season ticketsd to the Ravens In nj all i hear is spygate in the ny post. When i go out in Baltimore with my TB Shirt - all i hear is  about spygate ( well until i talk about muerders and wife beaterwss - lol)

It jsut too easy for these other fans to take a shot. So unfortunately until TB wins another to shut them all up - I am afraid that you are correct. - Even tho TB could have played better in the 18-1 SB - He did lead them down the field for the go ahead - and then we had to watch AS butcher an INT =- the world would have been different - Eli would have been a goat - he and the coach might have been of of NY - And Tb would have been the "greatest" but something he didn't control gave him the loss

but its what life death him-  he has more than almost all- but what i like about TB is that with all the celebirity i think he still gets it

 

 

 

 

Yep. It's the truth. You can sort of tell who lives in Boston/NE here on these boards and who doesn't.

 

Because what you just typed, the bubble world fans don't really get it.  I own a Pat patriot logo hat and wear it when I feel like it, but I don't even bother entertaining dinks who are nothing more than jealous of what we have.  Not worth it.

I remember being in a bar with some family and friends last April in coastal Carolina and we were getting some lunch, watching the Sox, etc, and these two turds to our right were clearly from NY.  Thick accents, all obnoxious and loud.  Typical. 

Anyway, they noticed were in tune with the game, so they asked if we were Sox fans or fans of the Rangers.  I made the mistake of saying "Sox" and then these 20 year old turds (they were talking about using IDs from the night before so they weren't 21), asked if I was  a Pats fan.

I smiled and didn't answer. Then, they started in. Giants fans. Just totally annoying as we tried to talk and eat our lunch and have a couple beers.

We almost had to leave they were so obnoxious.

I hate the Canadiens, Yanks, Jets, Lakers, etc, but I don't even engage fans who might be wearing those logos, unless they engage me and are normal.  It's just not worth even bothering with such trash.

 

In response to alfred-e-bob-neumier's comment:

I am with you on the Welker stance. My only issues was Russ reponse right below the original post.

I don't thiink it is totally the D"s fault that they haven't closed the deal recently. As a matter of fact in the article Brady talks specificly about plays he wishes he executed in certain games. The thing that struck me in the piece was his never ending quest to be better and for him to improve to make the team better.

I have been a fan since the mid 70's and a season ticket holder since the mid nineties and he is by far the best player this team has ever seen (john hannah close 2nd) and arguably the greatest QB to play the game.

In response to IrishMob7's comment:

Team seems to be getting much younger so I hope he can last the 5. 

 

In response to jri37's comment:

Again, agree.

Let me put it to you this way:

If for some reason there was a an opportunity to ask him one question with one follow up, I would ask this:

1. Why do you prefer the shotgun spread so much?

2. Do you realize how you have struggled in games, in the postseason in particular,using that as the base formation, passing 40+ times, even with a lead?

I just question if he is even aware of the patterns and mountains of evidence.

And, honestly, I think BB walking from Welkie is symbolic to BB seeing this.  I question whether or not BB actually saw the data until after this last playoff loss, because how can you keep using it, acting like it's not severely flawed?

Your basically asking your entire offense to execute 100% perfectly for 4 qtrs (or close to it), almost like you're on a Japanese game show or something.

Wouldn't it be easier to commit to the ground game to help your offense over those 4 qtrs?

Can anyone even name the last time we opened a game against a good defense, where we drove down the field, with a lengthy drive and we scored a TD?  Even if you can find the example, we're just horrendous at keeping momentun in games with that  base style offense.

 

 

Great article...kind of sad in a way...just to think that this guy is hitting the twilight of his career. I'm just glad to say I've gotten the chance to watch one of the all time greats - too many times I've had to hear how good Bobby Orr was, or Larry Bird, etc...now I can tell my kids about Brady.

The guy works hard, he did an off season special last year on espn and I was shocked at the condition he was in. A friend of my wife did the tile work in his back bay home a few years ago, he said both Tom and Gieselle were home and treated him very well...seemed like normal people, etc.

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

Gee crusty noodle, why don't you just ask him?  Pretty sure you'd get one of these and I'm

sure we'd all pay money to see it.

 

You didn't even read the article did you?  Poor BB, nobody writing any articles on his greatness lately, except for him meeting with his friend.  Trailblazing???? LMAO@U

Wonder why?

DEFENSE...DEFENSE....DEFENSE....DEFENSE....DEFENSE.....DEFENSE !!!!!

This post has been removed.

Thanks for posting the article

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

 

Dear Pezzy,

There is a Brady fluff piece like this every offseason when it's slow.  Frankly, I could care less that he flies on private jets or about this woe is me Brady, because he's got himself to blame for the recent poor performances.

All about Brady now.

Bring back the old Brady when he wasn't flying on private jets and lowering drawbridges to get his mail.

lol

Brady's last 3 AFC title games at home:

 

Where's the fluff piece on bb's greatness?  Haven't seen one of those in years.

 

DEFENSE..DEFENSE..DEFENSE..DEFENSE..DEFENSE..DEFENSE. xxxxxxx

HEY!  Where'd it go?????
  Is that it in the toilet?  You might want to clean that up!

In response to pezz4pats' comment:

LOL Baltimore allowed 31 points in the SB this year. How did Ozzie Newsome's D do?

Or SFs, for that matter?

When I searched on articles for "BB's greatness", the page overloaded, because there are too many.

I guess we could look to the draft room last week when he fleeced the Vikings? 

 

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

 

In response to pezz4pats' comment:

 

In response to BassFishingII's comment:

 

Dear Pezzy,

There is a Brady fluff piece like this every offseason when it's slow.  Frankly, I could care less that he flies on private jets or about this woe is me Brady, because he's got himself to blame for the recent poor performances.

All about Brady now.

Bring back the old Brady when he wasn't flying on private jets and lowering drawbridges to get his mail.

lol

Brady's last 3 AFC title games at home:

 

Where's the fluff piece on bb's greatness?  Haven't seen one of those in years.

 

DEFENSE..DEFENSE..DEFENSE..DEFENSE..DEFENSE..DEFENSE. xxxxxxx

HEY!  Where'd it go?????

 

LOL Baltimore allowed 31 points in the SB this year. How did Ozzie Newsome's D do?

 

Or SFs, for that matter?

When I searched on articles for "BB's greatness", the page overloaded, because there are too many.

I guess we could look to the draft room last week when he fleeced the Vikings? 

 

 

31 points is less than 34, isn't it?  Oh and they had 13 drives to stop, not 8.  They had 7 possessions in one half.  That's one less than both complete SB's because the D never left the field.  In fact I think they're still there!  LOL

How many points did the Pat's D give up to San Fran again?