2008 Woodie Awards
Commentary: Ode to Brady
by Jeff Ruoss
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Sports
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Tom Brady is amazing.
I know what you are thinking - why is that so hard to admit for an Eagles' fan? Brady is not even in the same conference, let alone the same division. But how can anyone forget just two years and eight months ago Brady and his New England Patriots crushed an entire city's hopes by ripping a Super Bowl Championship from the Eagles' grasp - a moment which still makes me well up inside when I think about it.
But the time has come. Two weeks ago, against the then-undefeated Dallas Cowboys, Brady threw five touchdowns, and this past week against the helpless Miami Dolphins he threw another six - extending his National Football League record by throwing at least three touchdowns in the first seven games of the season.
In his first seven years in the NFL he is averaging a 62.7 percent completion rating, approximately two touchdowns for every interception and an impressive 91.8 passer rating.
You might say he has done pretty well for himself.
In only his seventh season in the NFL, Brady has already accomplished more than most players ever will in their careers. His three Super Bowl victories put him ahead of Hall of Fame quarterbacks like John Elway. Brady's NFL record for most consecutive wins in the post season (10) broke a Bart Starr record of nine, and in Super Bowl XXXVIII, he set another record by completing 32 passes. The only feat Brady has not accomplished is kicking a 91-yard punt, Ã la Randall Cunningham.
The best part about his entire career is his uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time. While at Michigan, Brady backed up future baseball player Drew Henson, ultimately slipping into the starting role when Henson decided to play baseball instead of football.
Although Brady's career as a Wolverine was excellent, going 20-5 as a starter and gaining All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors his senior year and honorable mention his junior year, he was only selected 199th in the 2000 NFL draft.
Again, his luck shined in the 2001-02 season when Patriots' starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe was injured in Week 2, leaving the door wide open for Brady to step in and do what he does best - win.
Taking on a massive amount of criticism saying he would not be able to do anything coming in to the league, Brady went on to lead the Patriots to an 11-5 record and won the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl.
Not only can the man win on the field, but he knows how to handle business off the field as well. He has been linked to model/actress Bridget Moynahan, who had his child, and Brady is currently tied to supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
The only major flaw in Brady's nearly-perfect record is that he has been known to be anti-social towards fans. For the most part, receiving a Brady autograph is impossible because he rarely does appearances and will not stand outside of Gillette Stadium after the games handing out autographs.
Maybe Brady does not care about his image off the field or maybe he is as smug as he was criticized for being all throughout his college career; either way, his work ethic has rocketed him into the limelight.
Hate him or love him, Brady has propelled himself to a point in his career where people have to debate whether he is one of the best of all time. His numbers and ability to march a team down the field in the clutch is uncanny.
Until this year, he has never been one of the best fantasy football quarterbacks, but he still wins. He continually gets the job done and I do not think you would find one coach in the NFL who would be upset if they got stuck with Brady as their quarterback.
The day Brady decides to deflate the air from his football and move on, the Hall of Fame will be a short five-year wait.
Jeff Ruoss is an editorial editor for The Review. His viewpoints do not necessarily represent those of the Review Staff. Send questions and comments to jru@udel.edu.
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