Cory's Corner: Tom Brady Can't Lose on Sunday
Tom Brady is the NFL’s Golden Boy. With a win on Sunday, he will have more Super Bowl wins than any player in NFL history and at age 40 he’s likely to win his third MVP.
Tom Brady is the NFL’s Golden Boy.
With a win on Sunday, he will have more Super Bowl wins than any player in NFL history and at age 40 he’s likely to win his third MVP.
So what happens if the Patriots lose?
Brady still wins because his legacy will still be intact as the best quarterback of all time. There will be silly arguments about sliding Joe Montana ahead of him, but Brady is the best and his legacy is secure.
Just think about that. Brady can fall to 5-3 in the Super Bowl and still be the best there ever was at his position. That’s a lot to say for a scrawny guy from Michigan that was nearly forgotten by being taken in the sixth round.
Yet, the crazy thing is that Brady remains well, crazy. When others allow an age to be an excuse, his TB12 method has somehow turned back the hands of time. His Benjamin Button health even spurred Patriots owner Robert Kraft to move forward with the Jimmy Garoppolo trade, which meant that Brady would be the starter for at least another year.
The reason why Brady has been unbeatable is because he beats you in different ways. Conventional wisdom says to blitz him because Brady isn’t as nimble as he once was. However, that theory gets thrown out because Brady has a 96.9 passer rating when under pressure. And if you let Brady sit back and get comfortable, he will pick you apart.
But there is a silver lining. The Giants earned a couple wins over the Patriots in the big game by blitzing less but still pressuring Brady on over 40 percent of his dropbacks. And the Eagles are the closest thing to those Giants teams with 271 pressured pass snaps this year which led the league.
In other words, take Brady off his spot, but don’t sacrifice anyone in coverage to do so.
But even if the Eagles earn their first Super Bowl victory, Brady doesn’t have to worry. He’s so firmly entrenched as the best quarterback that I don’t think he could do anything to take himself off that lofty perch.
Someone else may unseat him, but he will never unseat himself. Which makes this game even more peculiar. How does a guy that has won so many times and is so well respected continue to get up for these games?
That’s why Brady is Brady. It takes a special kind of crazy to be able to keep winning like he does at 40.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
__________________________
Comments (16)
Coldworld
January 30, 2018 at 06:16 am
Please be wrong about him winning. I would argue that the Pats have been the best organization during his tenure. He is a no doubt great QB, but he does benefit from a reverse Marino effect.
Coldworld
January 30, 2018 at 06:16 am
Go Eagles ...
NickPerry
January 30, 2018 at 06:39 am
Put Tom Brady with Mike McCarthy and Dom Capers and is he still "The NFL's Golden Boy"? Brady IS great, there's no doubt about it. But without Bill B I don't believe Brady has nearly the amount of success he's had. Matter of fact it wouldn't even be close.
Hell give him Dom Capers as a DC and a GM who wouldn't sign a FA, wouldn't make a trade, and LOVED to trade back to gather as many 7th round draft picks as he could for most of his career and Brady would probably be 1-0 in SB and 0-3 in other AFCCG appearances.
Brady will go downs as the GOAT because IMO you have to have SB titles to claim that title. BUT Brady has had a GM and Coach who has done EVERYTHING POSSIBLE (including cheating) to win. I can only imagine what Rodgers would have accomplished had he had a Bill B by his side the entire way.
Packmaniac
January 30, 2018 at 08:02 am
Yep across the board, Nick. As to your final point, I think it’s safe to say if their roles were reversed, Brady would have less jewelry and Rodgers more. I don’t say that to disparage Tom, but rather to praise Aaron and Belichick’s system as coach and GM.
Tundraboy
January 30, 2018 at 10:37 am
You certainly nailed this one NP. Great job. All we can hope is that somehow 1265 now in fact finally does EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. They have the chance starting now to be historically great again.
Irish_Cheesehead
January 30, 2018 at 11:08 am
Good article supporting that on NFL.com:
Belichick's top 10 personnel moves: Trades/signings that fueled Pats dynasty
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000910452/article/patriots-top-10-p...
John Ramble Kirk
January 30, 2018 at 06:47 am
Hard to believe this is Brady's 8th Superbowl appearance. Our franchise has only been in 5. Brady is up 3.
Tom has been in 7 straight conference championships. The Vikings have been in 6 since 1977.
If you love competitors you have to love Brady. At 40 he still has more fire than Sodom and Gomorrah. Watching him on the sidelines is a treat. That man is possessed to win. As sold out for winning as it gets. I think envy is an awful sin but it's tough not envying what he's done for his football team.
I hope the guy builds his legend. It's so upsetting watching Brady in his 8th when our 12 can't get to his 2nd. Aaron Rodgers would need 7 straight SB appearances to tie him and he'd be 41. Just startling numbers.
Bearmeat
January 30, 2018 at 07:14 am
The Pats and Belichick in particular, are the most dominant team since Lombardi's Packers. That said, the AFC teams that have been in competition with him have almost always spit the bit time and again in the playoffs. Either their coaches screw up or the opposing QB does.
Just look at last week. The jags HAD that game. They blew it. With some help with the refs, grant you. But still, they HAD IT.
Tundraboy
January 30, 2018 at 10:41 am
That's cutting to the chase. Very true.
Lphill
January 30, 2018 at 06:50 am
Gotta respect him but also has a lot to do with being well coached.
John Ramble Kirk
January 30, 2018 at 08:06 pm
The corollary is our 12 has not been. I'll never understand those who are happy or content with what's happened in Green Bay during Ted and Mike's tenure.
John Ramble Kirk
January 30, 2018 at 08:07 pm
Duplicate post.
mrtundra
January 30, 2018 at 08:19 am
The only thing better than Brady and the Patriots celebrating a Super Bowl win in the vikings' locker room is if Brady and the Patriots lose the Super Bowl and have no celebration in the vikings' locker room. How fitting would that be?
worztik
January 30, 2018 at 08:55 am
You are correct Cory!!! He can do no wrong in the eyes of so many but, I still wish he’d go away! Just sayin’....
Gianich
January 30, 2018 at 09:36 am
Pissant!
croatpackfan
January 30, 2018 at 11:14 am
Well, as much as he is really, really great in his job, he is still cheater for me...
And there is the end of the story..