A Very Brady September
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Tom Brady got into a car accident. Tom Brady signed a new contract extension. Tom Brady’s going for the Justin Bieber look. Tom Brady, Tom Brady, Tom Brady!
It’s all Brady all the time here in New England. And why not? The Red Sox are dead and the Patriots open up their 2010 season tomorrow in Foxboro. But there are so many things to discuss when it comes to the Patriots quarterback. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
The contract extension – Well deserved if you ask me. This guy has been the consummate professional since arriving on the scene in New England in the 2000 NFL draft. Whether he was cocky of clairvoyant, he told Bob Kraft back in 2000 that he was the best draft pick Kraft ever made and that Kraft wouldn’t be sorry for taking him in the sixth round. Wow, was he right! Even at age 33, Brady is worth every penny of his new 4-year, 72 million dollar deal which guarantees him at least 48.5 million. I actually thought that he’d be looking for a 5 or 6 year deal in the 100-120 million dollar range. It’s a good deal for the Patriots.
The car accident – Tom Brady is a lucky man! If he were unfortunate enough to be a few more feet into the intersection where he was hit, he could have been injured seriously or even killed. That’s certainly a lot worse than the result of Bernard Pollard’s hit on Brady to start the 2008 season.
We have learned a lot over the past day about the driver of the red minivan. Give Ludgero Rodriguez’s track record which includes DWI’s, driving without a license, driving an uninspected vehicle, failure to use seat belts, failure to use child safety seats and failure to signal, it’s hard to belive his claim that HE had the green light and right of way. Witnesses also confirm that it was Brady who had the green light at the time of the accident so it looks like he should be safe from a legal standpoint.
Performance – I don’t think we have to worry about this any longer. We all were anxious to see Brady perform at the start of the 2009 season coming off of knee surgery and understandably so. His performance last season should have put us all at ease. He was very good. As long as he stays healthy, has weapons like Moss, Welker, Gronkowski and Faulk and has an offensive line that can keep him upright, expect another strong season from #12.
Leadership – I seem to be the only one making a big deal out of this but I do believe that it is a big issue. I am not saying that Brady ISN’T a leader. Clearly, he is. His teammates believe that as well electing him as one of the team’s four captains for the 2010 season.
My problem with Brady last year, and again this preseason, is his lack of vocal in-game leadership. In 2009 when things went wrong on offense, he would simply go quietly to the sideline and stand there stoically. That’s a far cry from the emotional, fist-pumping, helmet-smacking Brady we saw earlier in his career. Whether it’s getting angry with himself for a poor throw or firing up his teammates, we need to see more of it in 2010. One of this team’s biggest problems is its lack of leadership. Guys like Bruschi, Harrison, McGinest, Vrabel and others were great leaders on and off the field. They are no longer here. Brady is still here. And Brady was one of those non-stop great leaders before for this franchise. He has to be again because this team desperately needs him to be and not the stoic figure when the you-know-what is hitting the fan.
The hair – It’s really not a big deal to me. Brady is a stylish guy and the long hair look is apparently where it’s at with the “in” crowd. Some look at Brady’s vanity as a sign that he is slightly less dedicated to being all that he can be for this franchise and there may be a small bit of truth to that. But I would suggest to you that it is very small. While Brady may no longer be in Foxboro 24/7 like he used to be earlier in his career, he still want to win just as badly. So I say let him do whatever the hell he wants to do with his hair, clothes and whatever else. To me, it’s superficial b.s..
So long hair, contract extension and fender-bender be damned! Tom Brady will most likely do everything that he can to see to it that the 2010 Patriots season doesn’t turn out to be a car wreck.
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