Mike Tanier - The Decline of Tom Brady, Part XIV: This Time It's Really Happening

[Nihilarian]

The bigger problem with the Patriots team right now is their 28th ranked defense.

 

Yes, Mike Vrable's Titans made Brady look ordinary but he knows that Patriots playbook inside out. The same thing happened against the 3-6 Lions with ex Patriots DC Matt Patricia as the Lions HC. The Lions beat NE 26 to 10. Still, The Patriots are 7-3 and two of those losses came from an ex Patriot player, coach. 

 

The remaining NE Patriots schedule is Jets, Vikings, Dolphins, Steelers, Bills, Jets and should finish the season 12-4 That is "IF" they lose to the Steelers. Let's also not forget that Peyton Manning won a SB with a bad arm. The Patriots have the second easiest remaining schedule.

 

What a lot of fans just don't get is that Patriots offense is a different animal without Gronk and when he is fully healthy he/that NE offense is basically unstoppable. 

[TheFunPolice]

Everyone keeps mentioning Manning winning with Denver but there is one huge difference...

 

Denver had a dominant defense. NE has a mediocre to bad defense. 

[formerlyofCtown]

27 minutes ago, TheFunPolice said:

Everyone keeps mentioning Manning winning with Denver but there is one huge difference...

 

Denver had a dominant defense. NE has a mediocre to bad defense. 

Tom Brady has Belicheat and hours of tape to watch.  Unfortunately for the other team its a tape of their game plan and possibly their playbook.  Hopefuly we took Humbers.

[row_33]

Pats will come up with some ingenius loophole in the rule book and spring it on Andy Reid in the last minute of the AFC Championshop Game

 

Then pass out the victory cigars again

 

 

[RememberTheRockpile]

5 hours ago, billsfan_34 said:

I truly believe his arm has diminished and he isn’t processing as quickly either. The end isnt far of for him and the Pats will become bottom feeders!

Age related reaction time will be his ultimate demise. No amount of kale slurpees can prevent this. 

[Richard Noggin]

9 hours ago, I am the egg man said:

No one can play forever and few have like he has at his age. Still goes out as the best ever. 

 

Nobody's winning 5 SB''s anytime soon. Been a pleasure watching his career, except for two games a year.

Said no Bills fan ever.

7 hours ago, MJS said:

I'll withhold judgement till after the season. Brady has off games sometimes, and when he does there are always threads like these quick to point it out.

 

And then every single time he makes a fool of everyone.

 

So no, I do not believe Brady has lost a step, that his age has caught up to him, that his arm has lost strength, etc. I'll reevaluate after all the games are done.

But have you watched him throw off-platform?

 

Obviously it's easy and probably smart to dismiss this kind of criticism. It could also (eventually will) be lazy, however. What other elite NFL quarterback is forgiven for being hot trash when forced off-platform?

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Sounds like Tom needs the   DB9   diet 

 

 

Tommy Boy might actually need to lift weights now. (Don't give me that lifting is bad for QBs BS)

 

 

[Buffalo Barbarian]

11 hours ago, thebandit27 said:

He's right, and Belichick saw it coming.

 

Their entire offseason, draft, and in-season game plan was/is predicated upon transitioning to a run-based offense.  If they can't run the ball, they're in real trouble.

 

They've scored 27 or more points 5 times this year, and those outputs came in their 5 best rushing efforts.

 

Stop the run, and you stop NE.  We saw it vs. Buf on MNF--a team with a half-competent offense would've won that game.

 

Belly must still be pissed about trading Garrapolo.

 

they might have to tank next year for a QB.

 

 

[Buffalo Barbarian]

11 hours ago, Commonsense said:

Bert Breer was on the radio today and made an interesting comment. He was talking about how he covered Farve during his final season. He went on to talk about how during that time he could tell Favre’s internal clock was messed up and he said he saw that from Brady on Sunday. 

 

Not holding the ball when he should, not moving as well, going into the fetal position to try and brace for hits. He went into pretty good detail and that’s something that is often overlooked. Everyone waits for their arm to go but pocket awareness is just as important. 

 

I think many are forgetting that Vrabel knows them in and out . They also got waxed by Detroit whose HC was their DC. The games I saw Brady still looked pretty good and his arm wasn't as bad as this article is leading on. Every QB looks like crap when the get hit enough.

 

 

 

 

[Jpsredemption]

No its not. 

[BobbyC81]

14 hours ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

I think it is true, you saw it last year, look at his feeble attempt to thrown the ball at at then of the Super Bowl, couldn't get it to the end zone.  Pats made their mistake with all that  BS turmoil over Garrappalo, they had a reasonable Brady replacement, now they have Bran Hoyer.

 

They’re just waiting for Peterman to clear waivers.

[billsfan_34]

11 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

I think this is the beginning of the end for Brady for sure.  A week off this week, the rest will do him good and help heal some of the aches and pains..so he may come back with 1 or 2 stellar games, but he already is not who he was in the past.

 

You don't just have to look at numbers either, you can see it with your own eyes.  I mentioned a week or two ago I thought this time it was real..his downturn.  He's throwing less and less deep balls, and they are fluttering more.  His short and medium outs, even the ones that are complete, are not on the numbers anymore (half the time the receives are jumping, bending, or reaching back for them in a way they haven't in the past.  And while NO QB likes pressure, I think this year is the year I am seeing him throw the ball away or just give up on plays sooner than ever when the rush gets near him, he is even starting to show signs of feeling a 'phantom rush'.

 

All that stuff has been going on for most of the year..its' not just one or two games.  So is he "DONE"?  not yet...but it is in sight.  The Pats still have an above average QB in him that has the ability to pull out a few more 'great' games....but the days of him carrying this team on his back game after game after game are ending very soon.

I couldn’t agree more! I see the pats 9-7 or 10-6. They win the division, host wild card game and take a beatdown! 

[MrEpsYtown]

The keep writing these articles every year and he keeps proving them wrong. He'll eliminate gluten and dairy and start drinking stem cells like Christopher Reeve in South Park. And he will sell the soul of his youngest to the devil and they will be there again at the end. 

[billsfan_34]

2 hours ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

 

Belly must still be pissed about trading Garrapolo.

 

they might have to tank next year for a QB.

 

 

I hope they tank for a long time and never find a QB.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

13 hours ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/1971480002

 

interesting Vrabel indicates Brady’s entire game is presnap reads. Maybe it’s more Belichick than Brady. 

[cd1]

10 hours ago, stuvian said:

they've declined right back to the top of the division

 

I say it is debatable - Did the Pats rise to the top or is it just a factor that the three other teams just sank, or are sinking to the bottom? 

 

YES, it does make a big difference.

 

I do believe that IF last week's Bills defense shows up and Allen can bring his A game, that the Bills will SPANK the Pats in Foxboro.  

 

That right there will be the turning point for the Bills and the Pats! 

 

Nostradamus out... ?‍♂️ 

[Gordio]

15 hours ago, RiotAct said:

yeah, okay.  Sure.

 

 

What do you think he is going to play forever?  It has got to happen sooner or later.  He is still good enough to need to be game planned for but I will say this.  I couldn't believe the drop off Manning had the last year he played.  It seemed like it happened overnight.  He was having a good year then all of a sudden the calender turned to December & he was a shell of his former self.  I know we heard this one before so sure I am skeptical as well.

[dave mcbride]

So the consensus seems to be that we’re nearing THAT time! 

 

[Magox]

My guess is that he'll find a way to get it done this year and at an effective rate.  But make no mistake, his physical capabilities are deteriorating.

[dpberr]

It wouldn't shock me, if the season turns mediocre to poor for them, that all three (Bill, Tom and Gronk) all call it quits before the 2019 season.  Outside of Brady, the team legitimately needs to restock in many areas. 

 

I could see Belichick simply becoming the full time GM.  Brady has nothing else to prove.  Gronkowski had to be coaxed to play yet another injury-filled season.  Doubt he'll do it again.

 

Greatness is always finite.  

[May Day 10]

If they were in almost any other Division (maybe any other), things would look a lot worse for them.

 

The 5-6 wins banked and no competition is keeping them in contention as a Division winner and (normally) an inside track for a bye.

 

 

Without a healthy Gronk, life is very difficult for Brady.  Gordon helps a little bit, but not nearly the safety valve with a 20 foot catch radius Gronk is.  

 

 

Looking at the schedule, they should be at 11 or 12 wins, possibly good enough for a bye.  They do look vulnerable... and I do not see them going to Pittsburgh or KC in January and winning, let alone both (if they get out of the 1st round if they needed it).

 

 

I just hope Allen is the real deal and the Bills are ready to compete once New England is truly exposed.

 

[dollars 2 donuts]

13 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

If they were in almost any other Division (maybe any other), things would look a lot worse for them.

 

The 5-6 wins banked and no competition is keeping them in contention as a Division winner and (normally) an inside track for a bye.

 

 

Without a healthy Gronk, life is very difficult for Brady.  Gordon helps a little bit, but not nearly the safety valve with a 20 foot catch radius Gronk is.  

 

 

Looking at the schedule, they should be at 11 or 12 wins, possibly good enough for a bye.  They do look vulnerable... and I do not see them going to Pittsburgh or KC in January and winning, let alone both (if they get out of the 1st round if they needed it).

 

 

I just hope Allen is the real deal and the Bills are ready to compete once New England is truly exposed.

 

 

 

Well said, May Day.

 

Agree with most everything.  However, I have this feeling that if they lose at Pittsburgh in a few weeks that maybe 12-4 may not be good enough..Normal it should be but I bet there is an outside chance of Pitt going 12-3-1, or a potential tie-break with Houston at 12-4.  If I am wrong then I hope they lose at least one more to be at 11-5.

 

I think no first round bye, but a potential strong playoff showing (loss in Championship game?) could push Brady, either way.

 

Is it a good way to go out given where him and the team are?

 

or

 

Is it enough success for him to give it one more go and he wants to at least go out with another  super bowl appearance?

 

Unfortunately I don't think it works out for him if he sticks around for next year.  I seriously see the possibility of a 10 win, or even 9 win season and maybe making the playoffs but with an easy and early out.

 

That would not be a "success" for him.  It would be actually watching him get old before our eyes.

 

I know I am biased as a Bills fan, but he has been so good for so long that he should go out relatively as he has been for the last 15 years...on top.

[May Day 10]

I would actually be fine with Brady staying.  Especially if there is some sort of quasi power-struggle with him and Kraft vs Belichick.  I will love to see the brady flounder season.

 

Its also a possibility Gronk could hang them up due to being fed-up health-wise.  That is the important one.  

[Soda Popinski]

Sucks that we don't even have a half competent offense.   Maybe we will next time we face them.   It was impressive to watch our defense really get after them.   

 

If he's done, thank god.   I'm tired of it.   Maybe this division will become competitive again instead of the dumpster fire it is right now.   

[row_33]

Just now, Soda Popinski said:

Sucks that we don't even have a half competent offense.   Maybe we will next time we face them.   It was impressive to watch our defense really get after them.   

 

If he's done, thank god.   I'm tired of it.   Maybe this division will become competitive again instead of the dumpster fire it is right now.   

 

To have an O you have to make it a priority and then hire people who think the passing game is important 

 

 

[Soda Popinski]

Just now, row_33 said:

 

To have an O you have to make it a priority and then hire people who think the passing game is important 

 

 

I think Daboll believes the passing game is very important, if you look at what he did with Alabama's QB in the second half of that NC game he took that offense from the dumpster to winning a national championship by throwing the ball downfield.   

 

He doesn't have the weapons  or the QB yet.  But you saw what he did with Barkley last week.   I think when Allen is ready that's what we will look like.   An offense that can push the ball downfield.  

[ExWNYer]

I need to witness them actually driving the wooden stake thru his cold, black heart before I can fully believe that he's at the end.

[C.Biscuit97]

Margot Roby will go out with me. Margot Roby will go out with me. Margot Roby will go out with me.  If I keep repeating it enough times, one day it will be true! ?

 

he’s 41.  Of course he isn’t as good as he was 5 years ago.  Still, his decline is better than 95% of nfl qbs and the pats are 7-3 despite missing Gronk, Edelman, Michel, and Gordon for chucks of time.

6 minutes ago, ExWNYer said:

I need to witness them actually driving the wooden stake thru his cold, black heart before I can fully believe that he's at the end.

I think we really killed Mike Myers this time.  Let’s just assume we did and walk away!

 

also, Brady’s age 41 season in decline would be one if the best qb seasons in Bills history. ?

Edited November 15, 2018 by C.Biscuit97

[ExWNYer]

2 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

Margot Roby will go out with me. Margot Roby will go out with me. Margot Roby will go out with me.  If I keep repeating it enough times, one day it will be true! ?

 

he’s 41.  Of course he isn’t as good as he was 5 years ago.  Still, his decline is better than 95% of nfl qbs and the pats are 7-3 despite missing Gronk, Edelman, Michel, and Gordon for chucks of time.

I think we really killed Mike Myers this time.  Let’s just assume we did and walk away!

 

???

[thebandit27]

3 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

Margot Roby will go out with me. Margot Roby will go out with me. Margot Roby will go out with me.  If I keep repeating it enough times, one day it will be true! ?

 

he’s 41.  Of course he isn’t as good as he was 5 years ago.  Still, his decline is better than 95% of nfl qbs and the pats are 7-3 despite missing Gronk, Edelman, Michel, and Gordon for chucks of time.

I think we really killed Mike Myers this time.  Let’s just assume we did and walk away!

 

Have you watched them much this year?  When they can't run the ball, they're toast.

[ExWNYer]

bandit, I agree with you on this year's Pats* and I know the end has to come for Brady eventually but people have shoveled dirt on him before and he always ends up proving them wrong. Maybe he's finally heading into his "end-of-the-line Peyton Manning phase" where he carries them to another Super Bowl on sheer will but it's still hard to pronounce "time of death" just yet based on what we've witnessed from him time and time again. That said, this is the first time that I've actually let myself believe that something seems different this year and we may finally be witnessing the beginning of the end.

Edited November 15, 2018 by ExWNYer

[thebandit27]

3 minutes ago, ExWNYer said:

bandit, I agree with you on this year's Pats* and I know the end has to come for Brady eventually but people have shoveled dirt on him before and he always ends up proving them wrong. Maybe he's finally heading into his "end-of-the-line Peyton Manning phase" where he carries them to another Super Bowl on sheer will but it's still hard to pronounce "time of death" just yet based on what we've witnessed from him time and time again. That said, this is the first time that I've actually let myself believe that something seems different this year and we may finally be witnessing the beginning of the end.

 

Make no mistake: I'm not saying that Brady is done.  I'm saying that he's very clearly in decline, and that it wouldn't surprise me if he decided that he didn't want to finish his career as anything less than the Tom Brady we've all come to expect, and therefore hung 'em up at the end of this year.

[CaptnCoke11]

Patriots will be just fine.. 

[ExWNYer]

1 minute ago, thebandit27 said:

 

Make no mistake: I'm not saying that Brady is done.  I'm saying that he's very clearly in decline, and that it wouldn't surprise me if he decided that he didn't want to finish his career as anything less than the Tom Brady we've all come to expect, and therefore hung 'em up at the end of this year.

 

I totally agree with you there. I think he is too prideful/arrogant to accept that he is less than the best and would hang them up at the realization of that. If they win it all this year, I could very well see him calling it a career.

[FeelingOnYouboty]

I'm not going to believe it until I see him lowered in the grave

[RoyBatty is alive]

8 minutes ago, ExWNYer said:

bandit, I agree with you on this year's Pats* and I know the end has to come for Brady eventually but people have shoveled dirt on him before and he always ends up proving them wrong. Maybe he's finally heading into his "end-of-the-line Peyton Manning phase" where he carries them to another Super Bowl on sheer will but it's still hard to pronounce "time of death" just yet based on what we've witnessed from him time and time again. That said, this is the first time that I've actually let myself believe that something seems different this year and we may finally be witnessing the beginning of the end.

 

Peyton hit the wall badly by  39, Brady will be 42 for next year season.  Gronk will deterioration further and high probability he retires.  This is no false alarm anymore.

[row_33]

12 minutes ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

Patriots will be just fine.. 

 

they aren't what they once were, but that is probably good enough in 2018

 

 

9 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

 

Peyton hit the wall badly by  39, Brady will be 42 for next year season.  Gronk will deterioration further and high probability he retires.  This is no false alarm anymore.

 

but teams go out and find new players to replace those leaving the game

 

they don't sit there on a heap of ashes and cry

 

 

[mannc]

5 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

 

Peyton hit the wall badly by  39, Brady will be 42 for next year season.  Gronk will deterioration further and high probability he retires.  This is no false alarm anymore.

I know Gronk has been hurt a lot, but he’s not even 30 years old yet.  Can’t see him retiring.

[row_33]

with their 8th win they will clinch the division

 

they don't care about "the stats"

 

 

[RoyBatty is alive]

3 minutes ago, row_33 said:

 

they aren't what they once were, but that is probably good enough in 2018

 

 

 

but teams go out and find new players to replace those leaving the game

 

they don't sit there on a heap of ashes and cry

 

 

Certainly, just witness Josh  Gordon signing but replacing  a first round HOF  Tight End is not a trivial matter.  As an aside, Gronk headed for his worst season by far, he has averaged .75 td/game until this year, .14.