Why Tom Brady Is the Most Overrated Quarterback of All Time

As Peter Griffin would say, “You know what really grinds my gears?”

Tom Brady. 

I make no bones about that, but that does not necessarily mean that the facts don’t support my conclusion. The facts, in fact, support the actuality of that as fact.

I have stated many times that I love to, “stick it” to Patriot fans, like any real rock musician loves to stick it to the man.

I respect Brady, only in that I believe his legacy is a question that I must answer.

Here though, is the case for why Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is the most overrated quarterback of all time.

The modern era of the NFL has been easier on quarterbacks. The NFL has intentionally created rules to inflate the stats of quarterbacks: Mel Blount rule, Neil Smith rule, Tuck Rule, Ty Law rule, Tom Brady rule, etc.

Like steroids in baseball, the validity of passing stats are now highly suspect. Difference is that the inflation of passing stats is codified. What though do they mean anymore, when so many quarterbacks have similar stats?

Even quarterbacks with bad backs can throw touchdowns, or have little college or NFL experience and yet waltz in from the practice squad, Arena Leagues, or thanks to Matt Cassel, high school.

The farce that has been imposed on NFL fans is that penalty yards from pass-interference can easily lead to touchdowns.  The receiver doesn’t need to catch the ball, just run into the defender.

And that is why NFL rules inflate passing-stats.

The myth about quarterbacks has been eviscerated since 1999. An NFL team does need an exceptionally talented player to be quarterback, because the NFL will make sure to create rules to give that player every chance they can to ensure that he can succeed.

As much as I dislike the Cult of Dan Marino, at least, Marino had a uniquely quick release that enabled him to make plays regardless of pass protection.  I have made points against the greatness of Marino, but mainly because I think he’s in the Hall of Fame to the detriment of more deserving quarterbacks.

If Marino is in, they should be too.

Point being that, Brady has no unique skills.  He’s the beneficiary of a well-built team by Bill Belichik and Robert Kraft.  He’s the beneficiary of gutsy calls, cheating, and game-management by Belichik.  Brady’s the beneficiary of NFL rules to protect the passer that inflate stats, which cannot be denied.

Brady has also been the benficiery of kicks made by Adam Vinatieri.  If not for Vinatieri, the Patriots would have lost the Tuck Rule Game, and the Super Bowls against the Rams, Panthers, and Eagles.  Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goals against the Rams and Panthers, and kicked the go-ahead FG against the Eagles.

All that anyone has ever said in Brady’s defense is he’s “cool,” in crunch time. Frankly, I must wonder, how hard is it to stay cool when you know that you’re cheating? 

‘Stay cool. We can’t lose. We’re cheating.’

Ever since Spygate was exposed, Brady has lacked many of those “magical” drives that defined his early career, which would explain the Super Bowl debacle against the Giants in 2008.

There are even clips of Brady saying, “Always cheat.”

Before Spygate, Brady was a cheater. After Spygate, he had the fortune of throwing to Randy Moss, whom has been involved in record setting offenses of the 1999 Vikings and the 2007 Patriots.

Moreover, Moss also made Daunte Culpepper a star, whom challenged the single-season TD record in 2004, only for it to be taken by Peyton Manning.

Difference being that the Patriots have no class. They ran up the score in 2007, many times.

Stunningly, in 2004, Manning could have broken the record for TDs in a season against the Ravens, after Baltimore turned-over the ball in its red zone. Yet, Manning took a knee to end the game because the Colts did not need the points.  After the game, Ray Lewis thanked Manning for not running-up the score.

In 2009, we have seen Brady for what he really is; a classless shrew that laughed in the face of Lewis, because Brady knows that the NFL will protect his sorry butt to the detriment of other players.

As well, you can’t judge Brady by his Super Bowl rings in the argument for the Hall of Fame. The Hall has made a precedent of excluding players with multiple rings (Jim Plunkett, Terrell Davis, etc.) that don’t have the stats they love, or who seem to be the product of a system or other forces.

Brady has certainly benefited from forces other than his questionable abilities. You can’t point to Brady’s stats since 2007 without considering the impact of Randy Moss.

And you can’t look to Brady’s stats before 2007 without considering the influence of Spygate and NFL rules that have inflated passing stats.  You also can’t look to Brady’s Super Bowl “heroics” without considering Vinatieri and Spygate.

Some might say that Moss stunk in Oakland, which is partly true, but it clearly resulted from a lack of desire. Moss submitted to the muckraking by Raider haters, and thus tuned out until he was traded.

Personally, I think that the only quarterbacks from this era that belong in the Hall of Fame are Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, and maybe Kurt Warner.  Maybe.

The only Patriots that belong in the Hall of Fame are Robert Kraft, Bill Belichik, Adam Vinatieri, Corey Dillon, Willie McGinest, Richard Seymour, and Randy Moss.

And that is why Tom Brady is clearly the most overrated quarterback of all time.  Brady is the greatest quarterback, not by a mile. 

To believe such, is just delusion.

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Stating The Obvious: Why Jon Gruden Should Coach The Redskins

As a Raider fan, one of the worst days in my memory was when Al Davis traded Jon Gruden to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

At the time, it seemed like a fleecing for the Raiders, but Gruden had changed the direction of the Raiders in 1998 by wresting power from Davis when Gruden got his quarterback in Rich Gannon instead of Jeff George in 1999.

Davis likely looked at the record-setting offense of the 1999 Vikings, and thought, “I should have stood my ground with Jeff George,” even if George split time with Randal Cunningham at quarterback.  It would also explain why Davis acquired Randy Moss in 2005.

I mention that blurb of Raider history, because I do believe that Jon Gruden is the only coach that makes sense for an owner like Dan Snyder of the Washington Redskins.

Aside from the popular analogy that equates Snyder and Davis, Gruden prefers the same type of players that Snyder prefers: veterans.  From what I’ve read in the past, Snyder believes that the formula for success in the NFL is still the same as the “Over the Hill Gang” of the early 1970s Redskins under George Allen.

Gruden has shown a preference for veteran quarterbacks, which the ‘Skins have in Todd Collins, unless Jason Campbell can step up as a control freak quarterback like Gruden had with Gannon.  Or the ‘Skins could sign Chad Pennington or Kyle Orton, each of whom fits the typical Gruden offense.

Gruden also prefers veteran running backs, which the Redskins have in the form of Clinton Portis.  Gruden would be the best friend to a runner like Portis, who has been hindered by injuries and nearing the magic age of 30 where running backs often (not always) decline.

Gruden prefers veterans in general, defense and offense, and dislikes working with rookies, which is conducive to Snyder’s philosophies of acquiring players.  With a potentially chaotic free agency looming in 2010, because of the likely absence of a salary cap, Snyder will likely try to make another big splash and want to trade draft picks for known commodities.

Especially with names like Vincent Jackson, Brandon Marshall, Winston Justice, Pierre Thomas (RFA), Willie Parker, LenDale White, Le’Ron McLain, Chris Chambers, Isaac Bruce, Alge Crumpler, Marcus McNeill, Elvis Dumervill, Derrick Burgess, and Julius Peppers all slated to be free agents at the end of the season.

Most coaches prefer rookies and journeymen players and some known stars, while Gruden prefers veterans and works better with them.  Thus, it clearly makes the most sense that Dan Snyder should hire Gruden as his next coach because their philosophies on player personnel clearly match.

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Why Al Davis Should Hire Joe Lombardi As Offensive Coordinator

Recently, I wrote an article in support of Raiders coach Tom Cable, after I had written an article earlier this season that expressed my discontent with the Raiders coach.

I believe that the Raiders are on the right track, despite the losses, because I do believe that the current players now care when they lose.

The difference is that I think the Raiders have gone from treading water to rebuilding mode, thus to change course with another coach would be another unneeded setback.

Unfortunately, Raider Nation was stuck with the “pathological liar” known as Lane Kiffin from USC, who attempted to orchestrate a coup by colluding with Michael Lombardi to trade Randy Moss; acquiring his friend and mega-flop Mike Williams from USC; refusing to work with JaMarcus Russell; and trying to fire defensive-coordinator Rob Ryan and hire his dad Monte Kiffin.

That is no theory.

Obviously, Raider Nation has been frustrated with circling the waters. We had high hopes for 2009, but we should not be dismayed about the future. We are on the right track, and must believe that this team will and can continue to improve.

I believe that the biggest need for Oakland is a full-time offensive coordinator. The biggest contrarian voice has been, however: No one wants to coach for Al Davis. I see that as an admission of low confidence.

If any coach said, “I won’t coach for Davis,” I would take that as admission that the coach does not believe in what he can do for a team. 

He’s saying that he can’t win with an owner that orchestrated three Super Bowl winners and 40 years with the highest winning percentage in the NFL.

Thus, saying, “I can’t win with Davis,” is just admission that you really aren’t that good. 

If you want an answer for the Oakland struggles: Look to Michael Lombardi’s bad draft picks and the fact that the Raiders have greatly improved on draft day ever since they canned the Bruce Allen puppet for the fifth time in Lombardi’s career; the attempted coup by Lane Kiffin; or the muckraking by ESPN and East Coast media (“biggest post Super Bowl collapse in NFL history”, which can be disproven qualitatively and quantitatively).

Who better to be offensive coordinator than Saints’ quarterback coach Joe Lombardi?

That’s right. The grandson of Vince Lombardi. He has been part of the Saints’ offensive coaching staff since 2007, where the Saints run an offense similar to that of the Oakland offenses of yore.

When I look at the Raiders’ roster, I see talent, but not vision for how to use that talent. The vision I can see for Raider players is similar to that of the Saints offense.

The Raiders offensive-line has been improving, and could stand mostly depth and an upgrade at right-tackle. Between Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy, and Darrius Heyward-Bey, I think the Raiders have a trio that could be comparable to Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and Robert Meachem. 

Meanwhile, Raiders’ TE Zach Miller is practically a clone of Saints’ TE Jeremy Shockey, if not better.

Though Darren McFadden was not the super-hyped player that Reggie Bush was, I think that they are similar in what type of plays that they should make: Catching the ball on short routes, and running the ball, “east-west”. 

I could see Michael Bush in a role similar to Pierre Thomas, and Justin Fargas in a role similar to Mike Bell, with Gary Russell and Luke Lawton to boot.

Lombardi would also have Paul Hackett and Ted Tollner to provide insights, and groom him as an offensive-coordinator.

The biggest question mark has been the quarterback. JaMarcus Russell has all the skills, but seems to lack desire and focus. Bruce Gradkowski meanwhile has given the Raiders a competitor for Russell.

I’m not sure sure as to which quarterback is better suited for the offense, but I do believe that the Raiders have two talented prospects to work with, and that Joe Lombardi would be the perfect match at offensive coordinator to give either QB the chances to make plays.

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Team/Coaches/People/Joe%20Lombardi.aspx

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Why I Support Oakland Raiders Coach Tom Cable

So far this NFL season, Raiders fans have seen much of the same old same old.

But what has been different, it seems, is that the players are starting to care when they lose, rather than brushing it off carelessly because they get paid either way.

Several weeks ago, I wrote an article about my frustration with the three weeks of blowouts, claiming that either the Raiders hire Bill Cowher or Raider fans boycott.

I no longer think that is necessary.

The performances have still been erratic, but that is somewhat excusable as many of their players have less than three seasons’ worth of experience.

In previous seasons, the Raiders roster seemed scotch-taped together, while this team in 2009 is filled with draft-picks and free-agency revelations.

Many have called for the firing or suspension of Coach Tom Cable amidst tabloid reports of a mistake he made 20 years ago; but I think Cable has this team on the right track, even if we aren’t seeing the Raiders win. There seems to be a new energy in Oakland that would defuse if Al Davis tried to find another coach.

Cable admits that he slapped his then wife 20 years ago, which I don’t condone and in fact condemn, but I do believe that it was an isolated act which he regrets. And paid the price for when she divorced him. 

Nevertheless, the Pavlovian shills at ESPN saw another story to sell and tried to get Cable suspeneded with incendiary accusations by questionable people.

Another solid draft day, which the Raiders have improved at since firing personnel director Michael Lombardi, and the Raiders could be a wild card contender at worst. As for this season, the Raiders need to focus on making plays, understanding situations, and eliminating mistakes. 

We need to see something for them to build on.

I think the best move to be made for the offense is to find a full-time offensive coordinator rather than a different coach.  Moreover, the Raiders should consider hiring a General Manager to “assist” Davis in creating a modern vision for this team with many talented players.

My wish would be for Al Davis to hire Mike Holmgren as the General Manager. One connection between the current Raiders and Holmgren is Raiders defensive-coordinator John Marshall.

Holmgren, from what I’ve heard, is living in the South Bay (Santa Cruz) and is interested in a front office position. His presence would bring immediate respect back to the Raiders and give the team a mind to work with either quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski or JaMarcus Russell.

If Davis is willing to make an offer that Holmgren can’t refuse (which I suggested is probably wishful thinking), then the Raiders would have the potential to turnaround before Davis kicks the bucket.

Another year of work and the receivers and quarterback should be ready to make a functional offense.

The Raiders need a better vision of how to use their running backs. I get the sense that they just call a runner and see what works. We have seen Justin Fargas gain yards but struggle in the red zone, where Michael Bush and Darren McFadden can succeed.

McFadden is an “upright runner” who doesn’t run well against the line of scrimmage, but I would like to see what he can do in space (meaning, catching the ball with some room to run) or quick tosses from the quarterback in a modified running game the way Charlie Garner used to do for the Raiders.

Michael Bush meanwhile has shown that he is a more physical runner, like Tyrone Wheatley was for the Raiders. Thus, I do think that the Raiders need to rotate Fargas and Bush running inside and use McFadden as a short-yardage receiver, like Reggie Bush in New Orleans.

As for the defense, I think the Raiders have the right personnel for the 3-4 and should target a nose tackle in the off-season to switch from the 4-3. The front seven has been better with Richard Seymour, but they still lack a pure run-stuffer and outside linebacker; which could be resolved with the 3-4 by making Trevor Scott an outside rusher in the 3-4, and acquiring a nose-tackle.

Bottom line, however, is that we Raider Nation must resist the temptation to change horses in mid-stream. The Raiders still have work to do, but I have the sense that the team is truly in rebuilding mode rather than treading water.

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Cult of the Quarterback: NFL QB Rules Erode the Game

Here is a topic that grinds my gears: the debate on whether the NFL should inordinately protect the quarterback, and whether it makes the game better.

Frankly, I think it makes the game worse. To me, it is the same as home runs from steroids, only in the NFL it is a codified inflation of stats.

Statistics don’t make the game better, they make it worse. It is that simple. 

Remember the movie The Incredibles ? In this case, stats aren’t special when nearly every quarterback has comparable stats. The numbers are nihilistic. Rather than making the game exciting, they become more of a sedative than an endorphin.

Since 2004, two quarterbacks—Peyton Manning and Tom Brady—have broken the single-season record for touchdown passes, with Daunte Culpepper also coming close.

Never mind that Randy Moss is the common factor in the stats of Culpepper and Brady, because the mental conditioning that NFL fans are supposed to worship is that quarterback stats are independent. 

This must be why many NFL fans despise wide receivers that celebrate a touchdown.

Many players routinely beat the stats of yesteryear, and we’re supposed to believe that the “new” record is better than the old record. To me, it’s nothing more than an arcade game with a high-scoring player named ASS.

Since 1999, no-name quarterbacks have routinely waltzed onto the team and succeeded, such as Kurt Warner, Tom Brady, and Jake Delhomme. 

Even Matt Hasselbeck with his bad back can throw touchdowns in the NFL. Rookie or first-year quarterbacks succeed like never before—Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer, and Matthew Stafford. 

Even Matt Cassel has succeeded, who had not started a game since high school. 

Some would argue that Cassel’s success is an indication of the Patriots system, when I think it’s an indication that the NFL is easier for quarterbacks. Thus, I’m not impressed by quarterbacks as “independent” players, when they are dependent on the team.

If high school quarterback skills are transferable to the pro level—that should tell you something about the NFL. 

For quarterbacks, the NFL is arbitrarily kept at the same level as the high school game. While other players are expected to be inordinately better than their competition for their position, the quarterback is treated as a fully actualized person who doesn’t need to learn, adapt, mature, or continue to improve.

If defenders find an upper hand, the NFL will say, “you can’t do that,” rather than tell the quarterback to improve. 

The NFL wonders why players like Pacman Jones act out in generalized frustration.

It could also be why, on average, black players in the NFL are more athletic than white players. We know that biologically people are roughly the same. There’s no biological reason that black athletes are often more athletic than white athletes.

So, the problem could be environmental, cultural, or systematic.

Generally, black players don’t get the opportunity to be freeloading quarterbacks. They are expected to work harder to make QBs look good, and them let them take all the credit too. 

Meanwhile, white quarterbacks, don’t have to work as hard to be on the field because the league carves out a position tailor-made to their limited skills.

Paychecks have nothing to do with the stratification in the NFL.

Why? 

The NFL rules have made the game easier for the quarterback. Team’s defenses are predicated on the notion that “defenseless” quarterbacks should be protected with exclusive rules.

Some defenders claim that quarterbacks should be protected from concussions and even wax emphatic for the “poor babies,” who instead, should be subject to the same violence of the game as other players.

In the NFL, defensive players like Pacman Jones get suspended while “defenseless” quarterbacks accused of rape are protected by the NFL and media. Of course, I’m referring to Ben Roethlisberger, whom has an history of concussions and stupid behavior (i.e. the motorcycle accident).

Ironically, the fact that people say quarterbacks like Roethlisberger must be protected because of concussions, should be an argument against Roethlisberger’s credibility in the civil suit that charged him with rape, in that, with his mental health, what would he remember? 

Is he fully aware of where he is at all times?

If you’re a quarterback concerned with concussions—then use your money to hire a specialist for a second opinion.

If you want to play football, you should be prepared to get hurt. If you’re afraid to get hurt, don’t play. Don’t put the pussies on a pedestal (note: for those who are typically offended by that word, I ask that you consider the context and intent).

Like a cult follower, I do think that people truly believe that the quarterback should be above it all; that his stats are independent and earned only by him.

That is why a quarterback like Cassel had $60 million thrown at him by Kansas City for one season in New England, while receivers and running backs get demonized when they demand more money after a productive season (i.e. Brandon Marshall). The quarterback would demand more money, except he doesn’t have too.

Remember this: the word “token” can be used to describe a “quarter,” and thus in the NFL, the passer is really just the “token” back.

To the quarterbacks that whine, cry, and whimper about the violence of the game: Work harder and be quiet.

You have now been deprogrammed.

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