tom brady

We marvel at New England’s ability to cultivate versatile players but too often overlook why they’re able to do so. In short, it’s because they have Tom Brady. His command of the pocket and football IQ allows for New England’s week-to-week, even series-to-series flexibility. Augmenting that flexibility is the quick tempo with which Brady runs the Patriots’ offense. It’s easier for wide receivers to make big runs and running backs to catch passes when they’re drawing mismatches against a defense that’s constantly back on its heels.

Brady is the most consistent great quarterback in history – he’s never had a bad year. Joe Montana had a lousy 1986 (threw more INTs than TDs), Peyton Manning was terrible in 2003 (23 picks for a 6-10 Colts team coming off 13-3 and 10-6 seasons), you can find a season like that for any other guy you’d consider if you are putting together an all-time top 10 list. But not Brady. He’s always been over 60 percent passing, he’s always had a solid TD over INT edge, he’s never finished outside the top 10 in passer rating and his teams have had a winning record every year he’s been a starter. If you had to pick the worst season of Brady’s career it would probably be 2002, and all he did that year was the lead the NFL in touchdown passes.