This is something I alluded to in the comments the other day in the article I wrote about the Steelers struggles versus New England, and I figured I'd expand on it. I know this probably won't be a popular opinion around these parts, but here it is: I don't mind, and even kind of like Tom Brady.
Don't get me wrong I'm still a Steelers fan, I hate that he's beaten the Steelers so many times, and often in convincing fashion. I also concede he does appear to look to the refs for calls on plays that seem completely clean, which can be annoying. He also plays for a city that hadn't won a championship in any of its major sports in fifteen years before the Patriots won that first Super Bowl in 2002. Since then, the Patriots have won three more championships along with the Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics all getting their own crowns too. If you know any Boston sports fans personally, to say the success has gone to their heads is putting it lightly. Although none of that part is Tom Brady's fault. In fact, most thing fans hate Brady for aren't his fault in my eyes.
Let's start with the cheating scandals. SpyGate is the most serious one but what did Brady do for it? It was mostly Belichick and the other front office people responsible for idea and execution of it. Did Brady and the other Pats benefit from it? Sure, but what was he supposed to do? Just refuse the insights he learned? If that's your expectation of NFL players, you're going to be sourly disappointed. Should players on the field now inform refs when they miss holding calls on their teammates? I wouldn't be surprised if some players even thought it was just a normal part of film study in the NFL and didn't realize what you could and couldn't tape.
Then there's Deflategate. I do believe Brady knew what was going on as far as he told the equipment guys he wanted a lighter ball, but the idea he has been suspended a quarter of the season when other quarterbacks, notably Aaron Rodgers, have said they mess with the PSI of footballs too seems a bit crazy. Brady and the Patriots deserved some punishment, but not the loss of draft picks and a suspension. The circus that followed was more about Goodell and the league being upset that their love of authority and shaky investigative techniques have been exposed than anything Brady has done. Imagine if the NFL suspended James Harrison this week for the reports of his PED use without him actually failing a test or proof of his purchasing the drugs. You'd be mad too right?
Another common complaint about Tom Brady is that he's a pretty boy, scared of contact, wimpy quarterback that the league goes out of its way to protect. Ignoring the first part, since he can't do anything about the way he looks, and hating a guy because you think he's too good looking is weird to me, the fact that the league has spent the better part of 18 months trying to suspend him makes the argument that league wants to protect him look weak.While no quarterback likes being hit the argument that Brady isn't tough is silly when you consider that since taking over for Drew Bledsoe in 2001 Brady has started every regular and postseason game of every season, except for 2008 when he injured his leg and had to miss the whole year. But Brady has been his same durable self since coming back from that injury, remarkable when you think of how much abuse an NFL player goes through. I'll always contend that Ben Roethlisberger takes hits that would be penalties on other quarterbacks and because of his size and toughness the refs let them go without penalizing the hit. With the league now doing what it can to protect its stars, I would say Brady is just the beneficiary of inconsistent officiating when it comes to his reputation of getting more calls than others.
It's annoying when the Steelers don't get the calls, but I don't fault Brady for getting them, I fault the officials who throw the flags.
All that being said about things that do bother me about him what do I like about Brady?
It doesn't hurt that I live in New England so I get to see Patriots games every Sunday, as long as they don't interfere with the Steelers games. Brady is a fun player to watch because he always seems to find a way to beat his opponents, whether it's short quick passes, perfectly times lobs to Gronkowski in the end zone, or manipulating the running game for deep play action passes. What else I admire about Brady is that he rarely has had a dominant receiving corps. Instead, he makes a group that on paper looks lackluster into a dominant offensive force. Outside of football, Brady doesn't make news besides the occasional charity or promotional appearance. He's even kind of funny on his social media accounts and doesn't seem to take himself too seriously. He's never been in trouble with the law, and no I'm counting Deflatgate as actual trouble since even if he did do everything he's accused of he still wouldn't have hurt anyone else. So bottom line, outside of him beating the Steelers, I really don't mind Tom Brady as a football player.
Comment below with some of your choices for players most Steelers fan can't stand that you admire. I texted a friend of mine to get his pick and he came up with former division rival Ed Reed. Personally, I can't stand any Ravens.
Also about the comments section, last time I wrote about the Pats the article got over 600 comments. While comments are always welcome and appreciated, try and keep them civil, especially if fans of other teams come over here to engage in discussion.