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| FEATURES |
Vote Yes On Brady Bill
By Dean Christopher
Date: 11-13-2003 |
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| This November, vote "Yes" on #12 Tom Brady. |
Imagine a 24-year-old, second-year NFL quarterback going 11-3 in his first year as a starter en route to his leading his franchise to an improbable word championship. What if that same quarterback carried his team to a 9-7 record while leading the league in touchdown passes in his third NFL campaign? Would you be impressed if the exact same player, now 26 years of age, brought an injury-riddled team to a 7-2 mark to open the following season? Now what if I told you that his career record at this point stood at 27-12, good for a .675 winning clip? Would you take notice? What about if I told you that he led the NFL in fourth quarter comebacks over the same three-year span? Would that do it for you? Wouldn’t you want this guy on your team?
Somehow, the developing greatness of young Tom Brady goes widely unnoticed. In fact, Brady’s nay-sayers' vehement, unfounded declaration of his inadequacy reeks of conspiracy. He is the Electric Light orchestra of the late-70’s, the Metallica of the of the late 80’s, the “James” Carrey of "In Living Color," the pre-Old School Will Ferrell.
With the exception of ELO, the Patriot’s underrated counterparts benefited from legitimate celebrity status and critical acclaim in due time, albeit long-overdue. But will Brady?
Probably the most apt adjective describing Tom Brady’s feats over the past three seasons is improbable. Taking the starting job from franchise player Drew Bledsoe. Consistently winning football games with a poise beyond his years that - like it or not - conjures up images of a young Joe Montana. Making the playoffs and winning a Super Bowl against a heavily-favored Rams squad on a team picked to go nowhere, for a franchise seemingly perpetually destined for playoff futility, and a city starving since 1986 for another taste of a world championship.
Let the record show that no quarterback except Tom Brady himself has been snubbed by the Pro Bowl selection process after leading the NFL in TDs...
Let it be known that his record to start a career is, quite simply, a record...
Realize that he has done all of this with teammates who are all available after the first five rounds of most any fantasy draft...
Still, “underrated” and “under-appreciated” only scratch the surface in denoting the public’s skewed perception of Tom Brady. Legally speaking, the misrepresentation of Brady’s character borders on slander and defamation.
Watch Tom Brady play football. He’ll probably throw two touchdown passes and win the game in the fourth quarter. You’ll be impressed. Or will you? |
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