Tom Brady has fallen off the cliff. Tom Brady is showing his age. Tom Brady isn't elite anymore. Blah blah blah. How about Tom Brady is using his brain and doing what's best for both himself and the team.
While I am usually pretty big on looking at statistics (it's the math teacher in me), this post can not be supported or disputed using any statistics. Instead it's based on what I'm seeing with my eyes. Assuming you watch the games pretty closely, you'll be in agreement by the time you finish reading.
Almost a year ago I wrote a post titled Why the Brady Bailouts are Alright by Me. Last season Brady knew that he was the one player the Patriots couldn't win without. Because of that he was quick to take seat when the pocket collapsed around him. This season Brady has taken self-preservation to a new level.
Almost a year ago I wrote a post titled Why the Brady Bailouts are Alright by Me. Last season Brady knew that he was the one player the Patriots couldn't win without. Because of that he was quick to take seat when the pocket collapsed around him. This season Brady has taken self-preservation to a new level.
Throughout his career, Brady has always run plays to perfection. One of the things that he's always done better than most is to sell the play. Regardless of the score, Brady has always used deception to keep opposing defenses on their toes. Did he really hand the ball off to the running back or is he duping the defensive ends and linebackers to open up the field for another completion. With every hand off, you could guarantee that Brady was going to try and convince his opponent that he still had the ball. This my friends is one of the things missing from Brady's repertoire this season. It's not because he's being lazy or doesn't have it anymore, it's because he knows he has no backup. He knows that if we lose him at this point in the season, we are up a certain creek without a paddle.
​Besides not taking unneeded hits by making would be tacklers well aware that he no longer has the ball on handoffs, Brady has also been pretty quick to throw the ball into the turf when the play isn't unfolding as expected. Again, knowing that one hit puts him on ice for the season, Brady isn't concerned about his completion percentage. While most of us would really like to have home field advantage through the playoffs, a healthy Brady is much more important. Don't expect to see vintage Brady or the Patriots' awesome play-action until needed in the playoffs.
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