I don't care what your thoughts and emotions are regarding the hot topic that is Tom Brady, but he IS the G.O.A.T. There is absolutely no arguing it. After going through some not fun stuff regarding "deflate-gate", Brady came out swinging for back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016 in what many called Brady's "revenge tour campaign." Whatever you wanna call it, Brady torched anyone who came across his path (except for the Broncos, who always seem to have his number), putting up ridiculous numbers during his two year campaign:
Brady's '15-'16 stats (not including postseason):
- Games Played: 28
- TD's: 64
- INT's: 9
- Passing YDS: 8324
- Completion Percentage: 65.6
- Quarterback Passer Rating: 106.3
- Win-Loss: 23-5
For those of you who don't know football stats, take my word for it, those are ridiculous numbers for only 28 games. (Well, the total TDs aren't a crazy number but still very good.) That's 298 yards per GAME. Crazy, crazy, crazy. But it's not just 2015 and 2016 that show why he's the GOAT. Let's look at his entire career from a stat line standpoint:
- 3rd all-time in Quarterback rating
- 4th all-time in passing yards
- 4th all-time in touchdown passes
- 4th all-time in completions
- 2nd all-time in 4th quarter comebacks
And while QB Peyton Manning is number one in a lot of those categories, he's most definitely not the greatest. Brady hasn't shown signs of slowing down. And while he's not number one in any of the "important" categories, he's in the top four of each and will most likely finish number one in a couple of them. But Brady is already number one in what is arguably the most important stat, doing what Manning never could: win when it counts. In 2016, Brady passed Manning for the most wins by a quarterback ever, adding to his legacy of the "winningest quarterback."
You might say, "Well, Manning is still second most wins all time and holds most of those record stats that Brady is in the top four of." While that is true, Manning leaves a bad taste in many mouths for not being able to pull off the wins in the postseason and Superbowl. Yes, he's 2-2, but Brady? He's 5-2, and has a 25-9 record in January football while Manning holds a 14-13 postseason record. Not as impressive. Now don't get me wrong. Manning is easily one of the greats and I would readily place him in the top three along with Joe Montana. He has accomplished many things Brady hasn't and deserves a plethora of respect for that, but his inability to win when it counted has stained what is an otherwise impressive career and resumé in the NFL.
Despite numerous records to his name, Peyton Manning (left) has always been placed behind Tom Brady (right) due to Brady's uncanny ability to win when it counts.
Brady is a master of postseason football. And though I've already mentioned his ability to win in the postseason, lets take a look at the stats of this man's January-February resumé:
He is first all-time in:
- playoff games started with 34 to his name
- 831 pass completions and 1,325 pass attempts
- over 9k passing yards
- 63 TD's
- 25-9 win-loss record
Those are some pretty impressive stats. How about his stats in the Superbowl alone?
First all-time in
- Superbowl appearances with 7
- 207 pass com and 309 pass attempts
- over 2k passing yards
- 15 TD passes
- 5-2 win-loss record
You know what stands out to me in those stats? FIVE Superbowl wins. The guy just doesn't stop. And he won't stop until someone or something physically keeps him from playing football. The dude is 39 going on 40 by the time the 2017 season starts. Maybe he will suddenly stop playing at a high level but I don't see it happening. At 39 years old, he produced what is arguably his best season in 2016. Throwing 28 TD's to only 2 (yup) INT's in 12 games, he dominated everyone, bringing New England to their ninth SB appearance. Oh, and might I add, it was one of the greatest games ever with Brady showing WHY he's the best. I told everyone watching with me the game is never over when it comes to the Pats. Then the fourth quarter hit and it was 28-9. Even I started to think Atlanta would win and honestly, Brady had not played his best to that point. Then everything just changed. Can't single out a certain moment or play, but I just felt the atmosphere completely shift. Brady began to play better and the defense gave them what they needed. Motoring up and down the field, Brady tied the game up at 28. I knew the game was over before it was even tied. Overtime came, Pats win the coin toss, and Brady went straight to work. Giving them the first overtime Superbowl in history and a record 25 point comeback to win their fifth Superbowl and Brady's record fourth MVP trophy. I believed at the beginning of the 2016 season that if Brady would only bring the Pats to the Superbowl he would be the GOAT and not even Joe Montana would be able to argue he's the best. Well, Tom decided to not only "appear" in the game, but string together his most brilliant performance to date. It was an amazing thing to watch.
Brady lifts up the Superbowl 51 trophy after he led the Pats from a major 25 point deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons in the first ever overtime game in a Superbowl
I'll admit it, I hate the Patriots, with a heartfelt passion that is even in my very bones. But when the Pats won, it was the first time I wasn't mad that they won. It was because of Brady. He deserved it. His career has shown he is a hard working, loyal, and competitive leader who has never stopped trying and giving his all no matter the circumstances. Yeah, he's been at the center of controversy but most of it was on the leadership or was total B.S. Now, has he made mistakes? Of course. No man is perfect. Brady knows that. He works hard every day striving to become a better man. He knows football isn't all there is. But it's a job and responsibility that he has taken more seriously than most men who've been in the NFL and its spotlight. Surviving the NFL for as long as he has is so hard and tiring and he has played the cards he has been handed perfectly, becoming the example of the player and maybe even man that all should strive to be. I may have written about how Aaron Rodgers best is better than anyone else's best - and I truly believe that. But Brady's career and what he has accomplished is undeniable. Making him the undisputed (that's my opinion) GOAT. Rodgers has a style and ability that I would take over any other QB. But he hasn't done what Brady has done. Hence why Brady's the GOAT and Rodgers is the best quarterback at the present moment.
The whole football world has seemingly been against Brady from the start. From being selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft to the "deflate-gate scandal," many do everything they can to see him falter - and yet, he triumphed. To be honest, I was in his corner for that whole deflate-gate thing despite being a Jets fan because it was a stupid two year ordeal that he did not deserve. Maybe he did it, maybe he didn't, but the NFL (mainly Roger Goodell) had their sights set on Brady and taking him down. Why? I have no idea. He's done nothing but be the face of the NFL for over a decade. What the NFL did wasn't to do "justice" or make things right. I could talk all day about the hypocrisy of the NFL leadership but I won't go there today.
I don't care what your "opinions" are on this 17 year veteran, but facts are facts. He has stood up so well to all that has come his way and has been a respectful man to the teams he faces, to his coach, staff, and teammates and even gives the time to his family and children that they deserve. I've seen interviews of him and realized this is a man that is caring and has worked so hard to get where he is. It's seemingly always been Brady against the world. And Brady always wins.
All Hail the King.
