Tag Archives: Julian Edelman

FLASHback to 2007’s Offense

COMPARING THE 2007 SEASON TO THIS YEARS TEAM OFFENSIVELY

In 2007, New England was a juggernaut on offense. As far as regular seasons go, well, the Patriots went undefeated. Of course, this season won’t be perfect, the offense could look quite familiar. Josh Gordon recently picked up by New England, has many fans very excited. First and foremost, he is not Randy Moss 2.0. I want to make that clear.

However, if Gordon can fall in line, keep his nose in the playbook and contribute all season, then we could be in for quite the show. The comparisons this year to the undefeated regular season are fair, hear me out.

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

DIFFERENT NAMES – SAME GAME

New England’s offense in 2007 was unstoppable, mainly because of Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Other key players had their roles as well, only one player remains – Tom Brady. 2007 will go down as one of the best complete football teams of all time, if not the best. Here is what the offense looked like.

Starting off is Tom Brady, who has seemed to have gotten better with age. As he admits himself, “I feel like I’ve played better the last eight years then I did my first ten.”

Next, let’s look at the running game. Laurence Maroney handled the heavy workload. Patriots HOF’er Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris as the 3rd down change of pace backs. Heath Evans was the fullback.

Jumping ahead to this season, SB hero James White, Rex Burkhead, and rookie Sony Michel can all either be RBs or receivers in the slot or split out wide. In today’s NFL, I’d give the slight edge to this season’s RB core, as moving the ball through the air is more important than ever. Defenses can’t tell whether it’s a run or pass play when any of these players step on the field. Also, James Devlin is used at FB to open up running lanes and catch the ball as well.

Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

PASS CATCHING COMPARISONS

Randy Moss is in the HOF, Josh Gordon is not Randy Moss. However, if Gordon is the best version of himself, he will fill the Moss role, which is taking the top off the defense with his size and speed. Brady hasn’t had this since Randy Moss, with the obvious edge going to Moss, with one caveat – the rest of the pass catchers overall compared to this year.

With Gordon attempting to do his best Moss impersonation, Brady now has a real deep threat. His targets also include Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, and Philip Dorsett with special teams ace, Corderelle Patterson, being involved in some packages each game.

Josh Gordon opening up the field for these receivers will not allow defenses to double. If they do, Brady will find one of the open players. Looking at this year’s pass catchers and 2007 receivers, it’s the same concept with similarly skilled players except for Moss. Now, 2018 now has a beast like him plus Rob Gronkowski. That alone is scary for opponents.

Edelman will be back in the slot, with Gordon opening up the field. Just like Welker did in 2007

Patriots offensively in 2007, besides Randy, had an aging local legend in Troy Brown, another Patriot HOF player, along with Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, and Jabar Gaffney. They didn’t have a huge part of this comparison in Rob Gronkowski. Ben Watson was good along with Brady, but it’s not close to Gronk alone. 2018 also adds Hollister in the mix. So, can this year’s team look anything like the 2007 Patriots?

IN CONCLUSION, WHERE DOES THIS SEASON’S OFFENSE STACK UP?

Going through it by positions was interesting, and all these comparisons depend on one player, who’s never been dependable. In the event Josh Gordon does click with Tom Brady, this year’s Patriots team will do some serious damage. As I see it, this years RB group can be better than 2007.

Pass catchers; if everything goes to plan, will put up eye-popping numbers. Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon and Chris Hogan with the RBs will keep defenses up at night.

No, this season won’t be as prolific as the undefeated team but will have a similar feeling to it. As always, health will play a factor as well of the offensive line.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are still here, with players comparable or better to the 2007 team. Still, it’s too early to tell what will happen next.

No Tom Brady led offense will ever be as good, but this year is the closest it will get. Imagine all of this coming after the recent WR drama throughout the last few months.

Julian Edelman Will Not Appeal His Suspension

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Julian Edelman Won’t Take Further Action

(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Julian Edelman will not take any further action and appeal his four-game suspension. He will be out for the first four games of the season. This is a blow to the Patriots offense to begin the year with the loss of Amendola. Tom Brady will have to rely on other players to step up and make plays. Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, and Rob Gronkowski will have to be key parts to the offense to begin the year. Julian Edelman was popped for a PED substance following the injury to his torn ACL. Alex Guerrero came to the defense of Edelman and said it had nothing to do with his treatment at TB12.

Julian Edelman Will Be Missed

The schedule for the Patriots in September is against the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins. Julian Edelman won’t take the same road Tom Brady took during his deflate-gate suspension. Julian Edelman has been working out with Tom Brady privately this offseason in the practice field house. Edelman did attend the OTA’s this offseason in an attempt to start off on the right foot after missing all of last season.

Bill Belichick can’t be happy Edelman will be missing the first four games, but like always, will do what’s best for the football team. With training camp beginning Thursday, we’ll catch the first glimpse of everyone on the practice field behind Gillette Stadium. Everyone is expected to be there and Brady will supposedly be there early as well. Rob Gronkowski will also be there early.

Julian Edelman Will Be Ready To Go In Week Five

Julian Edelman is a loss, but I would have him serve the suspension at the beginning of the season rather than in December. It’s still a mystery what Edelman tested positive for because the NFL won’t release that information. Whatever it was that got him suspended, he’ll be ready to go in week five.

Julian Edelman’s Suspension Upheld

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Fireworks Out Of Foxborough

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Tom Brady’s number one target, Julian Edelman, had his suspension upheld late last night. He will be out for the first four games of the season. All offseason, Tom Brady has been working one-on-one with Edelman in Chestnut Hill and in the practice field house at Gillette Stadium.

Edelman’s Suspension Is A Blow To The Offense

The night before the Fourth of July and Fireworks were coming out of Foxborough, it seemed like fireworks have been going off all off season with this team. The latest news on Edelman is another firework, but not the friendly kind. Tom Brady will have to rely on other targets like Rob Gronkowski and Chris Hogan. The loss of Danny Amendola to free agency is a considerable blow to the offense.

This is really not a good sign for Edelman, as he missed all of last season and was looking forward to getting back on the field in September. It looks like that will have to wait until October, when the Patriots play the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football.

For the first four games, the Patriots open with the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins. They will likely finish these games with better than a 2-2 record. As long as Hogan and Gronkowski stay healthy, they should be fine.

What Did Edelman Test Positive For?

(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

It’s worth noting that league won’t release what Edelman tested positive for. Richard Sherman got his suspension reduced for a PED that was accidental so why didn’t Edelman? It doesn’t make sense why the league wouldn’t release what Edelman tested positive for. We already have the Patriots conspiracies floating around that Bill Belichick had something to do with it, which is downright ridicoulous.

We are about three weeks away from Patriots training camp. At that moment, we will see Brady and how he builds chemistry with his new young teammates. Unfortunately, he’ll have to find a new favorite target to replace Edelman for the month of September.

It’s Quiet Around New England

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Quiet Around Foxborough

There is a different vibe to this Patriots offseason. Tom Brady hasn’t participated in the offseason workout program with the team and is getting ready for the season is own way. Last week, Brady and Julian Edelman practiced in Chestnut Hill with trainer Alex Guerrero. Throughout the offseason, Brady has taken heat for missing OTAs with his team. With Edelman facing a four-game suspension at the start of the season, Brady wants to go to his number-one target in September.

Training Camp Begins Soon

(Foxboro, MA, 08/07/17) New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his nutritionist Alex Guerrero during Patriots Training Camp Joint Practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on Monday, August 07, 2017. Staff photo by Matt Stone

Training camp begins in a month, and it’s been quiet for the last couple of weeks around the Patriots. Bill Belichick has enjoyed his trip overseas and will probably head over to Nantucket. The Patriots have been faced with a lot of distractions lately surrounding the team. So this might be a much needed month off from all the football drama surrounding the team. The only news around the Patriots right now is Edelman appealing his suspension. He had a hearing the other day at the league office and a decision hasn’t been made yet about it.

Tom Brady will probably head to Costa Rica for a family vacation. Then, he will go to Montana to practice with Edelman and other receivers. It’s pretty much a new receiving group, so it will be interesting to see how Brady connects with his newer wide receivers. Chris Hogan is going to have to step up and maybe take the lead if Edelman loses his appeal. Tight end Rob Gronkowski will still be a dominant force of the offense too. They will be missing Danny Amendola though.

The quiet around New England might be nice right now, but once we head into training camp, things will start heating up. We’ll see how Danny Etling connects with Tom Brady and if Brady does anything different from previous training camps.

Early 2018 NFL Awards Predictions

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The draft is over. OTAs just started, and the NFL Opening Kickoff is lingering close by. Last year was a surprise. Teams, who weren’t expected to win, outshone all our expectations. A major part of this was key additions or breakout years from their players. This helped the likes of Todd Gurley and Marshon Lattimore win awards. Although it is way too early to really say, let’s make predictions on who can win the awards this year.

Most Valuable Player – Jared Goff, QB

Jared Goff Wild Card Round - Atlanta Falcons v Los Angeles Rams

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Would I love for this to be Brady? Of course. Will Brady win even if he has a better year than last year? Probably not, because that is just how the NFL is. Instead, I go with Jared Goff, a quarterback with all the right tools and the perfect team at his disposal. Carson Wentz could also be picked here, but his injury status could lower the number of games he will play this season.

Offensive Player of the Year – Alvin Kamara, RB

Divisional Round - New Orleans Saints v Minnesota Vikings

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Kamara will get even more touches with Mark Ingram serving a four-game suspension, and his talent is just so great. His numbers will be even better than last year.

Defensive Player of the Year – Casey Hayward, CB

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Hayward is one of the most underrated corners in my opinion. I have the feeling that he will ball out this year, leading the league in interceptions and passes defended, and thus winning him the award of DPOY.

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Ronald Jones, RB

Ronald Jones II Goodyear Cotton Bowl - USC v Ohio State

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Barkley will be the obvious choice here, but I also want to take a look at another offensive player who is in the best place to have a great year. Jones can easily win the starting job in Tampa Bay and get a lot of carries. He has the chance to be this year’s Alvin Kamara.

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Tremaine Edmunds, LB

Camping World Independence Bowl - Tulsa v Virginia Tech

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Edmunds will be immediately thrust into a starting role and has the capability to fulfill and outshine what Preston Brown brought to the team.

Coach of the Year – Mike Vrabel, Tennesee Titans

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Mike Vrabel comes into a playoff team that got even better over the offseason. The additions of Dion Lewis, Malcolm Butler, Rashaan Evans, and Harold Landry can help the Titans win their division and go far in the playoffs.

Comeback Player of the Year – Julian Edelman, WR

Julian Edelman New England Patriots v Detroit Lions

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Julian Edelman has been training hard and nonstop to get back on the field. The chemistry between him and Brady is undeniable and will be triumphant enough for him breakout after missing 2017.

Julian Edelman Feels Neutral

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Julian Edelman Is on Both Sides of the Fence

Photo by John Wilcox.Julian Edelman, according to an insider at Patriot Place, isn’t totally with the Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski revolt. Edelman is neutral and will still attend the workouts enough just to collect his $500,000 and still go to TB12. Like it was previously stated, Edelman is the highest paid player on the team that attends the voluntary workouts. So why not show up just enough to get paid? He has to go to a percentage of the workouts. He can still go to TB12. Tom E. Curran has reported that Tom Brady may have started a revolt with the players. Between Danny Amendola and his comments, all the way to Dion Lewis, it’s a clear sign Brady started a chain reaction.

To give Edelman credit he’s coming off an injury and hoping to come back stronger than ever. Last week’s Instagram post was a side for Tom Brady being at TB12 working with Guerrero. Today he is at the practice and took sides with Belichick. Remember- he’s thinking about how much money he’s going to make. Every single Patriot when they leave used to say nice things about playing for the Patriots, until now.

Nate Solder and Danny Amendola Quotes

Via Getty Images

Nate Solder: “It can be a tough environment. It’s very businesslike, and at times it can be cold. Everything in New England is predicated on performance. It’s a place where people sometimes treat you differently based on how you practiced that day or how you answered a question in a meeting. One day, you could walk around the facility feeling like a Pro Bowler — the next, like you’re about to get cut.”

Danny Amendola said “It’s not easy, that’s for sure. He’s an a–h— sometimes. There were a lot of things I didn’t like about playing for him, but I must say, the things I didn’t like were all in regards to getting the team better, and I respected him,” he said. “I didn’t like practicing in the snow, I didn’t like practicing in the rain, but that was going to make us a better football team and that was going to make me a better football player.”

Did Tom Brady start a chain reaction with the players? I think he did, but for Julian Edelman he’s on both sides of it. If you want to have fun, go to a 4-12 team. If you want to win Super Bowl Championships, then the Patriots are the right team for you.

Julian Edelman Participating in Offseason Workouts

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Julian Edelman Attends Workouts

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) scores a touchdown Denver Broncos strong safety Mike Adams (20) and defensive end Shaun Phillips (90) in the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Julian Edelman is coming off an ACL injury. He was spotted at the voluntary offseason workouts today. Unlike Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, who will not be attending the workouts, Edelman is. It’s a smart idea after coming off an injury like that he should get to a good start. Even though Edelman gets treatment from Alex Guerrero, it’s still a good idea to be at the workout. Last week Edelman posted on Instagram that he was getting treatment at TB12.

For Tom Brady, it’s great Edelman is getting to an early start. Amendola is gone, so Edelman really is Brady’s number one go-to receiver again. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, Edelman can earn a $500,000 workout bonus this season, which is the highest on the team. Edelman must attend a certain percentage of the offseason voluntary workouts in order to receive the money. In his career, Edelman has scored 24 touchdowns and has 4,540 yards.

Edelman Will Make a Huge Bonus by Participating in the Workout

The other players’ workout bonus according to Mike Reiss includes Rob Gronkowski and Cordarrelle Patterson, who will make $250,000 each. Lawrence Guy makes $200,000, Stephen Gostkowski makes $100,000, and Patrick Chung makes $85,000. Edelman coming back to full health in 2018 is huge for the Patriots offense. Edelman is one of 14 NFL players with at least 1,000 postseason receiving yards, and his 1,024 postseason receiving yards is ranked 13th in NFL history. He needs 39 postseason yards to move into the top ten.

Edelman wrote on Twitter in February, “Incredibly proud of this team. I’ve seen how much hard work these guys put in day in and day out. The chips didn’t fall our way this time, but the preparation and training for the 2018 season starts now. We’ll be back”. Julian Edelman also was working with Brady last week inside the Patriots practice facility.

Julian Edelman’s Instagram Story

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Julian Edelman’s Shot at Bill Belichick

In the video above, you see Julian Edelman being worked on by Alex Guerrero. Edelman by the sound of his voice sounds like he’s really doing this on purpose to stick it to Belichick. By making this video, Edelman is really sticking up for his teammates Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. As I said before: don’t be surprised if you see Edelman start saying he isn’t happy with Belichick’s style either. This is the first sign of it.

Edelman and Brady were throwing inside the practice field the other day. Edelman is coming off ACL surgery and needs to get back on top of his game. As for Belichick, this just proves my point that he’s just sick of Brady going over his head and thinking he has the answers. Which is why Belichick will be leaving after this season.

Edelman Getting Ready for the Season

Edelman is going to the extreme by posting this video to his Instagram story. Again, I’m not sure if the players, especially Brady or Gronk, know this will be Belichick’s last season. I’m pretty sure they are trying to keep that in-house or so they thought. Edelman and Brady are best friends. When Brady came out with TB12, Edelman started JE11. If Edelman or Gronkowski get hurt this season Belichick will be upset. But he also might call them out again for training at TB12. Belichick will walk away with his head held high from everything he’s accomplished.

Everyone knows this video will make Belichick upset, just like Gronk telling Amendola to ‘BE FREE, BE HAPPY’. But he can give an I told you so to Robert Kraft at the end of this season about trading the next guy when Brady will be gone at the end of his contract. Consequently, the Patriot Way is starting to be the player’s way.

The History of the New England Patriots by Jersey Number #11-#12

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Number Eleven

Before we talk about the three super popular Patriots that wore #11, it behooves me to mention Joe Kapp. Kapp played just one season in Boston, but it must have seemed like the twilight zone for him. Why? You all remember when the 2016 Patriots traded poor Jamie Collins to the winless Cleveland Browns, right? Joe Kapp went from a 12-1 record with the 1969 NFC champion Vikings to a 1-9 mark with the 1970 Patriots. He took such a beating, it was his last season in the NFL.

Tony Eason was selected with the 15th pick of the historic 1983 NFL draft. He was a rockstar with Illinois, but never panned out the way that his counterparts Elway, Kelly and Marino did. Eason was not a poor quarterback; he actually was pretty good in stretches as he compiled a 28-21 mark with the Pats.

In the 1985 AFC championship game, Eason went 10 for 12 with three short touchdown passes. In the Super Bowl, the Bears annihilated him. He went zero for six and was sacked three times. He bounced back to have his best season in the pros in 1986. Unfortunately, a return trip to the Super Bowl was not in the cards as a bad trend was established for New England. Denver beat them in the playoffs in the Mile High city, 22-17.

Eason was limited to a role player the remainder of his career with veteran Steve Grogan and enigmatic Doug Flutie outperforming him.

Drew Bledsoe and a New Era

After Eason and Grogan left, the Patriots were flat-out awful. That all changed when they took Drew Bledsoe with the first pick of the 1993 draft. Bledsoe was one of the best college football players of all-time at Washington State. His arrival along with Coach Bill Parcells and Robert Kraft as owner one season later gave the Pats immediate credibility. They even won the division following the ’94 season in large part to the brilliance of Bledsoe.

In 1996, Bledsoe was excellent teaming up with Terry Glenn, Ben Coates, Keith Byars and the fantastic Curtis Martin to run away with the AFC East. They dominated Pittsburgh and held off Jacksonville for their second ever Super Bowl appearance. Bledsoe played fairly well in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXI against the Packers, but struggled the rest of the way. He was sacked, intercepted and intimidated throughout the night. However, he would get a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in his final season with the team, 2001.

The only problem for Bledsoe was he playing time was limited during the championship season due to his injury and Tom Brady’s remarkably swift ascension. Bledsoe did have a moment in the sun when Brady was knocked out of the AFC championship game at Pittsburgh. Bledsoe was workmanlike in helping New England outlast the Steelers, 24-17. His second quarter TD pass looked identical to Brady’s second quarter TD pass in the Super Bowl.

Bledsoe moved on to Buffalo and Dallas thereafter where he had a few good seasons. His lack of mobility caught up with him at the tail end of his career. Dallas coach Parcells opted for the younger, more athletic Tony Romo. Unwilling to be relegated to a backup position, Bledsoe retired before the 2007 season.

College QB Makes His Mark

Julian Edelman is one of the most popular and exciting players ever to wear a Patriots uniform. No doubt his friendship with Brady has been a motivating factor for the former college quarterback. He was drafted in 2009 and made the roster thanks in large part due to his electrifying abilities in the return game. He played a bit of everything in his first three seasons including kick returner, receiver and defensive back. Edelman’s career has been a case of what could have been as several of his seasons have been affected by injury. When Edelman is in the lineup, the Patriots already potent offense is even better.

Edelman’s two most recent Super Bowl appearances were the stuff of legends. He played a key role in the Super Bowl XLIX victory over Seattle by notching tough third down receptions and the go-ahead touchdown. In Super Bowl LI, he struggled for the most part, but came up with perhaps the most amazing reception in Patriots history grabbing a deflected ball in triple coverage about one inch from the turf. He added a big catch in the overtime period. His preseason injury in 2017 was perhaps the low point of the season for Patriots fans. He is exactly the kind of player that is easy to root for.

Number Twelve

How about two quarterbacks that have worn #12 for the Patriots!? Before we get to the greatest player in franchise history and probably the greatest quarterback in the history of professional football, let’s mention a journeyman backup named Matt Cavanaugh. He played his first five seasons behind Grogan from 1978-1982 before getting traded to San Francisco. Cavanaugh won the Super Bowl as a backup for the 1984 49ers and 1990 Giants as well as an offensive coordinator for the 2000 Ravens, 2005 Steelers and 2008 Steelers. So, that makes five Super Bowl rings for a Patriots quarterback wearing number 12.

Tom Terrific

Another Patriots quarterback that has won five Super Bowls wearing the #12 is the incomparable Tom Brady. As a Bills fan, there are simply not enough superlatives I can shower on Brady. First, he has whipped Buffalo for seventeen years. Second, he is not just an outstanding player, but an outstanding person and a superb ambassador for the NFL. Everybody knows about his stats, accomplishments and championships. What stands out for me is the love he has for his family. His appreciation for his parents, wife, sisters and children is to be admired. I am the same age as Tom, but I look up to him.

The other thing that stands out to me about Brady are his defeats. I am thinking about six games that he lost that proved his greatness. The Super Bowl losses to the Giants and Eagles were literally not over until the final whistle blew. In Super Bowl XLII, Brady was down, but not out. He led his team to the go-ahead score with 2:35 remaining. Even when New England once again fell behind, Brady made two amazing “Hail Mary” attempts for Randy Moss that fell incomplete. In the Super Bowl XLVI loss, Brady was not at his best. Yet, he still threw a Super Bowl-record 17 consecutive completions and was a few drops away from victory.

In Super Bowl LII, Brady was marvelous. Had he not been strip-sacked, we would have definitely been acknowledging his Super Bowl performance as the greatest quarterbacked game in football history. He was truly fantastic in the second half especially on chunk plays to Amendola, Gronk and Hogan.

Championship Game Losses Add to Legacy

The other three losses were championship game losses to the legend, Peyton Manning. Sometimes, people push Manning’s greatness under the rug due to his many playoff failures, but to me, he was the second best ever. In the 2006 AFC championship game, Brady was surrounded by castoffs and has-beens and went toe to toe with Manning on the road. Peyton pulled it out in the end, but Brady was phenomenal in defeat. In the 2013 AFC championship game, Denver completely overwhelmed the Patriots defense. Yet, Tom battled to the end notching two fourth quarter touchdowns in a hopeless situation. He showed the heart of a champion when the odds were stacked against him.

Of all the losses in Brady’s magnificent career, the one that goes down in history for me as his best would have been the 2015 AFC championship game. He really struggled in the first half at Denver as the Pats fell behind. The Broncos defense was simply awesome in 2015. Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Demarcus Ware, Chris Harris, etc. teed off on Brady. He seemed to get walloped every other play. He never gave up, though. In the fourth quarter, New England dominated Denver but could not come all the way back in a gutty 20-18 loss due to a missed two point conversion.

GOAT

I only mention these losses because we all know about the wins. His final drive against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI would give any football fan goose bumps. His pass to David Givens in Super Bowl XXXIX against the Eagles is the greatest short yardage pass I have ever seen. The incredible performances against Seattle in 2014 and Jacksonville in 2017 and their top-ranked defenses demonstrated that he gets better with age. And, finally, his signature win against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI in a season that started on the suspended list was according to Kraft, “unequivocally, the sweetest of them all.” We will do the history of the Patriots by jersey number till we get to #99, but we will not write about any better player or person than #12, Tom terrific.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Why Brady Is Better Than Eli — Period

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I don’t know about you, but I am sick and tired of all the talk about Eli Manning this week. His team is playing like a bunch of pylons and Coach McAdoo decides to bench Eli Manning. Personally, that’s like firing the engine room guy when it’s the coach steering the ship. Also, with this benching there has been a lot of talk from Giants’ fans how Eli is better than Tom Brady. Well, other than the two Super Bowl victories over the Patriots, there is not really anything for a comparison.

Bitter Giants’ fans are trying to use the two Super Bowl victories over Brady to make this ridiculous statement. I think there is no way you can even attempt to make a statement like that. You first need to compare their careers overall and not just two games. That is why I will show you once and for all that Brady is the GOAT and Eli is just a sad sheep.

IT’S LIKE COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES

The best analogy I can think of when comparing Eli Manning to Tom Brady is that it’s like comparing apples to oranges. Yes, both of these players are quarterbacks who have won Super Bowls and have had long careers. Manning is entering his 14th NFL season and has had a very solid career. Eli Manning has won two Super Bowls (both over the Brady-led Patriots), and has put up some impressive career stats. He has passed for more than 50,000 yards in his career and also for 334 touchdowns, which are both impressive milestones. Manning has also been the reigning NFL iron man for quarterbacks, with 212 straight starts since his career began. All in all, I would give Eli a career grade of B+, or maybe even an A-.

Now Giants’ fans are trying to say that Eli is better than Tom. This is why it’s not true. Brady has won five Super Bowls, more than the entire Manning family, including their father Archie. That should be enough to win all comparisons all by itself but I have much more. Tom is playing in his 18th season in the NFL and plays better now then he likely ever has. Eli can’t say the same thing in that regard.

Before all of you Giants’ fans and Brady haters go even more nuts, think of this. Tom has dealt with as many injured players and issues if not more than Eli ever did. Tom and the Patriots played most of last season without Gronk and won the Super Bowl. Brady played most of last week’s game with a third-string player on his offensive line and threw for four touchdowns. Eli is without Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall this season, and that is tough for sure. Brady is without Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, and the list goes on. That excuse is just that; a sad reason to explain why Eli is declining or at least slowing down.

There are a couple of other stats that make this whole foolish comparison a moot point as well. The biggest stat that leaves no doubt that Brady is so much better than Eli is the number of respective wins. Brady has the most wins in NFL history by any quarterback, including the post season. Brady’s 217 regular-season wins and 25 post-season wins are just marks that may not ever be matched. How can you even think that Eli is in that class, let alone ahead of Brady? Manning has 118 wins, so just digest that stat for a minute. Brady is ahead of him by almost 100 wins, the equivalent of winning out including playoffs for five straight years.

Another stat that Eli is far behind Brady in would be their career TD/INT ratios. Eli has thrown an impressive 334 TD passes over his career but has amassed 222 INTs also. Tom Brady has thrown a jaw dropping 482 career TD passes and only 155 INTs over his playing time. Brady has significantly more TD passes, and not just because he has played longer. The fact that Brady has played quite a bit longer with only he only 155 INTs, almost 70 less than Manning, is amazing.

(Mexico City 11/19/17) New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady congratulates wide receiver Brandin Cooks’s touchdown during the third quarter of the NFL game against the Oakland Raiders at Azteca Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2017. Staff Photo by Matt Stone

NOT A FAIR FIGHT

Besides the number of Super Bowl appearances and wins versus Manning, there is another reason why Brady is just plain better. You will never see Tom Brady complain to the media or anyone that he does not have the tools to do his job. I honestly think that Brady could have a great season with only using other teams’ players that they released from their rosters. There is no way you could ever say the same thing about Eli Manning.

Tom Brady also realised that he must stay in fantastic shape to be able to play at age 40. And Brady is not just playing at age 40, he’s excelling. He remains one of the front-runners for the league MVP this season. He has adapted his playing style to bounce around in the pocket to allow his receivers to get open. Eli Manning has the agility of a refrigerator and is just a sitting duck in the pocket.

Before all of you Giants’ fans and haters go off on a tangent of saying that Brady plays in the weak AFC East, just hang on a minute. Brady also plays in the AFC, which has been the stronger conference in the NFL for some time. The AFC contains teams like the Steelers, Ravens, Chiefs, Raiders, Bengals, who have been consistently solid for many years during Brady’s career. The NFC usually has the Packers, Seahawks, Saints and maybe one team for the NFC East be solid every season. It is just not a fair fight to say that where you play makes that much difference.

The NFL schedule is also weighted, where the better you finish the previous season gives you a harder time next year. The Patriots won the Super Bowl last year and are at a record of 9-2 at this point of their schedule. It has not been a cake walk and the team and the Patriots are dealing with a boat load of injuries and not missing a beat. Can Eli Manning and the Giants say anything like that? I didn’t think so, but thanks for trying.

Before Giants’ fans or Brady haters start spreading fertilizer all over social media, they should check their facts. The only thing that matters is the W and Tom continues to put those up regardless. You do not see him whining about things other players or his coaches are doing. You certainly wouldn’t see him crying in the locker room about it to the media. Get used to it people, you hate us cuz you ain’t us and that’s about it.