Pete King wrote a remarkably favorablepiece on Brady's performance in the Bucs game. At a Christmas party the evening of the game I was talking about the same two throws King mentions in his article, and a guy chimes in and says that Brady is an average QB who just happens to be in the right system. He also thinks Vick walks on water.
FOXBORO, Mass. -- Readers of this column know what I think ofTom BradyNot just as a player, but as a person and a guy who took less money to help the team's salary-cap situation. I was in the Brady-for-Sportsman crowd, probably as a leader of the pack. This morning, I'm not here to say he's better thanPeyton Manning,worse than Peyton Manning, the same as Peyton Manning, because, let's face it, they're both all-timers. I don't know who's better. They're the DiMaggio and Williams of this NFL era. But that's a debate for another column.
It's understandable that what Brady did on Saturday in the 28-0 rout of the Bucs would get lost because of the incredible job by the Pats defense. (I write about that D in my SI "Inside the NFL'' column this week.) Brady gets taken for granted, almost, and it's a tribute to his consistent greatness that a 65-percent, 258-yard, three-touchdown, no-pick performance against the NFL's No. 2 defense was barely discussed after the game. Except by those who really know football, like Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Brady was magnificent in this game. I mean, top-10-in-history magnificent.
I refer to two throws. The first was what Kiffin talked about the moment he saw me in the Bucs' locker room after the game. "That quarterback is unbelievable," Kiffin said in a soft, raspy voice. "That throw he made on the third play of the game, I mean, I don't know who else makes that throw. An absolutely perfect throw.''
Late in the second quarter, New England was driving again. From the Bucs' 33, approaching the two-minute warning, Brady faded back and again looked left. This time shallower. Simeion Rice steamed around left tackle and got his big left hand on Brady's facemask. Brady went to throw. Rice yanked. Brady's facemask just as he finished his throwing motion. Two yellow flags flew. The ball came out a little wobbly, but strong, and nestled into the arms of Tim Dwight , who ran to the 6. Gain of 27. And more: 15-yard facemask penalty on Rice. Half the distance to the goal. First and goal at the 3, and Corey Dillon ran it in on the next play.
Now, let's say 90 percent of the passers in football are playing the Bucs on this day. I say the vast majority of the quarterbacks in football have their team up 3-0 at the two-minute warning.
Not New England. Not with Brady. New England, 14-0.
"What we saw today,'' Ronde Barber said, "was a living legend.''