I can politely disagree, can't I? I believe Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history and that any great quarterback would have succeed in his system. If you would have put Brady with any other coach he would have had a career more like Aaron Rodgers or Peyton Manning. Still a great QB, but not the greatest QB in history. (I'm not a Pats fan by any means, but we have to give credit to where it is due to Coach Belichick).
Of course, and in polite rebuttal.
I agree Belicheck is one of the greatest coaches in history. Focused, determined, football smart and maybe the best game plan and halftime adjustment coaches in my lifetime. Study the opponent and neutralize their strengths and match our offense for the week to exploit their weaknesses. If the first half doesn’t go well, the Pats will play a different game in the second half like few other teams.
But Brady’s longevity is his own. His fierce determination, competitiveness, and dedication to the game are his own. The chip on his shoulder about being drafted late is his own. But
most of all IMHO, Brady (and Belicheck) has worked with dozens and dozens of relative unknown running backs and receivers over the years, and seemed to find a way to make it work. He’s had very few superstar marquee offensive weapons, and the few that he’s had have been traded after a few seasons (presumably when they got too expensive). And Brady has to start over again with new running backs and receivers, yet they’ve gone to more conference championships and SB’s than almost any other team. I won’t argue whether he’s the GOAT or not (if Montana had played as many years...), but I do believe he’s greater than Rodgers and Manning - as exceptional as they are/were.
Brady was a giddy about finding a way to beat the Chiefs last Sunday as a rookie QB. If you watch him on the sidelines when the Pats are behind, he’s just as fired up today as he was 18 years ago if not more. He enjoys every TD and every win as much as ever. DW and I love it when other fans and media critics say Tom’s washed up, or the Pats aren’t as good anymore or after a bad loss - it just makes Tom that much more determined.
