spacecrime
Well-known member
I think, deliberately or otherwise, you're missing the point. The only way a QB, any QB, gets into a game is if the head coach tells him to. It is to Bill's credit that he put Brady in. BB built a meritocracy, where the best play er plays and that is totally on him. Bledsoe just got a HUGE contract and BB benched him for a late round pick. That is not usually how the NFL works. You don't make a QB the second or third highest paid QB in the league and then not play him. Brady played well, but a sixth round pick on most teams would not be put into the game without an exceptional head coach.Nice strawman. Where did I call Bill an oaf? Bill did not stick with Bledsoe because Bledsoe was awful in his system AND Brady outplayed him. BB did not give Brady the chance to succeed, Brady earned that chance.
You are just looking so hard to find fault with BB. You took a fact (BB went 5-11 in 2000) and then added your twist that BB coached badly and was on the hot seat after going 0-2 in 2001. That is simply born of desire to elevate Brady. BB was not in trouble of losing his job, he simply was re-building a shit team. The 2001 superbowl was a tribute to coaching. That was a team of over-achievers. Brady included, but not solely Brady. You can check, but I believe we scored more defensive and special teams TDs that offensive TDs in the 2001 playoffs.
BB was smart enough to play Brady and not overload him, He was smart enough to use role players like chess pieces. WMG doesn't get called for holding Faulk and the fumble recovery for a TD stand, and there is no Brady/Vinitieri mystique in 2001.
It was all wonderful and I love that year and the following 2 decades, but to say that BB did not give Brady a chance is incorrect.
Long before Brady went to Michigan, BB's defensive game plan to defeat Buffalo's K-Gun offense was in the NFL Hall of Fame. In spite of you and Rivshark86, BB is a coaching genius and Brady was fortunate to play for the Pats and one of the very few head coaches smart enough to recognize his potential. (I would say Bill Cowher was another). Ben R's first year, Cowher brought him along slowly, fiving him half the playbook, giving Ben no more than he could handle. Other HCs could/would not do that. Of course, like BB, Cowher used a great defense to cover Ben's shortcomings, as BB did with Brady. 2003-2004 were as much about defense as offense. After that, Brady really came into his own.
Brady is great. He didn't do it alone.