(02-14-2020, 09:20 AM)Bullseye Wrote:

(02-14-2020, 12:35 AM)D6 Wrote: At this stage of Tom Brady's NFL playing career,  he's probably going to need a strong supporting cast on both sides of the ball,  Special Teams,  and good all around coaching on his team to win another Super Bowl or get close.  His salary cap figure could turn out to be a factor in making it very difficult for him to be surrounded by the type of supporting cast he will need.

That may not be enough for him to get back to the Super Bowl.  The immutable laws of football physics apply to him, too.  His skills are already in decline.  They could fall off a cliff this coming season.  Though he is a far superior QB to Namath. the team getting him could be getting Namath with the Rams or Unitas with the Chargers. 

That said, this should be a lesson to football fans with a streak of sentimentality.  If a QB who went to NINE Super Bowls and winning six of them and played twenty years in the league can be allowed to walk in free agency, ANY player can.

Bullseye,  it's great seeing you back!

I hope you are feeling much better,  with each day being better for you.

Because the Patriots were short handed talent-experience wise at most of the skill positions,  I'm not sure to what extent Tom Brady is in decline physically.  There's no question that age is catching up to him to at least some extent.  Whether it's going to reach the point in the 2020 season that he's not good enough to get back to the Super Bowl regardless what surrounds him could easily become one of the focal points of the NFL world in the 2020 season.

Knowing the Patriots history under Bill Belichick in which they are proactive in moving from a player they believe is in decline,  sentimentality isn't going to be enough by itself to keep Tom Brady around in 2020.   As much as Bob Kraft would like Tom Brady to return in 2020,  if Belichick says to him that the Patriots need to move on,  Kraft is very likely going to go along with Belichick's decision.  Knowing,  the value of Belichick to the Patriots organization moving forward.

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