Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie
Tom had the chance to sit back and learn instead of being thrown into the fire right away!
I'm pretty sure the only guy i've ever seen start as a rookie and play great was Dan Marino!
|
Dingdingdingding, DING!
And we have a winner! This debate is a good one and should be over before it starts; however, here's my take on it fellas.................
Manning is this generation's Marino.
Brady is this generation's Montana.
The only difference between Dan and Peyton is that Peyton has the one SB win that simply
would not have happened had the refs climbed out of Polian's pocket in last year's AFC Title Game. And they almost gave it to them this year!!! Marino never could win the big one because of his lack of leadership characteristics under adverse conditions. If he ever got sacked, threw a coupla INT's (which were never HIS fault), or just plain threw the ball to the wrong place because he didn't want to get sacked he would have a major melt down. 'Ole Fidgety Feets', as I like to call the elder Manning, has that same pedigree and will always be an also-ran as long as #12 keeps suiting up for our beloved Pats. He will continue to post big numbers and pad huge stats into the Record Books ~like Marino did; but, he is not made of the same mettle as Mr Brady, athletic ability unquestioned!
The major similarity between Montana and Brady is, within the way that the student has become the master. Joe Montana himself admits that Tom Brady is better "in all facets of the game" than he was in his prime. Funny how the man that Brady patterned himself after, the QB that he wanted to most emulate, the reigning GOAT QB is all set to annoint his protege/his understudy/his shadow. Amazing how that transformation takes place, and that in so doing both men respect each other's place in history and both QB's remain humble and steadfast in placing their TEAM first.
And that is what separates Tom from Peyton.
Peyton gives lip service to the team concept and his insincerity is as blatant as his fake machinations at the line, the tossing up of his hands at blockers and receivers on and off the field, and his inability to get it done without Marvy and with various other injuries. I mean who does he really think he's foolin' with all that crap that he does at the line? Thank God he's come off of it a bit, recently.
Tom LIVES the team concept and this is realized in his winning of multiple Lombardi's with far less talent than the other guy, his inclusion of his O-Line in every single NFL Ad he's ever done, and by his coolness on the field. He knows that if he does his job to the best of his ability (which ain't too shabby by the way), and that if his teammates do thier jobs equally as well, then everybody's gonna be happy. This attitude also removes the weight of the whole team from off of his shoulders. He knows that the can count on his owner, his coach, his trainers, his line, his receiving corps, his own reads, his innate and learned abilities, but most of all he can count on his ability to lead under not so perfect conditions. When things go South, #12 is at his best and that type of intestinal fortitude translates to the whole team.
One more Lombardi ties him with Bradshaw.
The other #12,
the other TB, and
the other great QB of our time.
Although I gotta admit that Len Dawson was my first and longtime favorite QB, that is, until the next #16 showed in San Fran. Is there anyone else on this planet, besides The Blonde Bomber, that doubts Brady's greatness? Who among us thinks that Tom Brady is done after this season? Bradshaw is just waiting for Brady to equal his number of SB wins before he will agree with the rest of us. He is on record for saying that 19-0 will seal the deal from his viewpoint. The list of QB's that Brady has eclipsed is growing with each season and each successive Super Bowl Championship.
While both are very good and miles ahead of their closest competitors, it won't be long before Brady stands alone as the Greatest of All Time, and there are many fans/experts/former QB's who would say that that time is now!
Threaded Mode