Why Did I Read That Garbage?

I just read an article that really pissed me off.

I'm sure most of you saw the "controversy" in the Patriots win on Sunday in which Tom Brady threw an interception and then got into a sideline verbal altercation with his offensive coordinator, Bill O’Brien.

If you missed it, here it is:



You can make out most of the words.  The interception was a huge play in the game and nearly cost the Patriots a victory.  It would have been a much smarter play for Tom to just throw the ball away, kick a chip shot field goal and go up two scores virtually clinching the victory.  Instead, Brady lofted a pass over the middle to the back of the endzone to a receiver who was being covered 1 on 1.  The defensive back made a great play and the war of words soon began on the sideline.

So this writer from Boston, Tony Massarotti, wrote an article claiming Brady's actions were indefensible and stating the case that Brady is not a team player and is somehow not a winner.  The whole premise of the article is laughable, but what really irks me is the blatant disregard for any context regarding the situation.

Here's some tidbits:

Sorry folks, but there is no defending Brady for the outburst directed at offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien on the sideline in the fourth quarter Sunday.

Really?  Huh, that's weird.  How about this defense?  Tom Brady is clearly the leader of the New England Patriots.  A huge burden of responsibility falls on him to carry young players and help them develop, especially receivers.  He told his receiver that he needed to go make a play.  He can do this even while knowing he shouldn't have made the throw, those things are mutually exclusive.  Tom Brady was simply doing what every great player (and especially quarterback) needs to do....lead.

Tom Brady vs. Tiquan Underwood. Now there’s a fair fight. One man has three Super Bowl rings and more than 39,000 career passing yards while the other has 10 career catches and not a single touchdown. Who’s Brady going to blame next, Stephen Gostkowski? Zoltan Mesko?

Are you making the point for me here, Tony?  Tom has earned the right to get on his young WR.  He has earned the right to make a mistake himself and still tell his guy he needs more from him.  Those three Super Bowl rings mean something and they didn't happen by accident.

Also, no one can question Space Emperor Zoltan Mesko.  He's the best punter in the biz. 

And here’s the real kicker: Everything about the throw was putrid. The decision. The execution. Brady carelessly tossed it up there as if he were feeding Manute Bol in the low post.
Then he blamed someone else.

There is a certain trust that develops between QB's and WR's.  On the throw, Brady showed great trust in his young guy and was let down.  Sure, he could have made a better decision, but the throw was not "putrid".  The throw was on the hands of his receiver who failed to go after the ball in any significant way.  The decision was bad.  The attempt at a catch was just as bad.  He's not passing the blame to someone else, but rather making sure his receiver knows he has responsibility. 

With that in mind, let’s give O’Brien some credit. If you read colleague Greg Bedard yesterday, you know Brady went to the sideline and gave an earful to both Underwood and receivers coach Chad O’Shea immediately after his blunder. To his credit, O’Brien came to the defense of both, responding with such fury that Brady retaliated with a crystal clear “No [expletive].’’

We only have pure speculation on what was said, but the coordinator coming to the defense of the WR in this case is just purely him being angry with Tom in the heat of the moment.  The distinction here is that Tom knew he made a boneheaded play.  Thus the "No Shit!".  He's a competitor and a leader demanding excellence out of everyone, that is always going to include himself.

Remember two years ago, when Brady drew the wrath of linebacker Ray Lewis after lobbying with officials for a roughing-the-passer call in a game against the Baltimore Ravens? Brady smugly applauded Sunday when Redskins linebacker London Fletcher was called for a personal foul, delivering a hit to Brady as he slid to the turf.
In all of those instances, the message is the same.
You can’t do that to me. I’m Tom Brady.

Funny, I think the message is "I want to win, we just got 15 yards and a first down".  

And finally he ends the article with this doozie.

It’s not about you.
It never was and it never is.

No shit, Tony.  It's about the team.  Every man is accountable. And that's the point Brady made to his coordinator.  No shit Bill, of course it was a bad decision.

Tom Brady is one of the greatest player's in NFL history.  He's won 3 Super Bowls and set countless records.  He's the best quarterback the Patriots have ever had by a country mile and yet writers in Boston think he's somehow a problem?  I hope the Patriots suffer through a Andre Ware, Rodney Pete, Scott Mitchell, Charlie Batch, Joey Harrington and Jon Kitna era after Brady retires.  Hell, we'll give you a young Matthew Stafford and 25 years of futility for your aging non-winner, egocentric, out of touch, hall of fame QB, deal?