The Tom Brady Farewell Tour

Kev Massing

  It is no surprise that the New England Patriots enter the 2017 NFL season as the favorites to repeat as Super Bowl Champions, or that Tom Brady was announced as the preseason front runner for the MVP award. It will catch no one off guard if the Hoodie is announced the Coach of the Year at seasons end. Should Gronk tear his labrum fist pumping on a yacht, only to watch Major Tom casually toss it up for 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns, the talking heads will rejoice and praise the GOAT, and we will collectively shrug it off.  

When you look at the AFC East over the last eight years, you’ll see that surprises are all but nonexistent. Since 2009, the Pats have gone 37-11 against their division counterparts, winning the division each year. With offseason acquisitions of weapons like Brandin Cooks & Dwayne Allen, 2017 looks to promise more of the same. This begs the question, ‘When will this madness stop?’ Soon my friends, very soon.

The Good News

Tom Brady just turned 40. This in itself is an anomaly in such a physical team sport, and there is just no way that the Tom Brady we have now will be the same guy in three years. The NFL’s ’40 –and-over club’ primarily exists of three players: Kickers, offensive lineman, & backup quarterbacks. While you cannot compare Brady to the likes of Matt Hasselbeck & Dave Krieg, Father Time remains unbeaten.

Brady is the twentieth quarterback to play at 40. Of the other nineteen, only eight made it to 41. Of course, Tom’s strawberry-free diet may keep him on the field for a few more years, but that doesn’t mean he will be starting in New England during that time. Brett Favre anyone?

Considering Jimmy Garoppolo’s upcoming free agency, the Pats will soon face the same decision the Packers & Colts had to address in recent years. Logic dictates that Belichick, a coach known to cut or trade talented players rather than over pay them, will follow suit & choose the future over the present. Jimmy G’s extended preseason play could very likely be a byproduct of this consideration. I cannot foresee a situation in which Garoppolo agrees to resign with the Pats to hold a clipboard for two more years.

You may be asking ‘Why don’t they franchise tag Jimmy until Tom retires?’ $20 million for a backup? Bill Belichick? Right..

Looking at the careers of Favre, Manning, and Montana (who was traded to the Chiefs for a First round pick at the age of 39), I can’t imagine Brady retiring if he feels he is still capable.  Especially if he is forced to make room for his backup.

The Bad News

  

 You’re going to have to sit through one more Super Bowl celebration. As we have established, this division has belonged to the Pats for almost a decade. This year more than most, it seems that the rest of the AFC East is doing what they can to ensure this run. The Dolphins, Bills, & Jets each rank in the bottom eight of the current NFL Power Rankings at 25th, 26th, and 32nd respectively.

          

The Jets are all but a lock for the first pick in next year’s draft. They have traded every semi valuable asset that they have. Someone in New York has been keeping an eye on the NBA. I feel a ‘trust the process’ era in the Big Apple.

          

The Bills are an enigma to me at this juncture. After resigning Tyrod Taylor, they trade away Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby for Ryan Matthews, E.J. Gaines, & two early draft picks. While new coach Sean McDermott swears that getting Matthews in the deal and signing the ageless Anquan Boldin is proof enough that the Bills are not “throwing in the towel,” I’m not buying it. The Bills have two picks in each of the first three rounds in next year’s draft. With a talented quarterback class expected, Buffalo has more incentive to lose than win this year.

          

This brings us to the Jay Cutler ‘led’ Dolphins. Miami was the only team perceived to be in contention for the AFC East title coming into the season. Looking to build off of last year’s playoff clinching season, the Phins looked poised to be the sole thorn in New England’s side this year. Then Ryan Tannehill went down with a non-contact knee injury. Miami chose to let their playoff hopes ride on the arm of Jay Cutler rather than Colin Kaepernick, apparently upset an entire city with a tee shirt. More evidence that every team in this division is rooting for and in fact helping the New England Patriots send off their favorite son with at least one last division title.

The Future

          

I anticipate an AFC Championship game between the Pats and the Raiders on the snow covered field at Gillette stadium that rivals the ‘tuck rule’ game. Brady and company will hold off whichever one-hit-wonder the NFC throws at them this year, ending their dynasty on a high note.

What follows is an offseason that sees Tom Brady shipped to a borderline contender. The Broncos still have a Super Bowl quality defense, and have rented a past-his-prime hall of famer to get there before. This sets the table for the Oakland Raiders to earn one last Super Bowl ring before heading to Sin City.  To see more on why the Raiders will win a title before they leave, check out my good friend Shawn Baker’s article. 
The Raiders WILL Win a Super Bowl Before Leaving Oakland