grux
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2011
- Messages
- 968
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The Colts had no real opportunities for success. Their season was doomed early on.
The Patriots had tangible real opportunities that were squandered. I realize that we all need to salvage something positive out of this emotional investment. That is human nature. Whether or not this is a success ultimately depends on where the team goes from here, as the '04 Red Sox taught us. If the team ascends to a Championship having been steeled by this defeat, then it will have been a success. If the team falters again then this season will have been a failure.
Judged on it's own merit, the '11 Patriots wasted the high seed and easy path afforded to them by the NFL schedule and fate, a confluence of events that does not often occur. Then they rewarded this good fortune by repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot throughout a closely contested game, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory time and time again. In the end, they got exactly what they deserved, a silent trip back to Foxborough.
My guess is that there will have to be a major turnover to complete the journey to a SB win. This is for a reason which I hesitate to even type, because I can hardly believe that I'm saying this. I don't mean to be a downer, but I don't believe in Tom Brady anymore. I just don't think he has it anymore, from a "fire in the belly" standpoint.
He comports himself in all of the requisite ways, playing the part as he always has. I just saw the look in his eyes during the fourth quarter on Sunday, and I didn't see determination. I saw something else...pain from his shoulder perhaps. It looked like he just wanted it to end, rather than wanting the moment. He has nothing to gain. He will always be "Tom Brady, 3-Time SB Champion, 2 time MVP, sure-fire HOFer, etc.". The thought of him at 35 surviving uninjured through another rigorous 18 NFL contests just to get back to that point is unrealistic. The Championship TB12 we all know and love is on the wane. And, like I said in another post, I hope that I am wrong...sorry to be the turd in the punchbowl.
I disagree. By all accounts he took this loss very hard. There is no other QB in the league I would rather have than Brady. I do think as he gets towards the end of his career we will need a better running game. I hope BB and McDaniels commit to the running game next season and take some pressure off Brady.