There is an idea out there among many expert analysts and football fans alike, that seriously needs to be debunked.  For some reason it has become common opinion to consider: 28 touchdown passes to 13 interceptions, 4398 yards passing, and a passer rating of 96.2 ,  as “diminishing quarterback play”.  Let me simply set the record straight: IT IS NOT, and that goes for you too Jamie Dukes.  I suppose if you put those numbers up against 50 touchdown passes to 8 interceptions, 4806 yards passing, and a 117.2 passer rating you could mistakenly see this comparison as a decline. On the other hand, if you compare any quarterback numbers of any season in the history of the NFL to those numbers there would be some level of disappointment.

In Tom Brady’s first season back many have given him a somewhat subpar grade.  Upon closer look you will see that he put up his second best career numbers in some of the top categories, and this is second to the greatest QB season of all-time.  Brady’s 28 TD passes is tied for his second highest in his career, his 13 interceptions is his career average, the 96.2 passer rating is also second on the list, as well as 4,398 passing yards being his second best by over 600 yards.  These stats help lead the Patriots to the league’s 3^rd best passing attack as well as another division title.

Some may look at this last season as one that didn’t have as much “magic” behind it.  That may be true, but the Patriots had quite a few issues to deal with last season.  Those that feel he has slipped would also point to the playoff loss.  I feel that that game can simply be written off as one of those “mama said there will be days like this” games, not for Brady alone but for the Patriots as a whole.  Brady did have a fumble and 2 interceptions in that game but it is not as simple as it looks.  There were no aspects of the game that the Patriots looked good in, and not being able to slow down the Raven pass rush was one of the biggest problems.  Brady’s fumble was from a pass rusher coming around a slapping the ball out from behind. Sure, he was holding the ball too low but it was obviously a pass protection issue as well.  The first interception was an odd play, but the second was simply a ball tipped up in the air for an easy turnover.  Even though it was clearly not a good game for Brady, it was obviously more of a total team issue in that game than a breakdown at the QB position.

I am not sure if it was the ill-advised comparison of Brady’s last two full seasons, not seeing the “magic” that we are so used to seeing as far as the flash of late game come backs and dominating the weekly highlight reel, focusing too much on the playoff loss, or simply listening to “experts” not doing their homework.  For whichever reason there is far too much misinformed football roundtable chatter out there about what has been mistaking looked at as Tom Brady’s diminishing skills.  As I have shown, 2009 was certainly his second best statistical season and for sure a lot better season than most thought was possible coming off of a devastating knee injury.  One more little point for the naysayers to think about, he did this last season with 3 broken ribs and even a broken index finger on his throwing hand late in the year. I think some people need to do some reconsidering.

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