Brady out to be the history maker as he chases his sixth ring
Super bowl sunday
History beckons tonight for Tom Brady, who feels he is a better player now than when he first emerged on to the scene with the New England Patriots.
The star quarterback and head coach Bill Belichick have been at the forefront of a revolution for the Patriots since the turn of the century with five Super Bowl triumphs and nine AFC Championship titles. Brady will become the only person to collect six Super Bowl rings exclusively as a player if the Patriots overcome the Los Angeles Rams in the season finale at the Mercedes-benz Stadium.
It was coincidentally with a win against the Rams – who were based in St Louis at the time – at the end of the 2001 season that Brady first got his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a second-year signal caller. The 41-year-old has given no indication he is ready to bow out yet and thinks he and the team have evolved over time to become a well-oiled machine.
The evergreen Brady said: “I think I’m a better player now than I was in 2001. I don’t think I was the best player that I could possibly be at that point.
“I think there’s been a lot of work and effort over the years to try to get to where I’m at now.
“It’s really about playing at a championship level, I think that takes a different shape every year based on how the team is set up. “My first few years we relied heavily on the defense to keep the scores low in the games, I did my part when I was called upon.
“As things have changed our offense has developed and grown and we’ve become more efficient on offense. Our defense has had some incredible years and I would say we are a pretty balanced team now.”
The Patriots rallied after a sluggish start to the season to reach the playoffs and, perhaps as a consequence of their reputation for holding their nerve in pressure situations, are favourites to triumph this evening in Atlanta.
Stopping Brady may hold the key for the Rams, who finished 13-3 in the regular season, and defensive tackle Aaron Donald is confident his team-mates can disrupt the Patriots’ gameplan.
He said. “I trust our secondary that they’re going to do their job and lock things down to the point where he might have to hold it and we’ve got to get him to the ground.
“As long as everybody does their job and does what they have to do, we’ll be fine. We’ve been playing great football all year but this is the last one.
“You’ve got to play your best football. This is the biggest stage and the biggest stage I’ve ever played on, so we’ve just got to keep playing football at that level and don’t forget what’s got us here and leave everything out there one more time.”
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Some Old Firm fans – and supporters of other persuasions – will be tuning into tonight’s Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta. Domestic matters, however, won’t be far from their thoughts. Alex Rae reckons Rangers’ chances of hitting the Premiership end zone could be blitzed if they don’t go the full nine yards at Pittodrie on Wednesday.
But Old Firm rival Mark Wilson feels Celtic could fumble and drop the ball in the next crucial phase of fixtures due to their European involvement.
So, with Celtic poised to confirm their superiority at Mcdiarmid Park this afternoon, could there be a turnover in the coming weeks?
Ex-ibrox star Rae said: “I don’t think you can under-estimate the importance of Wednesday’s game for Rangers – it’s win or bust. “I know some people might think that’s a bit dramatic, but I honestly feel that if Rangers don’t win at Pittodrie, their title chances could be gone. “They are already behind, and to fall further adrift would make it so difficult for them.
“But I believe they can go to Pittodrie and win – and they certainly owe Aberdeen one after recent defeats against them.” Meanwhile, Wilson reckons the clashes with Valencia on February 14 and 21 could pose some problems for Celtic, who have lost three times and drawn once following Euro action this season. He said: “The big European nights take so much out of you, and I think it can have an effect in the next game.
“In years gone by, it didn’t matter that much. But this year is different.
“There are six league games before the next Old Firm game, and both sides will want a perfect record to that point.
“But I can’t see that happening. I think both sides will drop points along the way.
“Celtic look formidable at home but they have had troubles on the road.”