USA TODAY International Edition
Brady wishes he had done more,
Patriots fall to Eli again
INDIANAPOLIS — Some analysts said Tom Brady could have cemented his legacy as the greatest quarterback in history if he and thenewengland Patriots played well enough for him to earn his fourth Super Bowl ring and tie boyhood idol Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the all- time lead. What will history say now? Brady followed an AFC Championship Game after which he told a national audience “I sucked” with a Super Bowl that fell below the gold standard he set for himself early in his career.
“You always wish you could have done a bit more,” he said.
Brady completed 27 of 41 attempts for 276 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday night’s 21- 17 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. He did not hit anything longer than 21 yards. And he was outplayed by counterpart Eli Manning, who closed with a 103.8 passer rating to Brady’s 91.1.
“Everyone thought I was crazy a week ago when I said I trust Eli Manning more in the fourth quarter than I do Tom Brady. I think you saw why I said that,” said NBC analyst Rodney Harrison, a former member of the Patriots. “Tom Brady had a couple of opportunities, missed some opportunities, down the field. Eli didn’t.”
When wide receiver Deion Branch was asked how Brady played, he did not spare his close friend.
“We all could have done something more to help win this game,” he said. “Nobody had his best game on the offensive side of the ball.”
Since Brady threw only three interceptions in sweeping his first 10 postseason starts— with Super Bowl triumphs in 2001, 2003, and 2004 — he is 6- 6 with 17 picks.
Brady, 34, did not choose to blame dropped passes in critical situations or a supporting cast that was sorely lacking for his second Super Bowl setback, both to the Giants, in four years. But he could have.
His leading target, tight end Rob Gronkowski, was not nearly the player who set regular- season records at his position for receiving yards ( 1,327) and touchdowns ( 18; 17 receiving, one rushing).
Gronkowski attempted to play with a high ankle sprain suffered against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, an injury that typically requires four weeks to recover from. His courage was admirable. The results were not.
Brady targeted him three times, finding him twice for 26 yards.
“I guarantee you 75% of the players in the NFL wouldn’t have played in this game,” Branch said. “I truly appreciate the guy.”
Branch said of the decision to play Gronkowski, “He was able to run. That’s good enough for us.”
Gronkowski had not been well enough to practice until Thursday and, apparently, was less than impressive when he did so. “It’s hard to believe he was able to play the game,” Brady said.
Although Brady passed for 5,235 yards during the regular season— second- highest total in league history after Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints let it fly for 5,476 — he lacked a dynamic wide receiver who could make big plays down field.
Chad Ochocinco was supposed to be that player after Newengland acquired him from the Cincinnati Bengals at the start of training camp. Ochocinco’s contribution? One catch. Twenty- one yards.
“Certain positions are obviously more influential than others,” Brady said in response to a question about his legacy. “But you win and lose as a team.”
It may be a worrisome offseason for Brady and New England since slot man Wes Welker, the NFL’S leading receiver with 122 catches ( for 1,569 yards), can be a free agent. He topped the league with 554 grabs since 2007.
“He’s a heck of a player,” Brady said. “I want to throw the ball to him for as long as I possibly can. I love having him as a teammate.”
If Brady did not understand it before, he does now. Quarterbacks alone don’t win or lose Super Bowls. Teams do.