Who are the biggest "what if" players of all time?

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by gwgecko

Yeah, I still say if Bledsoe doesn't get hurt and keeps losing, and the 2001 Pats are like 1-5, then Brady probably gets some starts that year and an opportunity to win the job in 2002.

Edit:I don't think Brady was drafted with the intent to replace Bledsoe as the starter, but I think after going 5-11 in 2000 and starting 0-2 in '01, Bledsoe's starting days were numbered even if he didn't get hurt unless he and the team started playing a lot better. Belichick wasn't going to let Bledsoe tank his job with the Patriots if he wasn't performing.

That's funny because Benedict does in fact have quotes regarding how Brady's teammates felt about him taking over:

Members of the Patriots defense certainly didn’t have a lot of faith in Brady.“Bledsoe had the ability to carry a team and throw for four hundred–plus yards,” said linebacker Tedy Bruschi. “We didn’t think Brady could come in and do that. Everyone believed it was going to be harder. Tom had shown us nothing except for good practices. He was still learning.” When linebacker Willie McGinest learned that Bledsoe would be sidelined indefinitely, he warned his defensive colleagues that they’d have to shoulder the load. “Our mentality on defense at the time was that we were the catalyst for the team,” said McGinest. “It wasn’t as if our offense had been scoring forty-five points a game anyway. So when Drew went down, we were like: ‘F*ck it. If our offense only scores fourteen, we can only give up ten. We really gotta shut teams down.’"

[RogerGodahell]

Originally Posted by Grid

I don't buy it. Who says Brady would have taken over eventually?

Because he was always good. He is the most overlooked player of all time. Even at Michigan he had a 20-5 record. His stats from college to the NFL are almost identical. He had the drive and was determined to be the best. Brady looked Kraft dead in the eye after being drafted and told him picking him was the best decision he ever made. He was right.

[Stifle]

What if Joe Delaney doesn’t attempt to save 3 drowning children. What if Pat Tillman decides not to go into the service. What if Warren Moon was given a opportunity out of Washington and into the NFL instead of CFL?

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

Because he was always good. He is the most overlooked player of all time. Even at Michigan he had a 20-5 record. His stats from college to the NFL are almost identical. He had the drive and was determined to be the best. Brady looked Kraft dead in the eye after being drafted and told him picking him was the best decision he ever made. He was right.

This is Grade-A satire. Absolutely hilarious, sir.

[RogerGodahell]

Don't know what to tell you it's true. You don't luck into a career like he's had. The cream always rises to the top.

[gwgecko]

Brady's pro prospects really got screwed by his coach being so enamored with Drew Henson. If Brady had been the starter the entire year he probably goes on the draft's first day(which back then meant rounds 1-3)

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by gwgecko

Yeah, I still say if Bledsoe doesn't get hurt and keeps losing, and the 2001 Pats are like 1-5, then Brady probably gets some starts that year and an opportunity to win the job in 2002.

Edit:I don't think Brady was drafted with the intent to replace Bledsoe as the starter, but I think after going 5-11 in 2000 and starting 0-2 in '01, Bledsoe's starting days were numbered even if he didn't get hurt unless he and the team started playing a lot better. Belichick wasn't going to let Bledsoe tank his job with the Patriots if he wasn't performing.

That's a lot of what ifs....

If Belichick didn't think he had the authority to name Brady the starter to start the season, do you really think he would have felt comfortable enough to bench the highest paid QB, the owner's "golden boy," 6 games into the season?

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

Don't know what to tell you it's true. You don't luck into a career like he's had. The cream always rises to the top.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if the New York Jets had made Brady the first QB taken instead of Chad Pennington—Brady would be lucky to have one Super Bowl ring.

Agree or disagree?

[RogerGodahell]

Originally Posted by gwgecko

Brady's pro prospects really got screwed by his coach being so enamored with Drew Henson. If Brady had been the starter the entire year he probably goes on the draft's first day(which back then meant rounds 1-3)

Exactly, i don't think people realize how big of a name Drew Henson was at the time. He was the Babe Ruth of high school baseball and i believe the #2 prospect in football. Hit like 70 home runs, 10 grand slams, 40 wins as a pitcher. National player of the year. And threw for nearly 6000 yards and 52 TD's as a QB in high school. Michigan coach felt pressured to play him. Brady eventually won the job over him both his junior and senior year because he was better despite the pressure of people wanting him to play Drew.

[RogerGodahell]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if the New York Jets had made Brady the first QB taken instead of Chad Pennington—Brady would be lucky to have one Super Bowl ring.

Agree or disagree?

Hard to say. The Patriots weren't exactly very good before Brady took over. 5-11 record the year before, dead last in their division. 8-8 dead last in 1999 as well. They started 2001 with an 0-2 record. Bledsoe got injured in week 2 and Brady made his first appearance with 2 mins left in the game.

They were now 5-13 with Brady as backup on the team. Week 3 Brady's first start they win. They would finish the season 11-5, (11-3) with Brady at QB and won their first SB. He would win 3 SB in his first 4 seasons. Bellichick was a nobody before Brady just as he is again now. Cant win anything without him.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

Hard to say.

I’m not going to press the issue given that you’re a cool guy and not nearly as combative as the rat guy.

But I will say that’s incredibly generous and I think Brady ends up with a Tony Romo / Philip Rivers Hall of Very Good career if he’s a Jet.

[RogerGodahell]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

I’m not going to press the issue given that you’re a cool guy and not nearly as combative as the rat guy.

But I will say that’s incredibly generous and I think Brady ends up with a Tony Romo / Philip Rivers Hall of Very Good career if he’s a Jet.

It takes a lot of luck for sure. I've said the same thing numerous times in the basketball forum when people bring up a discussion about the All-Time greats. 50% of it is being in the right place at the right time. You don't get to choose who drafts you or who you have for teammates. At least you didn't used to. And my comment about Belichick was a little harsh but i hold a lot of resentment towards him for letting Brady leave NE and only offering him a 1 year deal.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

Hard to say. The Patriots weren't exactly very good before Brady took over. 5-11 record the year before, dead last in their division. 8-8 dead last in 1999 as well. They started 2001 with an 0-2 record. Bledsoe got injured in week 2 and Brady made his first appearance with 2 mins left in the game.

They were now 5-13 with Brady as backup on the team. Week 3 Brady's first start they win. They would finish the season 11-5, (11-3) with Brady at QB and won their first SB. He would win 3 SB in his first 4 seasons. Bellichick was a nobody before Brady just as he is again now. Cant win anything without him.

What if Brady decided to play baseball? What if Brady transferred after his sophomore year at Michigan? What if Henson beats himnout his senior year? (I don't think that hurt his dratt stock, a lock of draft stock is non-stat related) What if Brady actually beat out Henson from the start of the year instead of taking 7 games and was drafted earlier and didn't have that chip on his shoulder of falling so far in the draft? What if Belichick had success with Cleveland? What if Belichick took the Jets job? What if Brady had been labeled a system QB, which is why the Patriots took him, he best fit their system. What if any other team had him ranked a little higher? What if Bledsoe doesn't get injured? What if Belichick convinced Kraft to not sign Bledsoe to the record contract? What if the Patriots didn't play a fairly weak 2001 schedule? What if the Tuck Rule never happens? What if Vinatieri misses?

It's almost like Brady's entire career is a bunch of what ifs? It's real easy to look back and act like it was clear that he would be this great. But take a look at Brady's stats the first 6 years. He was an above average QB, but I highly doubt anyone was saying he was the greatest of all time.

With Brady as the starter, the Patriots beat 2 teams that finished with winning records in 2001 during the regular season.

[nfcsaints]

I’m gonna go “off-road” from the Brady highway and go full HOMER. What if there is no Phantom Sack and Everett beats the Niners in the ‘89 NFC Championship…then beats the Broncos. Probably nothing, but I wonder…..

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by nfcsaints

I’m gonna go “off-road” from the Brady highway and go full HOMER. What if there is no Phantom Sack and Everett beats the Niners in the ‘89 NFC Championship…then beats the Broncos. Probably nothing, but I wonder…..

I always forget how bad that was.

[RogerGodahell]

Originally Posted by nfcsaints

I’m gonna go “off-road” from the Brady highway and go full HOMER. What if there is no Phantom Sack and Everett beats the Niners in the ‘89 NFC Championship…then beats the Broncos. Probably nothing, but I wonder…..

Thank you. Enough Brady talk. I didn't mean to derail the thread. Being a Brady homer myself sometimes it's hard to stop once i get going.

Moving on....

[TheFrenzy]

What if Dean Blandino isn't a cont and Dez gets credit for his catch?

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

Thank you. Enough Brady talk. I didn't mean to derail the thread. Being a Brady homer myself sometimes it's hard to stop once i get going.

Moving on....

It's a thread about "what ifs." And Tom Brady's career is loaded with them.

[JeremyNick]

Wait.

A “what if” thread devolves in Bradybois arguing with everyone.

No way….

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

Brady looked Kraft dead in the eye after being drafted and told him picking him was the best decision he ever made.

Brady later told reporters that "198 mistakes were made ahead of me."

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by jplarson

Brady later told reporters that "198 mistakes were made ahead of me."

When Brady retires, watch out for Rosen!

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by jplarson

Brady later told reporters that "198 mistakes were made ahead of me."

Josh Rosen also said that there were 9 mistakes before him and he was going to make sure they all knew it...

[Stifle]

Originally Posted by RogerGodahell

Don't know what to tell you it's true. You don't luck into a career like he's had. The cream always rises to the top.

Brady didn’t land a Super Model because he lacked self confidence. For some athletes, it’s like fine wine. Was at Michigan for 5 years and was selected captain in his final season. Brady’s teammates must have seen something.

Brady has that “IT” that most will never understand. If he were with the Jets, they would have been what the Pats were and what the Pats have been without Tom.

[k13]

Originally Posted by Stifle

Brady didn’t land a Super Model because he lacked self confidence. For some athletes, it’s like fine wine. Was at Michigan for 5 years and was selected captain in his final season. Brady’s teammates must have seen something.

Brady has that “IT” that most will never understand. If he were with the Jets, they would have been what the Pats were and what the Pats have been without Tom.

In your dreams.
He'd be out of football in 2-3 years.

[k13]

Originally Posted by whitmm

Sorry, what were your points again? All you said is that GOAT QBs make everyone better. While that may be true, the only reason Brady got on the field to even have a chance to develop into a GOAT is because Bledsoe got injured.

Even then, it took a while for Brady to become the player he is now. In his first 6 seasons, 3 pro bowls, 1 all-pro, 2 top-3 MVP votes. He completed roughly 61% and had a 2:1 TD/int rate and never had a QB rating over 93.

Nothing to do with him.
The league started to become a joke league mid 2000s and every qbs stats went up.

If he played in the mid 90s his stats would be even worse.

Brady right place right time.