Brady Ain't No Joe

John Madden during Sunday night's Pats vs Bills game, proclaimed Tom Brady the best NFL QB ever. Even better, than Joe. Even better than Joe?

Now this analysis might be coming from an arm-chair QB, and I don't pretend to know QBs better than John Madden, but I think there are some issues to settle before proclaiming Tom Brady as the best ever.

First of all, I want to be honest and say I was one of the happiest sports fans when the Patriots went shopping last off season and acquired Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, and Wes Welker. Even though Brady had won three Super Bowls, and came close last year, he has never been blessed with talented playmaking receivers, unlike many other QBs.

Again, even though Brady had the SB trophies to merit his accomplishments he seemed to be taking a backseat to Peyton Manning for billing as the current best NFL QB. While Manning was breaking records with Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James, all Brady was doing with a mediocre supporting cast, was making 4th quarter comebacks in the SBs. Yet, it still seemed that Brady was still being slighted despite his success. One can't wonder if coach Belichick was also taking notice of this lack of acknowledgement?

Brady, now with new his new arsonal of receivers is on a pace to shatter some records, and the Patriots are the odds on favorite to walk their way to their fourth Super Bowl victory. Buuut.....Brady better than Joe?

There are similarities between the two QBs. Both were not high profile picks in their given drafts; both won their first Super Bowl, at early ages for QBs; both have or had great head coaches; and both are quiet, humble players, allowing their play dictate their words. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that with Brady growing up in the Bay Area, watching Montana play, it's hard to not feel that Brady has copied some of Montana's attitude, as well as QB play.

That is where the simalarities end though. This year with the code stealing scandal Bill Belichick has his team thinking it is them against the world, and they are mowing down everybody in sight. Walsh and Montana were never a team on a mission to prove anything. Walsh could have let Montana ring up bigger numbers if there was the motivation to, but there never was.

I could also use the logic that the defenses Montana played against were much superior than the Ds of today. Without going into specifics, in Brady's playoff runs, he has never had to face consistent challenges from the likes of the Dallas D with Randy Smith and Ed "Too Tall" Jones, the Chicago Bears with Richard Dent and Mike Singletary, or the Giants with LT and Co. Brady plays in an era of parity, and the best defenses have been either his own Patriots, or the Ray Lewis Baltimore team that won before Brady's time.

What really seperates Montana from Brady, is that Brady is no where near the athlete that Joe was. One could make a short highlight film on the many broken plays that Joe turned into positives. Early in his career Joe had an escapable ability. He was able to run to his left, jump and make the throw to this right. Brady has never been that type of QB. Montana had a good line, but if he had Brady's, forget about it. This comparison would not even be happening. If the Pats offensive line ever becomes mediocre, Brady better start wearing a flack jacket cause he won't be able to escape.

One last comparison, and Brady has no control over these issues. Joe Montana had to prove himself after his back injury, plus he had to hold off a young Steve Young who was breathing down his back and threatening his job. Joe used these issues as motivation to not only prove those wrong, but also to perhaps play the best football of his career.

Tom Brady is a great QB, and may perhaps win more SBs than any other QB. However, due to the lack of competition in todays game, physical talent,and since he will probably never have to compete with another hall of fame QB, I think it is fair to claim Brady ain't no Joe. Thus far, at least.