[karostay]

No more under inflated foot balls ? Heavens game will never be the same

[John_W]

I think Belichick will do alright. I remember 2008 when Brady tore his ACL the opening game, and Matt Cassle finished the season going 11-5. That was the first time an 11 win team didn't make the playoffs because both the Ravens and Dolphins finished 11-5 and knocked them out. The point is, Matt Cassle was an average QB at best when he left New England the following year in 2009 with the Chiefs he was 4-11.

[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

I lived in MA for 20 years before moving to FL in 2004. Couldn't help but ordering this> Would love to see him playing in TB this season.

TB12>T.B.

still not here, prob made in China...better be virus-free. Ordered a month ago.

[John_W]

Mel Kiper Jr., Football analyst

Draft 1999


Tom Brady, QB, Michigan (6-4¼, 211 pounds)
Overall: Fifth-round grade | Position rank: No. 10 quarterback

Smart, experienced big-game signal-caller, getting very high grades in the efficiency department this past season. Brady cut his interception total from '98 in half, tossing 20 TD passes compared to just six interceptions. He threw for 2,586 yards, completing an impressive 62.8% of his aerials. For his efforts, Brady was named team MVP. After working as Brian Griese's backup in '97, Brady went on to start 25 straight games with the Wolverines.

He's a straight dropback passer who stands tall in the pocket, doesn't show nervous feet, and does a nice job working through his progressions. He's not going to try to force the action, rarely trying to perform beyond his capability. He threw a TD pass in all 16 games he started against Big Ten opposition, while tossing 15 straight completions during the second half of action this past season against Michigan State. He's accurate, throws a very catchable ball, and also knows when to take a little off the pass.

This past season, Brady completed over 60% of his passes in eight games. The only time he was really off the mark was against Penn State, when he completed just 17 of 36 passes, tossing two TD strikes compared to three interceptions. At the pro level, his lack of mobility could surface as a problem, and it will be interesting to see how he fares when forced to take more chances down the field.

Sure, he doesn't have the total package of skills, but you have to be impressed with his level of performance this past season against Notre Dame (17-of-24), Wisconsin (17-of-27), Michigan State (30-of-41), Ohio State (17-of-27), and Alabama (34-of-46 for 369 yards and 4 TDs).

Combine note: Ran a 5.24 40-yard dash and had a 24½-inch vertical jump.