Does anyone really expect the Patriots QB to fully recover from the devastating knee injury and subsequent infection setbacks he has suffered recently and lead New England back to the NFL’s promised land? We certainly do not.
First of all, 2007 was easily the best season of his brilliant HOF career. However, anyone with a brain knows he was never going to be even remotely as good as he was last year. You don’t follow-up the best season in NFL history with a better, or even an equal one. His career had no place to go but down, and that was before a traumatic knee blowout.
Second and more importantly, according to the Boston Herald, the status of the patellar tendon graft, which replaced Brady’s torn ACL, remains unclear. If the staph infection that occurred after the initial surgery reappears…Brady will undoubtedly have to undergo a second ACL replacement procedure, which will likely prematurely end his 2009 season. At his rapidly advancing age, you cannot basically take two years off and expect to play anywhere near the level at which you played previously, if even at all. And, if the ‘Golden Boy’ tries to play hero and rush back too quickly…he has the frightening Daunte Culpepper scenario to worry about.
So, if and when Brady returns, he will be significantly less mobile than before (if that’s even possible) and he’ll be a couple of years older in a league where age itself is overtly discouraged.
It was fun while it lasted, Tommy boy…but perhaps you should take the Aikman route and hit the broadcast booth sooner, rather than later. The HOF will still come a callin’ in 5 short years. Look at the bright side…you’ll have more quality time to spend with your kid.
Say goodnight, Giselle.
