Brady Gate

BY SHAWN HARRIS

Woodson blitzes and a the ball comes loose....after review of the play the Quarterbacks arm was moving forward therefore it is an incomplete pass. The play that haunts Raiders fans everywhere myself included. It was a play that arguably was the turning point in this mans career. He would later go on to win the Super Bowl that year, and 3 more after that. No they wouldn't come easy for this future Hall of Famer, and possibly the greatest QB of all time. Sure he needed to endure the 19 or 20 game seasons, the hits, the ups and downs just as every player does in a Super Bowl run. But Tom Brady would have to go through criticism and tons of ridicule for "crossing the line, cheating, not playing fair." Like in the beginning of this article , the Tuck Rule, Tom Brady hasn't got any credit for being great. Simply put, people call him a cheater. You have Spy gate, deflate gate, head set gate, and any other gate you want to create. What do I think? It is crap. I will explain why I think Tom Brady is not only great, but the greatest.

The year of the Tuck Rule game was when I was 7 years old turning 8 that following summer. It was my first year really getting into football. My cousins were all Raider fans and me wanting to be like my cousins, I choose to cheer for the Silver and Black. Not fully understanding the game just yet I remember when this happened. Everyone was outraged, which is to be expected. For years after I hated Tom Brady. I blamed the call on him, like he was reffing the game. It wasn't until after they won their 3rd Super Bowl did i start paying more attention. I mean they were always playing in the Super Bowl seemed like so I tried my best to figure out what made them so good. Against my will I came to the realization that Tom Brady is freakin' good. The whole Peyton Manning and Tom Brady debacle for G.O.A.T. came up. I was on team Brady, still didn't like him nor did i like his team, but he was in my eyes better. I couldn't hold this grudge against him because he had nothing to do with the call. Do I think it was a fumble? HELL YEAH! No doubt! But was it Brady's fault? Most likely not, but I like to think that a decent human being wouldn't rig a game like that.

Now lets go forward a couple years, and like I said 2 Super Bowls later, which came two years in a row. We have Spygate. It was were the Patriots like every other team in the NFL was doing film. Yes they filmed the defensive signals of the New York Jets. But why would you make your defensive signals so easy to see? Ever since I played football we always had two coaches making hand signals so the opponent wouldn't know who was actually calling the play. Was it a little Busch league? eh...maybe. But should it effect his leagacy? No because muliple teams have done this, but like I said teams have ways of hiding which coach or how they call in plays, because it is common sense. Yes you can't defend him by saying it's common sense to hide things. But you do realize all the Super Bowls were pretty close games. Like 3 point or less games. So the Patriots suck and calling plays if they "knew" what the defense was running. And if I remember correctly they never had an undefeated season. 

The last one I want to talk about is Deflategate. No please don't stop readying. I understand how annoying this topic is, but I want to share my stance. Against the Colts in the 2015 AFC Championship game is where the disaster hit. I am talking about the Patriots destroying the Colts, and of course Deflateagate. With multiple people outside the playing field accusing the Patriots of all this. I find that funny, they all were outside the playing field. Can we say sore losers? Sure. But as it comes to be, the balls were a little flat. Most people say thats how Brady had such a good game. Have you every thrown a flat football? I mean a flat enough one to really make a difference in how it felt? It dosen't go nearly as far, and the spiral is none existent. And Brady had an amazing game, But was picked off by D'Qwell Jackosn, and he said that he couldn't tell a difference. Aaron Rodgers even said he pumps the ball up more in the winter time...silence...no critics. It's the fact it was Tom Brady. I understand how shady it was that he destroyed his cell phone, stupidity on his part. And I do think he deflated them, but what I don't agree with is it being called Cheating. It wasn't a rule until now. And since other QBs including Brad Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their Super Bowl Blowout over my Raiders, RIP that defense. I don't think it made a difference in the game. 

Tom Brady has been to more super bowls than 27 of the 32 NFL teams, and has won more than 26 of the NFL teams. Cheating? Luck? Nope straight greatness. As football fans we are blessed to witness such a player. A Joe Montana in our day. All I ask is that as a fan put on your football fan glasses not your team fan glasses and enjoy Tom Brady be great. Still don't like him, it is because I am jealous and still bitter. But I also understand how great he is. So Football fans lets enjoy Bradygate together. Because he is obviously too good for him not to be accused of cheating. Brady Gate...sounds a little funny.