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Tom Brady’s and Bill Belichick’s postgame press conferences couldn’t have been more different after the New England Patriots’ 17-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Patriots coach stepped up to the podium with a lot to say. He subtly took a jab at Lane Johnson and dropped jokes about Julian Edelman’s touchdown pass before touting punter Jake Bailey at length. Then Brady stepped up to the mic, and said fewer words in total (146) during a nine-question press conference than Belichick said in one answer about Bailey (263).
Does Brady have thoughts on the red zone offense?
“I don’t have anymore. I don’t know,” he said Sunday.
And the offense as a whole?
“Up and down,” Brady said. “That’s what it looks like to me. We could probably do everything better.”
Is he concerned?
“I don’t think it matters what I think, it matters what we do,” Brady said, adding that the defense is “keeping us in every game.”
The body language was downtrodden. The words weren’t necessarily negative, but Brady definitely flirted with pessimism, even after a loss. His discontent showed on and off the field after he completed 55.3% of his passes, his second-lowest percentage this season, for 216 yards at 4.6 yards per attempt, his lowest average on the season. Brady admitted there was “frustration” on offense. Brady said on WEEI what we’ve all noticed: “The strength of our team is our defense and our special teams.”
The strength isn’t the offense — and it’s not Tom Brady. And that must be weird for the Patriots quarterback, who is accustomed to being not just the best player on his team but also in the NFL. With the defense excelling and winning games, Brady hasn’t gotten to do as much as he likes. And with the offense still trying to find its footing, Brady has been relegated to the role of game manager. They’re trying to run the ball well (though they’re struggling at 3.3 yards per carry). They’re trying to dink and dunk on high percentage throws. But that’s not working as well as in past years.
So there seems to be a message to Brady? Do less. Don’t take risks. Don’t do anything Alex Smith wouldn’t do. And Brady doesn’t seem to love that.
“On offense we just have to take advantage when we get opportunities and understand where our strengths lie and try and play to them — not giving any short fields, not turning the ball over and try and take advantage when we get into the red area to score touchdowns,” Brady said on WEEI. “That is kind of where our offense is. That is kind of where our team is.”
Brady sounds like Belichick is treating him like Old Yeller. And perhaps that’s what Brady fears. The Patriots quarterback is heading into a contract year, with his deal expiring after the 2019 season. It’s likely the Patriots will retain Brady. But contractually, anything can happen, however unlikely those scenarios might be. So if Brady is thinking about his future — and wondering whether he might move on from New England (or it might move on from him) — then he’s not looking at a formidable body of work in contract negotiations this summer.
He’s Tom Brady. If he hits free agency, he’ll be a man in demand. But he’s also 42 years old. If Brady looks like he’s on the decline, perhaps his options are more limited than if he’s coming off another impressive season that makes him look ageless. Perhaps he entered a situation like Brett Favre had with the 2008 Jets, rather than what Peyton Manning had with the 2012 Broncos. And even if Brady has no intention of testing the market, he’ll need a good year to get a respectable contract out of Belichick and Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio.
But there’s hope that this offense has upside. Receiver Mohamed Sanu seems to have taken quickly to the offense after joining the Patriots in a deal with the Falcons before the trade deadline. His progress could be a welcome development. New England also seems committed to getting running back Sony Michel involved in the passing offense. This might prove to be a mistake, as Michel has lacked explosiveness and elusiveness. But if Michel can display the big play ability he demonstrated at Georgia, perhaps he’ll make a difference in this offense. (And if Michel stinks, the Patriots can turn to running back Damien Harris, a 2019 third-round pick.) Rookie receiver N’Keal Harry made his NFL debut in Week 11, with three receptions for 18 yards. He was a first-round pick, and should have a more significant role in the offense in the coming weeks. Finally, Brady will get better protection on the blindside when Isaiah Wynn returns to left tackle — he’s likely to start in Week 12 after spending eight weeks on injured reserve.
But that’s all projection. Those players need to step up in a big way if this offense is going to be a product that Brady can be proud of. He seems to have extended a challenge to his teammates, because he’s not happy with what he’s got. He’s not ready to defer to the defense.
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