Questionable Moves Have Left Tom Brady in a Tough Spot

By Frank OLaughlin | Sep 30, 2014

Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Almost nothing went right for the New England Patriots on Monday night in their 41-14 loss at Kansas City. It was a truly putrid showing on both sides of the football. Brady was under duress all evening and the turnovers uncharacteristically piled up. And even worse, what was supposed to be a stout defensive unit, got manhandled on the ground and through the air.

The Patriots defense is talented. Most people, including myself, feel that they can and will get better. Poor tackling and positioning was to blame for most of their breakdowns against the Chiefs. What’s more alarming is the fact that Bill Belichick’s offense is still operating with absolutely no direction with a quarter of the season now gone.

We’ve seen Brady operate in a much more efficient manner in years past and the talent around him was a far cry from great, but things have finally reached a boiling point in New England. The team’s offensive general appears fed up and disconnected.

Brady’s window to win is rapidly closing and the Patriots have been seemingly stacking the chips against their future Hall of Fame signal caller. While Brady hasn’t been perfect, he’s being forced to overcome insurmountable odds on a weekly basis.

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His abysmal 59.1% completion percentage and the minuscule 5.8 yards per pass attempt is a direct correlation of the poor decisions Belichick has made leading up to this point in time.

How is Brady supposed to lead this team to pay dirt when more often than not he’s being hurried or knocked to the turf? The answer is simple. He can’t. Trading perennial All-Pro guard Logan Mankins was a mistake of epic proportions. Brady trusted him. Mankins made it a point to give it his all to keep Brady upright.

Nate Solder has been beaten regularly. He looks mentally lost. Sebastian Vollmer hasn’t been any better at the other tackle spot. Then the interior of the offensive line has been a disgrace. It’s been the march of the rookies who can’t seem to find their way nor block anybody.

The receivers have been wildly inconsistent as well. Julian Edelman is the only guy Brady trusts. More than 70% of his completions this season have been to Edelman. The man once deemed Wes Welker’s replacement, Danny Amendola, has done nothing. Despite that well known fact, Belichick continues to trot him out their in favor of promising second-year players Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins.

Brady has always managed to win with less than stellar offensive weapons, but that unfortunate circumstance has never been coupled with an atrocious offensive front.

Following one of the worst beatings in the Brady/Belichick era, it’s fair to question whether the Patriots brass has made winning another Super Bowl a priority. It certainly doesn’t appear that way as of right now and Brady can certainly read between the lines. Just look at who’s been taking the field with Brady. It speaks for itself.

Belichick is in charge of all personnel moves. He’s to blame for their current scenario. Many key players have departed the team in recent years leaving a patchwork group for Brady to work with. Brady may not have publicly said this, but you better believe he’s trying to figure what he’s done to deserve such a woeful deck of cards this season.

If things don’t change hurry, the once brilliant quarterback/coach duo may be destined for a premature demise.

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