New England Patriots: 5 players better off without Tom Brady
Tom Brady has made a lot of players better during his New England Patriots career, but one former teammate sees his departure as a good thing.
Are the New England Patriots better off without Tom Brady?
In leading the team to six Super Bowl championships and two decades of winning, how could such a question be asked about a player who is one of the, if not the face of the Patriots dynasty.
To rephrase that question, are the Patriots better without 43-year-old Tom Brady?
Former teammate Christian Fauria, who predicted Brady’s departure, feels the team is absolutely better off with where the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is at this point in his career.
During a broadcast of WEEI’s “Ordway, Merloni, and Fauria,” the former Patriots tight end didn’t doubt Brady’s skillset, but mainly his age and where he is at this point of his career.
Fauria highlighted that both the team and Brady were heading in two different directions and if the veteran quarterback remained, it would’ve stunted the growth of some of the team’s younger playmakers.
"“This offense is not going to be able to move forward with Brady as the quarterback, not because he sucks,” Fauria said, as transcribed by WEEI. “Those throwaways were important. It’s because he wasn’t willing to adapt. There’s the difference. He wasn’t willing to let N’Keal Harry grow.”"
In fairness, Harry wasn’t on the field enough to allow that trust to develop, but other younger playmakers were. Although unproven, many felt due to his great resume of turning unknown players into solid contributors, Tom Brady would found a way.
But it was obvious the magic was gone. What Brady needs in this point of his career is what the New England Patriots tried to give him in both Josh Gordon and Antonio Brown, and then in Mohamed Sanu.
He now has that and more down in Tampa Bay.
Where that leaves the Patriots’ offense?
Well, whether it is Jarrett Stidham or veteran Brian Hoyer (to start the season), the offense will look much different. Perhaps, they were trending that way even with Brady under center. Through the draft, free agency and players and being counted on to grow, here are 5 players actually better off without Tom Brady.