Rams' Robey-Coleman: Brady's age has 'definitely taken a toll'

The New England Patriots have adopted an underdog mentality throughout the playoffs - to the derision of some - and continue to use their perceived lack of respect to fire themselves up ahead of their third straight Super Bowl appearance.

Nickell Robey-Coleman, who's spent the last week at the center of the NFC Championship Game no-call controversy, apparently isn't scared to add fuel to the flame, as the Los Angeles Rams cornerback said he believes Father Time has finally caught up to the 41-year-old Tom Brady.

"Yes. Yes. Age has definitely taken a toll. For him to still be doing it, that's a great compliment for him. But I think that he's definitely not the same quarterback he was," Robey-Coleman told Tyler Dunne of Bleacher Report. "Movement. Speed. Velocity. Arm strength. He still can sling it, but he's not slinging it as much.

"Whatever he was doing - because of his age and all that - he's not doing as much of that anymore. He's still doing the same things; he's just not doing as much of it. And sometimes, it's not the sharpest. But it still gets done."

Later, the six-year vet clarified his remarks.

With a win Sunday, Brady would become the first quarterback to hoist the Lombardi Trophy after their 40th birthday. He was 39 years old when he won Super Bowl LI, slightly younger than Peyton Manning was when he won his second ring in 2015.

The Patriots were the underdogs for the first time in 68 games with Brady under center heading into the AFC title clash against the Kansas City Chiefs, leading the five-time Super Bowl winner to declare "everybody thinks we suck and can't win any games" following New England's overtime victory.

Brady posted his worst passer rating mark (97.7) since 2014 and his most interceptions (11) since 2013 in the regular season. In two playoff games, the veteran quarterback has thrown for 691 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.