NFL personnel execs: Brady isn't the problem for Patriots
Tom Brady has been widely criticized in the wake of the New England Patriots' embarrassing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football, with some pundits even arguing that his time as a top quarterback is over.
However, that opinion isn't necessarily shared by all personnel around the league:
With the Patriots ... Asked around with NFL personnel folks yesterday and this AM, can't find anyone who thinks Tom Brady is the problem.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 1, 2014
They aren't saying Brady's been great, moreso that there are systemic issues that are a much bigger deal. In short, he's not getting help.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 1, 2014
There's certainly more at play here than Brady's performance, including the fact that he's stuck behind arguably the worst offensive line the Patriots have had in his career, and he doesn't have a viable deep threat to open up the short passing game, which has been his bread and butter for years.
But Brady is 37-years-old and he won't remain at the top of his game forever. The question is whether his recent play is just a dip in what will be a slow decline, or if he's already fallen off the cliff.