Good Luck Brandon!  Go Big Red!

I don't think the best ever, there once was a fella named Montana I believe. Also, a little earlier in my generation, there was another fella named Unitas. But for the current generation Brady is indeed the best QB.

I do have to admit, that in all my years, I believe this years New England team is the best I've seen.

NBers,

I can't be impartial on the Brady vs. Montana issue, for I'm a 49er fan that lived through and watched those amazing years of football by my Bay.

That said, I think what made Montana legend was the touchdown throw to Dwight Clark -- now known simply as "The Catch" -- to defeat the Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship Game, as well as the winning drive -- now known simply as "The Drive" -- to win Super Bowl XXII. Both these events are HUGE in NFL history, and part of the legend that is Joe Montana.

Has Brady orchestrated two game-winning touchdown drives late in the fourth quarter of such high-profile games yet? Is that the difference between greatness and legend?

I remember years ago reading an interview with Jimmy Johnson after the Cowboys had beaten a Steve Young-led 49er team in the NFC Championship game in 1992 I believe. This was before Montana was traded to the Chiefs. He mentioned that one of the things that made him nervous about the game was the thought that if his defensive line knocked Young out of the game with an injury, Montana was looming on the sidelines. He said he feared Montana more than anybody in the game.

Does Brady have that mystique yet?

Patriots fans should not take any of this as hating on Tom or the Pats. I said from the outset that I can't be impartial on this issue. Can anybody who is a fan of either of these teams? ns

With an asterisk, maybe. *;^/

I think it's impossible to compare eras. So many rules are different, making the game different. You measure a quarterback on his whole set of skills, intelligence, and toughness, but the rule changes make different skills more important in different eras. To be blunt, these guys aren't playing the same game.

• If you breathe on a receiver these days, you get a penalty. On the other hand, linemen can use their hands. Those rules change the game. For example, in Johnny Unitas' era, defensive linemen could use the head slap, and could hammer a quarterback mercilessly. QBs back then had to be physically tougher. Could Brady have stood up under the same pounding? Who knows?
• Johnny U had to call his own plays. But with all the adjustments Brady has to call out at the line of scrimmage, is it really that much different? Who knows?
• There were really fast players in Unitas' era (e.g., Bob Hayes) who were as fast as anyone today, but on the other hand, there's no doubt that today's overall team speed is much faster today. That extra speed means that defenses can cover much more of the field.  

In my opinion, the biggest difference is that the modern defenses are so much faster. You know why you never see a team attempt a real sweep anymore? It's because the linebackers are too fast. Team defenses are too fast, and they leave precious little room for offenses to make yards. That's why New England is so impressive - they're doing it against the fastest defenses in history.

PS: Good luck to your boy. Just out of curiosity, are you an ex-jock? That would make it even tougher.

Since Brady is a little banged up, I think the Patriots should just forfeit the game. Think about it, it's either play an injured Brady, or the back-up quarterback, neither one a very good choice. If they lose their perfect season by playing a banged up Brady, the Patriots will be humiliated and damaged for decades to come, known only as the team that blew it.

To hell with the "lesser of two evils" crap. Therefore, it's only logical that Patriot management forfeit the game to punish Brady for getting injured. Maybe he'll learn his lesson and never get injured again, PLUS, it might even motivate him so much that he becomes without a doubt the greatest quarterback the sport of football has ever seen. It also let's the coaches off the hook from having to make a decision. Much better to just forfeit than play the game with the best guy you have.

If nothing else, it will motivate the Patriots to draft a quarterback in a future draft that refuses to get injured just before the biggest game of the year. 

:)

Go Patriots! Only because I want to see history made.

  I watched NFL Commish Goodell the other day 'protect the brand' on TV. He has to.  There is literally billions involved in the big picture of the NFL brand name. If cheating is allowed nobody watches anymore or gambles on the games. Goodell and 'the Mob' have a lot at stake.  I watched the Boston team for years and wondered how the hell are they doing it with no big name talent, easy when you cheat. Belicheat was practically born in an NFL locker room. His father was an NFL assistant coach for many years. Belicheat was in diapers in NFL locker rooms . If anybody, ANYBODY knows how to cheat it's the crook Belicheat. He knows everything to know and MORE about NFL football. If anybody can figure an edge to cheat it's Belicheat. He's as bogus as a 3 dollar bill. Just look at him in is dirty hooded sweatshirt and 'I don't want to talk about it anymore' stance. He looks and acts DIRTY. As a retrired major city police detective I'd say the rat is dirty, somehow.  If you're innocent you don't destroy evidence proving you innocent. The goofy commish destroyed the taped evidence, why - TO PROTECT THE BRAND, THE NAME OF THE NFL, that's why. Kraft would pay ten times the fine he got to get another ring. He's a billionaire. The whole coaching staff should've been fired, at least. How many years have they been cheating? Have they stopped now? Who knows! That's why they should've been sacked AND banned for life. That would've sent a signal to anyone else cheating. To me the Boston team (I refuse to say 'patriots', it's an insult to real patriots) will always be tainted, always have an asterisk next to their records. Of course they'll win tomorrow, THEY CHEAT!

I absolutely despise the Patriots and Tom Brady.  But that doesn't mean that's he's a bad QB.  I think he would have to be considered in the best ever category.

I would say that I think this cheating scandal with the Pats does cloud my judgement some.  Here in Nashville one of our sports talk shows has former Titans TE Frank Wycheck on it, who is a huge Brady/Pats fan, but he said during the time he was on the team and they played them, he can now remember it being a little odd that NE seemed to know the Titans plays inside and out. 

I alos think Brady benefitted hugely from the weather in NE and some timely calls, remember the every popular Tuck Rule when the Raiders had them beat?

I would put Brady, Montana and Bradshaw up there.  FWIW I think that the 89 49ers team that destroyed Denver in the Super Bowl would beat this years Pats.  I think there's a few teams that could beat them fairly soundly.  But, this isn't PlayStation.

I saw a news blurb about Arlen Specter wanting to investigate the destruction of patriots spy tapes.

Okay ... why? What is Washington's fascination with cheating in sports? Haven't people like Specter been lying and cheating US citizens for years? What's next ... an investigation of Hollywood debauchery; why can't they keep Britney in rehab, what happened to the "clean & wholesome" Heath?

I've got a better idea Arlen. How about investigating how national security ALWAYS needs to be rebuilt after Democrat presidents leave the Whitehouse? 

I could care less who wins a GAME Arlen ole boy, so, watch the Super Bowl and shut the f@ck up!