Right now, Tom Brady (41) & Drew Brees (39) look unstoppable. (Super Bowl 53 will be on Feb. 3, 2019).
Brees, born January 15, 1979 will be 40 then. They both play for good teams and have good offensive lines; they might both threaten George Blanda who at age 43 threw a TD in the AFC title game
Kind of makes Eli (37) look like a baby.
Isn't he a joy to watch ! You think he could throw 60 TDs this season ?
I mean Joe Montana was benched for Steve Young at what? 34? Maybe 35? I mean he made the pro bowl with the Chiefs at 37 but it's just funny to think about how they benched him in SF basically because he was too old.
I believe Dan Marino was 34 when he played in his last pro bowl.
No disrespect to Montana and Marino, it's a different day and age for QBs now, but still this should give us some perspective when considering Eli's age and the possibility that decline due to age can come fast and furious in this league. Brady and Brees are the exception to the rule and it's amazing there's 2 guys doing this.
I would love to see a SB showdown between these 2 greats, and to be honest I would probably root for Brees. I just like him a lot more as a person, my mother is originally from New Orleans and you have no idea how much that man means to that city and the hope and joy he brought them in the years following the horrific tragedy of Katrina. He's probably my favorite player of this generation (except for Eli, but I'm taking homerism out of this for a second). Plus Brady/Belichek with all their cheating controversy over the years has left a bad taste in my mouth.
I mean Joe Montana was benched for Steve Young at what? 34? Maybe 35? I mean he made the pro bowl with the Chiefs at 37 but it's just funny to think about how they benched him in SF basically because he was too old.
I believe Dan Marino was 34 when he played in his last pro bowlfurious in this league. Brady and Brees are the exception to the rule and it's amazing there's 2 guys doing this.
I think the manner in which the refs protect quarterbacks plays into this paradigm.
Back then defensive players tried to hurt quarterbacks. Today they cannot get away with similar conduct.
I would definitely root for Brees if they both make the SB this year.
Unsure if you are saying this with a specific team in mind, but take a look at what KC is doing with Hunt. A good balance of run and pass. I think Mahomes throws the ball on average about 30 times a game.
Doesn't that argument make playing at 40+ more impressive, not less? Teams are relying more on the arms of their QB's, which very rarely have lasted to their 40's.
I could buy the opposite argument quite easily - if there was evidence that NO and NE were relying much more heavily on the run game then it wouldn't be so extraordinary that these QB's are having such success at their respective ages.
Montana says that he still feels pains from those 2 specific hits.
Quote:
60 passes a game, no running sweep plays. The NFL is now arena football crap.
Doesn't that argument make playing at 40+ more impressive, not less? Teams are relying more on the arms of their QB's, which very rarely have lasted to their 40's.
I could buy the opposite argument quite easily - if there was evidence that NO and NE were relying much more heavily on the run game then it wouldn't be so extraordinary that these QB's are having such success at their respective ages.
I think it goes more to the (lack of) physical punishment ; with the current rules in place, QB's don't take nearly the punishment they once did.
That said - what Brady and Brees are doing is still amazing...
Andy Reid will choke, or get outcoached by Belichick... Whichever comes first :)