New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall recently said something that only the non-overreactive onlookers feel about Tom Brady.
Finally, somebody said something that makes sense.
Instead of overreacting in this social media, instant-gratification world we now live in, New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall took the realistic, cautious approach.
According to Connor Hughes of NJ.com, Brandon doesn’t believe Tom Brady is the best to ever play the game.
“He’s not the best player ever,” Marshall told NJ Advance Media at a charity event in Manhattan that benefited his Project 375 foundation, which raises money and awareness for mental health issues. “No.”
“We get caught up in that whole discussion, that when a quarterback is playing really well, he’s probably the best in the business, and we think he’s the best player,” Marshall said. “And that’s not true. When I think about player, I think about a guy that I can put at corner, safety, defensive end, a guy that I can put back on punt return, chase down kicks.
“That, to me, is the best player. J.J. Watt, that can play defensive end, tight end, put him at tackle, make him lose some weight and he can probably play linebacker and safety. That’s the best player.”
Honestly, his rationale makes sense, but I wouldn’t fully go there. Rather, I believe Brady can be considered the best of all-time, but not automatically be placed there based on five rings.
There are many issues at hand.
Johnny Unitas played during an era in which passing wasn’t easy. Brady didn’t start slinging across the lot until the passing rules opened up to an incredible degree during the mid-2000s.
Joe Montana is a perfect 4-0 and 11-0 (TD-INT ratio) while playing against some of the best teams in league history (New York Giants, Chicago Bears defense). Brady has the fortunate situation of taking on watered-down teams in this salary cap era.
While I agree with B-Marsh’s words, I’d take a different approach.
Either way, Marshall just allowed his name to get on a headline that’ll cause a little stir.