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January 13, 2008

An Oscar for Tom Brady

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Perhaps an Oscar ought to be added to Tom Brady's lengthy list of postseason awards.

"I'm looking for my Academy award," Brady said, flashing that matinee idol smile.

He certainly deserves at least one, for Best Actor in a Pseudo-Statue of Liberty Play.

And a convincing case could be made that he also should get one for Best Actor in a Starring Role for his outstanding performance in the Patriots' 31-20, AFC semifinal playoff victory over Jacksonville at Gillette Stadium.

As for the first Oscar, let us start with the assertion that, if Brady decides he no longer wants to be a star quarterback, nor even a star on stage, screen, or television, he could be a phenomenal prestidigitator.

That is to say, a sleight-of-hand man.

The guy is an absolute magician with the football -- and not just when he's throwing it.

With the score tied, 14-14, six minutes into the second half, and the Pats facing a first-and-goal at the 6-yard line, Brady threw his arms into the air as the ball was snapped, making it seem as if running back Kevin Faulk had gotten the ball directly from center Dan Koppen and was headed into the line.

But, in reality, the ball did go to Brady, who tucked it on his hip, out of sight of the Jaguars. As the Jags converged on Faulk, Brady found Wes Welker open at the back of the end zone, near the goalposts, and threw to him for the touchdown that put the Patriots ahead to stay.

"We call (the play) 'double-pop,' " Brady said. "We just put it in Friday, and I thought we had a shot on it. I think (the Jaguars) bit on the run pretty good, and Wes did a great job. I just had to drop it over the linebacker."

Brady did a phenomenal job against a Jacksonville defense determined to take away the Patriots' big-play wide receiver, Randy Moss.

Moss set an NFL record this season with 23 touchdown catches among his 98 receptions, for 1,493 yards. The Jaguars limited him to just one catch, for 14 yards.

Which fazed Brady not at all.

"The thing with trying to take away Randy, or any player," he said, "is that you're vulnerable in a lot of other places."

All of which Brady found in riddling the Jacksonville defense for 26 completions in 28 attempts, for 262 yards and three touchdowns, without an interception

That's a 92.9 completion percentage -- an NFL playoff record.

"I thought we were efficient throwing the ball," said Brady, possibly setting a record for understatement. "Even if you're taking two guys every play and putting them on Randy, then you leave a lot of other guys 1-on-1.

"When guys are open, it's my job to hit them. They were open every time. It's easy when you have receivers that are open all the time, and an offensive line that never lets anyone touch you. It makes it fun to play."

And fun to watch.

Although, as tight end Kyle Brady pointed out: "I think we get spoiled sometimes."
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Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 12:15 AM | Permalink