The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is one of the most underappreciated wide receivers in NFL history, despite boasting a career that spanned 16 seasons and saw him excel as one of the league’s premier deep threats. Known for his speed, route-running, and ability to make plays downfield, Harold Jackson left an indelible mark on the game during an era that was not yet pass-heavy. Standing at 5’10” and weighing 175 pounds, he defied expectations of size to become a dominant force on the field. Over the course of his illustrious career (1968–1983), Jackson totaled 10,372 receiving yards and 76 touchdowns, placing him among the top receivers of his time.
Less than a week after leading a spirited, but ultimately unsuccessful comeback in the NFC Playoffs, multiple sources are reporting that 44-year-old quarterback Tom Brady is retiring from the NFL.
Multiple sources are reporting that Tom Brady is retiring after 22 seasons in the NFL.
If the reports are accurate, it is truly the end of an amazing era in NFL history. Not only has Brady played in more Super Bowls (10) and has more Super Bowl rings than anyone else (7), but he holds the NFL records for most passing attempts, most passing yards, most touchdown passes and most passing yards in NFL history.
However, unlike some of the quarterbacks he overtook for the all-time passing records (Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Dan Marino), Brady’s legacy is truly less about the statistics than it is about his winning history.
In the 20 seasons in which Brady was the full-time starting quarterback, he led his squad to the playoffs 19 times, including the last 18 years in a row. His career playoff record of 35-12 in 47 games represents nearly three full regular seasons worth of postseason performances.
When describing great coaches, they often use the adage that he could take his team and beat your team and then take your team and beat his team. Tom Brady is one of a handful of football players for which you could make the same comment. If Brady was the quarterback of the team, you knew they always had a chance to win.
Few (okay, no one, except maybe him) predicted such lofty greatness when Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 draft with the 199th overall pick.
The reality of life is such that some people are born to stand out and shine. One such person is Tom Brady. Born and raised in a small county in California, Brady took football by a storm. 2000 season marked his rookie year with Patriots as a quarterback and the rest is history.
Ever since, his performance in those early years of his career, the guy has never disappointed his team and most importantly, his fans. His success cannot be quantified into figures or even words which make him the ultimate icon. You think of NFL, I bet his face is the first that pops up in your mind. If your obsession with Tom Brady is not just limited to the super bowl, you must check the following things out to not just feel but rather be closer to the legend himself.
Merchandise
Tom Brady has been in the limelight for over two decades which means the merchandise would be in abundance. NFL has various items ranging from signed helmets to jerseys he worn while killing it in the stadium on its website for a decent price tag. In addition to that, there are numerous items including coins and bobble heads which might not be signed but they’re a great reminder of your love for him and most importantly, for the game for price as low as fifty dollars.
The New England Patriots dynasty is the most successful in NFL history, eclipsing the past feats of the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. Since 2000, the franchise have won six Super Bowls, appearing in nine in total in the period.
New England have dominated the AFC East, winning their division 15 out of
the 18 seasons following the arrival of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. The duo
have been the source of their imperious hold over the rest of the league,
morphing from plucky underdogs in Super Bowl XXXVI to comparisons of the evil
empire from the Star Wars movie series. Their reputation and their excellence
has seen them backed as a leading contender for Super Bowl LIV, although
the Kansas City Chiefs are the favorites in the Betfair betting tips for the 2019
season. New England are perhaps the safest bet for the title given that they
have appeared in the AFC Championship game every year since 2011.
As the National Football League prepares for its 100th
season, the top NFL betting sites
are making predictions for which team will lift the Lombardi Trophy at the end
of Super Bowl LIV.
At 42-years old, Tom Brady is still one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.
Given that they have appeared in each of the last three
Super Bowls (winning two), you can never go wrong putting your money on the New
England Patriots.
Conventional wisdom tells us that at some point the amazing
reign of the Patriots will end, but every time it looks like the magic run is
over, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick pull another rabbit out of the hat. In a
league where parody and volatility from year-to-year is the norm, New England
has posted double digits victories for 16 straight years and won 10 straight
division titles.
Even though Brady is 41-years old and will be without one of
his favorite targets in recently retiree Rob Gronkowski, there is little reason
to doubt that the Patriots offense will again be among the best in the NFL.
Last year they scored the fourth most points in the league and ranked in the
top 10 in both passing and rushing yards.
Solid defense is typically a key to the success of the
Patriots. Last year they were seventh in the league in points allowed, but
ranked 22nd in passing yards allowed. In a conference that boasts
some great quarterbacks, the Patriots have to improve their pass defense this
season.
Most prognosticators are jumping on the band wagon of the
team guided by one of those young quarterbacks, the Kansas City Chiefs. Pat
Mahomes nearly led the Chiefs past the Patriots in the AFC title game last
season and appear to be positioned to make another run in 2019.
Can Tom Brady and the Patriots make the AFC Championship Game for the 8th straight year?
The Divisional rounds are this weekend so it’s time to start looking at possible AFC & NFC Championships matchups and all of the historical data that comes with it.
Odds are out at the top betting site BetOnline as well as SuperBook and many others. At this point shortly before the Divisional Round plays out, the Kansas City Chiefs lead the pack at +160 to win the AFC. Not surprisingly, the New England Patriots are second at +200. The Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts are +450 and +500 respectively.
A Brief History of Conference Championships
Let’s look at the last four years of NFL Conference Championships and see if we can’t find anything that will point us in the right direction as far as predicting this season’s outcomes.
2018 Jaguars vs. Patriots & Vikings vs. Eagles
Ok. we all remember the amazing Jaguars defense that miraculously got Blake Bortles and a less than stellar Jacksonville offense all the way to the AFC Championship Game. Amazingly enough, Bortles passed for 293 yards and a TD without an interception, but it still wasn’t enough. Brady threw two TDs and the Patriots won 24-20 and went on to the Super Bowl.
Then we had the Vikings and their resurgent Purple People Eater defense playing against an Eagles team that had to throw a Nick Foles who hadn’t seen much action all season into the starting role. So the Vikings were three-point favorites, but Foles came out and dropped three TDs and 352 yards on Minnesota. He embarrassed the Vikings in a 38-7 Eagles win. Read the rest of this entry →
The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is one of the most underappreciated wide receivers in NFL history, despite boasting a career that spanned 16 seasons and saw him excel as one of the league’s premier deep threats. Known for his speed, route-running, and ability to make plays downfield, Harold Jackson left an indelible mark on the game during an era that was not yet pass-heavy. Standing at 5’10” and weighing 175 pounds, he defied expectations of size to become a dominant force on the field. Over the course of his illustrious career (1968–1983), Jackson totaled 10,372 receiving yards and 76 touchdowns, placing him among the top receivers of his time.
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