The last 20 seasons of the NFL have been defined by five quarterbacks, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Ben Roethlisberger. With Manning, Brees and Big Ben all retired, that leaves us with the 45-year-old Brady and almost 39-year-old A-Rod.
One is in his 23rd season and the other is in year 18. And while both guided their teams to the top of the conference for years, the 2022-23 season doesn’t look promising after six weeks. To put it bluntly, both look a bit over the hill.
Gone are the days when these two could step on the field and still find a way to win regardless of who was catching passes from them. With both teams sitting at 3-3 and very much in the thick of their divisions, some may think this assessment is a bit premature, but it isn’t.
Both look like beaten men currently, and that’s something we’re not use to seeing from these two future first ballot Hall of Famers. But, as they say, “Father time is undefeated,” and it’s no different for these two generational talents.
Both have been seen complaining and shaking their proverbial heads more than ever. During Sunday’s loss to the then 1-4 Steelers, TB12 blew up at his offensive line.
Tom Brady with some words to his offensive line. pic.twitter.com/qBqjD7vfKg
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 16, 2022
While seeing Brady show emotion isn’t something unusual, it’s the way he was posturing to his blockers that seemed to catch everyone’s attention. The berating seemed a bit extra, especially since, as NFL analyst Keyshawn Johnson said, “Brady was playing bad himself.”
Johnson, a former All-Pro wide receiver, said that in his day, a quarterback who was stinking it up didn’t have the right to rip into his team, because everyone is playing poorly.
As for Rodgers, he just looks different, missing throws he’s routinely made with ease. And the timing with the receivers hasn’t helped matters either, but Rodgers still has been way off, way often.
the throw of a man whose hand is completely fine, don't worry pic.twitter.com/ooz2uyNLvT
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 16, 2022
Brady Hasn’t Been The Same Since Antonio Brown Undressed And Left The Field
Say what you want about Antonio Brown, but prior to his undressing and subsequent walking off the field at MetLife Stadium in January, Brady was hitting on all cylinders in the passing game.
Brown provided a consistent deep threat that opened things up underneath for the patented Brady check downs to backs and tight ends. Without the fear of being beaten deep, defenses are taking away those options, and with Rob Gronkowski retiring it’s been tough sledding for the seven-time Super Bowl winner.
Some have attributed Brady’s struggles this season to his highly publicized 11-day absence during training camp, the distractions of his ongoing marital strife with wife Gisele Bündchen and taking Wednesdays off every week if he so chooses.
But first-year head coach Todd Bowles says that’s not the case and Brady doesn’t receive any preferential treatment. Bowles told reporters this:
“He works as hard as anybody. Special treatment, there’s been a few guys that have missed some meetings and some practices for special things that just doesn’t get publicized because they’re not him. It kind of comes with the territory. Don’t worry about it too much.”
Rodgers Should’ve Lobbied More For Davante Adams To Stay In Green Bay
The reigning back-to-back MVP threw 85 touchdowns and just nine picks in those two seasons, but Adams, who’s arguably the league’s best receiver, played a huge role in that. Without him, Rodgers looks old and unsure of himself under center.
“Aaron Rodgers is the best and no one is questioning that,” said ESPN “Get Up” host Mike Greenberg. “But they lost a piece that they cannot replace.”
The aerial attack has been super suspect since Adams departed. Rodgers has zero games with at least 275 passing yards this season. Yes, he’s breaking in new pass-catchers, but that still doesn’t explain the constant missed throws and reads we’ve seen from Rodgers this season.
“The scheme has not developed in a way that suits them now and the offensive line is not the same,” said ESPN talking head Domonique Foxworth.
Following Sunday’s loss where Rodgers was just OK, passing for 246 yards and one touchdown in a 27-10 home loss, Rodgers, whose 6.7 yards per pass attempt this season is his worst since 2008, said the team needs to simplify things.
Sunday: Aaron Rodgers wants Packers offense to be simplified
Monday: Matt LaFleur says "I don't know what that means" 😬 pic.twitter.com/qm54ztFUZl
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 17, 2022
That sounds like a cry for help. He and Brady are complaining about everything and quick to throw their teammates under the bus these days. With Hall of Fame competitive spirits, neither QB wants to admit that Father Time is moving in. But they must face it, the league is now in the hands of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, the two best signal-callers in today’s NFL.
