January 05, 2020

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 7 comments

If indeed last night saw Tom Brady's last game in Gillette Stadium, then the last few words of T. S. Elliott's The Hollow Men are particularly appropriate.

This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but with a whimper

posted by Howard_T at 06:15 AM on January 05, 2020

I'm sure Kraft will dump even more cash on Brady to retain his services, but here's a fun what if scenario: can you imagine Brady in a Giants uniform?

posted by NoMich at 09:31 AM on January 05, 2020

The Giants are one of the few teams that would make sense for Brady to go to. On the basis of the long held Belichickian principle that team ownership is a critical factor. BB learned firsthand what it was like to be keelhauled by a despicable owner courtesy of Art Modell, and walked away from the Jets due to his concerns about team ownership after the death of Leon Hess.

Mara and Tisch may be unimaginative, conservative head in the sand types but they're a whole lot more palatable than Chargers ownership for example. Brady would be nuts to play for a guy like Spanos. Or Irsay, Mark Davis, etc.

Besides the Giants, among teams with possible QB needs: the Broncos, Steelers, Jaguars, Bears, maybe Panthers (depending on their HC decision).

Another option: wait to see who hires Josh McDaniels.

Fun fact: today marks the 20th anniversary of Belichick's resignation from the Jets.

posted by beaverboard at 10:26 AM on January 05, 2020

Operating from an emotional standpoint, Kraft might try to re-sign Brady for market money, which would then set up chapter 3 of Belichick doing what he thinks is best for the team.

As with Kosar and Bledsoe, if the Pats go to training camp and Belichick decides that Stidham or someone else gives the Pats a better chance to win, Brady will be getting paid to sit on the bench.

The Pats could afford to have that happen, as Stidham would still be on his rookie contract. If Kraft ordered Belichick to play his beloved boy Brady, that's when things could get interesting. Belichick is not likely to let ownership mess with his fundamental principles.

posted by beaverboard at 10:37 AM on January 05, 2020

"then the last few words of T. S. Elliott's The Hollow Men are particularly appropriate.

This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but with a whimper"

Saxophonist Paul Desmond was a great lover of language and a master wit. According to legend, he was walking down the street in New York and saw an ex-girlfriend out on the town in the company of a well dressed gentleman.

Desmond's retort: "This is the way the world ends. Not with a whim, but a banker."

posted by beaverboard at 10:42 AM on January 05, 2020

Philadelphians of central European descent heard singing the following holiday lament:

Good King Wentz Is Lost cried all
On the field of Lincoln
Went into the tent did he
Victim of the season

posted by beaverboard at 07:04 PM on January 05, 2020

Wait a minute .. why would the Giants want Brady? They played the entire season with their 2nd best QB because they knew they were in transition and needed to develop for the future. And Brady's situation isn't anything like Peyton or Montana's where the team was going with a solid younger option and they still had something left to offer. I believe Brady stays where he is or goes to the Chargers for a pile of money they would pay, primarily for the brand aspect.

posted by cixelsyd at 10:03 AM on January 06, 2020

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