Tom Brady has turned back the clock this season with some impressive play that belies his age. Yet he’s also showing his age in another area, and that’s a good thing.
Brady, who has piloted the New England Patriots to an AFC-best 10-1 record, turned 38 in August but is enjoying one of the best statistical seasons of his 16-year NFL career. He has completed 65.2 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,600 yards and 28 touchdowns with just four interceptions through 12 weeks.
According to Brady’s ex-teammates, though, the four-time Super Bowl MVP has made improvements beyond the stat sheet. Brady has been known to have a short fuse, but former Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown notes his old quarterback has been able to harness his emotions better with age.
“You can see how he’s interacting with his teammates, he makes himself very approachable to everyone,” Brown told NFL Media’s Albert Breer. “Those guys could all be intimidated by him, really all his teammates. And he’s made himself accessible and approachable — anyone can joke with him.
“He’s done a great job transitioning himself. He struggled for five, six, seven years with patience. It’s hard for guys to see it on his level. You see with the young guys, he’s really improved.”
Another one of Brady’s former pass-catchers had a more colorful description of the QB’s improved patience.
“He’s admitted in the past that his patience isn’t where it should be,” ex-Patriots tight end Christian Fauria told Breer. “It’s on a whole other level, Yoda-type level now. He’s the master. He has the glow, like in ‘The Last Dragon.’ Everything is moving slow for him.”
Of course, that’s not to say Brady has fully transformed into a tranquil Zen master. Those close to the Patriots QB have noticed Brady has played with an extra edge this season, thanks to the fiasco that was Deflategate.
“(Deflategate is) in the back of his mind, everyone knows that,” former Patriots wideout Donte’ Stallworth told Breer. “It’s probably gonna be ugly.”
Thumbnail photo via Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports Images
