We here at GGN would like to take the time out of our day to wish a very happy birthday, and many more, to our dear friend and rival Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. This is a toast to Tom's birthday and is in no way at all a celebration of the year in which almost all quarterbacks markedly decline and fall out of the league within a couple of seasons.This is a classy tribute to a great player and should not be construed in any way as reveling in the inevitable and impending end of the Patriots dynasty.
My gift to you, Mister Brady, are some facts we can all enjoy:
Including the Unitas-Morrall tandem in SB V, only 5 men have ever won a super bowl aged 35 or over. They are: John Unitas, Earl Morrall, Roger Staubach, Jim Plunkett, and John Elway.
One Quarterback over the age of 35 has won the SB since 1985.
Some incredible QB's are known for their huge drop offs in value and playing ability on or around the big 3-5. Some of those names include: Marino, Montana, Moon, Aikman.
QB's that lasted a couple of years longer and actually played include Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, and Steve Young lasted until the ripe old age of 38. Jury is still out on Peyton Manning. George Blanda lasted until he was almost 50. Brad Johnson and Vinny Testaverde lasted into their 40's as well but the common thread illustrated between all of these players, no matter when they retired, is how much their play dropped off after the age of 35. Rich Gannon did well for himself late in his career.
Here is a graph from PFF detailing the fantasy production of players from 1970-2011 as they age. Notice the huge drop off that begins BEFORE 35. This illustrates that most quarterbacks are only truly productive from 25-36 years of age.
This graph tells us that historically players fall into their groove at 25 and 37 is pretty much the defining end of a QB's career, or at least their good days. Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow are 25. Tom Brady is 35. How this will affect the future is up to you to project, I'm just laying it all out there and wishing Tom a happy birthday.
The end is nigh. Smell the future, GGN'ers. Things will change over the course of the next few years that will surpass your wildest expectations about this division, just watch. The Patriots will soon be crushed under the weight of the division as their QB and coach ride off into the moonlight to a retirement home in Florida.
Happy Birthday, Tom Brady. And many, many more.