Who Did Brady Want to Play?

by Brady's Hair on Jan 11, 2011 8:47 PM EST

During Tom Brady's most recent appearance on WEEI radio, he not only gave his thoughts on the new Broadway play "Lombardi," but also gave a glimpse into his thought process while watching at least part of the Jets-Colts Wild Card playoff game. "You just get riled up as I watch them, and then I start rooting for a team to win, and that’s not really what I want to be doing." This, of course, begs the question: Who was TB rooting for? See my thoughts after the jump.

While the Patriots did lose to the Jets early in the season, it's safe to say that their recent 45-3 routing proved that the have become a very different team in only one season. Although the Jets boast one of the best secondaries in the league with stars like Darelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, Brady proved excellent at finding the matchups that went in his favor. The vaunted Jets defense was revealed as mortal and Brady demonstrated that he and the rest of the Patriots offense were for real (just in case any doubters had tuned in to Monday Night Football). And it's probably safe to say that Brady would favor a head-to-head comparison with a SoCal pseudo-rookie than his cohort in QB greatness.

The Colts defense presented more of a problem for Brady than did the struggling Jets. Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, and the other Colts defenders limited Brady to 186 passing yards. Though James Sanders's last-minute interception saved the day in the end, Brady made it clear that he would have preferred it never to get that close. Since any Colts-Patriots matchup produces plenty of hat-wringing anxiety for most Pats fans, you have to believe Brady would not want to watch Peyton Manning orchestrating his offense for any longer than he had to.

Obviously Brady is too tight-lipped to reveal who he might have been rooting for, and at this point it doesn't even matter. The Patriots are notorious for accepting the situation at hand and dealing with it. Still, it's interesting to think about which matchup Brady (and the rest of the Patriots) were gunning for. What do you think?

Poll

Who was Tom Brady rooting for in the Jets-Colts Wild Card matchup?

Jets

335 votes

Colts

133 votes

468 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

i voted jets but i think he was rooting for Manning

He hates the Jets….and Wes rooted for the Colts in the AFC champ game last year

Non Sibi Sed Patriae & I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life

Pat McAfee -Colts punter-"@StampedeBlue I hope your website gets exposed for a complete joke. There’s no reason for you to do that, and its completely ridiculous."
"Stampede Blue-North Korea of SBN"-Colts fan

by NinjaZX6R on Jan 11, 2011 9:15 PM EST reply actions

I bleed gatorade and poop pigskins

by Yardpenalty.com on Jan 13, 2011 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, it's documented that Brady and Manning are at least friendly

when they aren’t playing each other, which makes sense. A commentator a few years back even said they sit down with each other and have dinner a few days before the two face off. Obviously, no such relationship exists with Brady and Sanchez/Ryan. I would not be surprised to hear Brady was a Colts fan that night.

by Treima on Jan 11, 2011 9:23 PM EST reply actions

Great point

I tended to think that Brady (like most fans) would root for the lesser competitor/team to win, so he’d have an easier way. But it’s a good point that he might have really been rooting for the better player to win on that night.

by Brady's Hair on Jan 11, 2011 10:20 PM EST up reply actions

I suspect the Colts

He’s had better luck shredding Cover-2 Ds this year (Vikings, Bears) and had more trouble with the 3-4s (Jets, Browns, Packers, Chargers, Ravens). Cover-2s just invite accurate passes up seams, and Brady can do that with this bunch of TEs and WRs.

And on a personal note, Brady has to realise that this was a golden opportunity to get one-up on whatever professional rivalry he has going with Manning. Beating Manning comprehensively in a shootout would suit him fine, whereas beating Sanchez probably doesn’t appeal so much.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Jan 11, 2011 11:29 PM EST reply actions

I was thinking along these lines

As far as the match up between Manning-Brady. The best want to compete against the best. Colts-Pats rivalry is fueled by two of the best of all time, and the best of all time want that on the biggest stage, so I think, for that reason, he was pulling for the Colts. I don’t think he cared which team he might have thought a better, or easier match-up.
I was thinking the other day, what if Seattle pulls out the unbelievable and makes it to the Bowl. Then, if fortune is with us, it’s the Pats in the bowl. If we win that one, there will forever be those who say, “oh, Seattle wasn’t that good, shouldn’t have been there, got lucky etc”, and the win would not be respected as much. Now, we wouldn’t really care, but the perception would be there, because to be the best, you should beat the best, and the best is either Atlanta or Green Bay.

by furiousd on Jan 12, 2011 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed, although the Pats have no control over who their opponent will be

But I have to admit I have thought the Colts had it easy in 2006 as beating the Pats was much harder for them than beating the Bears in the Super Bowl. Eh, can’t help what people say I guess.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 12, 2011 8:00 PM EST up reply actions

as a Jets fan

I’d be very surprised if he were rooting for the Jets. He seems to despise the Jets and like Peyton Manning. If he were watching and getting into it (almost like a fan), it would definitely be him rooting for the Colts.

by Crimetime Island on Jan 12, 2011 2:42 AM EST reply actions

I think you're right.

He and Manning have shared the same bench at the Pro Bowl many times. They respect each other.

I’m sure he respects certain Jets players as well. I know I do. Mark Sanchez? Not so much. Maybe in a few years, but right now? Not so much.

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Official Fire-Puncher for Pats Pulpit an SB Nation Blog

by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 12, 2011 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

add the fact

That Manning texted Brady mins after his ACL injury

Non Sibi Sed Patriae & I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life

by NinjaZX6R on Jan 12, 2011 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

Everyone in the comments has said colts, yet Jets have 72% of the votes... Quite odd

"I don't put any foreign substances on the baseball. Everything I use is from the good old U.S.A."

JVSM

Pedroya Lova

by Dustin's #1 Fan on Jan 12, 2011 8:46 PM EST reply actions

I believe many people believe the Jets...

since he has shown his “hatred” for them publicly, and that he might possibly want another chance to beat them. That’s just my read on it, though.

I don't think so. Homey don't play dat.

by AtomicDawg on Jan 12, 2011 10:30 PM EST up reply actions

I am getting so pumped up for Sunday I walk around punching everybody in the shoulder!LOL

See you guys when its official!

I bleed gatorade and poop pigskins

by Yardpenalty.com on Jan 13, 2011 2:08 PM EST reply actions

That's nothing!

One of my sons who’s home becuase of a snow day keeps taking me by the shoulders (from behind) and shaking me saying he can’t wait for the game. I’ve spilled my coffee twice (and that’s NEVER good, lol.)

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jan 13, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

No crying over spilled milk.

Spilled java, on the other hand, can get someone killed if it’s first thing in the morning.

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Official Fire-Puncher for Pats Pulpit an SB Nation Blog

by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 13, 2011 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

I wonder if it would be regarded as moral for Peyton to fly to Foxboro after the last game and help TB12 break down film? Surely he’d be free to do it?

by quadruple option on Jan 14, 2011 12:24 AM EST reply actions

Not sure it'd help...

The Ravens, Steelers and Jets all use a 3-4, and I’m not sure I want Tom taking his 3-4 reads from 11-picks-in-3-games-against-3-4-defences Manning.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Jan 14, 2011 2:12 AM EST up reply actions

I accidentally voted Jets, though I suspect he would root for the Colts eventhough he wanted to beat the Jets again

Its the hatred thing. You always root against the bitter rivals (as a Chiefs fan first, I root for whoever is playing the Raiders/Broncos/Chargers, but I’d obviously rather have the Broncos next week than say the Steelers or Ravens).

Either way, my team is out of contention now, so I’m adopting my fiancee’s team and the source for the KC braintrust now. Plus, I can’t friggin stand Rex Ryan. Give em hell Pats.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." -Gandhi.

by Sudden on Jan 14, 2011 6:46 PM EST reply actions