Montana remains the gold standard

By Mike Young  |   Wednesday, February 06, 2008  |  Comments( 8 )

San Francisco 49ers
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Tom Brady will have to wait at least one more year.

At least one more year to avenge two straight losses to the Manning brothers when it mattered most.

At least one more year to become a four-time Super Bowl champion.

At least one more year before his name can be legitimately mentioned when people talk of the greatest quarterback ever.

San Francisco 49ers fans should be happy to realize, for at least one more year, the title of who's the best is still undisputed.

When Eli Manning found a wide-open Plaxico Burress in the end zone with 35 seconds left in Super Bowl XLII, he rendered Brady's previous 12-play, 80-yard drive moot.

Instead of Brady's fourth-quarter performance becoming heroic, even this decade's version of "The Drive," it became only a prelude to Manning's victory.

The touchdown pass to Randy Moss with 2:42 to play can never be compared to any other great catch, such as the one Dwight Clark made.

Brady was cool in the face of seismic pressure, staring down five sacks and what seemed like countless hits to take that 14-10 lead late. But it takes a little luck to be the greatest, no matter how good you are.

The Patriots are a dynasty with or without a fourth title, and Brady doubtless had a season for the ages. But with everything on the line, the greatest find a way to get it done. They score early and often, racking up scores of 55-10 and leaving no doubt, or driving the length of the field in the final minutes with John Candy and everyone else watching in awe.

Brady still has all the stats; his 50 TD passes and 4,806 yards from 2007 are more than any 49er quarterback has ever thrown for in a single year; in addition, he still has three Super Bowl championships. The last stat is the most important: Three championships, not four. Still one short of a couple guys, one of them being Steelers great Terry Bradshaw; but Brady is better than Bradshaw.

Brady still has a chance to get his four titles in one decade and maybe even more over his career. But for at least one more year, the red and gold standard stays in the Bay Area. For one more year, there really is no argument as to who the best is.

One of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history really only means one thing to die-hard 49er fans. Brady will have to wait at least one more year to match Joe Montana.
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CommentsComments: 8  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Da Niners		04:02 PM
02/06/2008
Couple things: Brady would need to win two more SB to even be considered over Montana. His recent loss to an inferior Giants team...
No.2
Greg in LA		05:02 PM
02/06/2008
In addition to Matt Maiocco's fine work quantifying "the best ever", unlike Brady, Joe Montana NEVER LOST a Superbowl. Plus you...
No.3
Blade		05:03 PM
02/06/2008
The patriots are a great team well coached great drafts,etc,however their 18-0 record (before the superbowl) can not be compared...
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