New York sports radio legend Mike Francesa teamed up with Christopher «Mad Dog» Russo for one more take Wednesday as the two voices of an era appeared on ESPN.
Francesa got a very hot take when Tom Brady announced he was «retiring for good» after 23 NFL seasons, seven Super Bowl championships and three NFL MVP awards. The New York Voice of Sports proclaimed that the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots quarterback was not the best regular-season or Super Bowl quarterback.
«Now I’m going to throw some oil on the ceremony,» said the 68-year-old New York native. «He’s not the best regular season quarterback I’ve ever seen, Peyton Manning was. He’s not the best Super Bowl quarterback that ever was, Joe Montana is.
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Close up of San Francisco 49ers QB Joe Montana, #16, before a game against the Minnesota Vikings in San Francisco.
(Mickey Pfleger/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
«However, he’s the guy who played the longest and won the most games. He won the most Super Bowls, so he’s going to be remembered because no one will play 23 years and probably no one will have a chance to win.» so many Super Bowls. It is almost impossible to achieve. He was in the right place with the right coach, and he was that competitive.
«But, let me just say this, in the Super Bowl, just look at the Super Bowl performances, no one has ever competed on the level that Joe Montana competed at. Not even close. And in the regular season, I watch every game of the season. regular». , the best Sunday-to-Sunday quarterback I’ve ever seen in the regular season was Peyton Manning.»
Francesa further doubled down on her opinion by saying that if she had a game to win, she would take Montana, stating that Brady «got a lot of Super Bowl breaks» while Montana «never made a mistake in the Super Bowl.»
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Brady played eight more seasons than Montana, but what made the quarterback great was how he exceeded low expectations. Montana was a third round pick and when he joined the San Francisco 49ers; Steve DeBerg was the starting quarterback. When Montana was given the reins in 1980, he led the team to a 13-3 record and led the team to a Super Bowl.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, #18, looks to pass the ball in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC divisional playoff game at Lucas Oli Stadium on January 16, 2010 in Indianapolis.
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Manning was the first pick in the 1998 draft for the Indianapolis Colts. He was pushed into his rookie season as a starter and led the NFL in interceptions. Expectations were high when he took the reins from Jim Harbaugh. In 1999, Manning came out of his shell with Marvin Harrison as Edgerrin James stood up under him.
Brady was on a team with a quarterback who had already been to a Super Bowl. It was already an afterthought for many teams. His ascent to the top of the mountain was unthinkable. Brady seemed to make it work with just about everyone around him, whether it was Troy Brown, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, or Randy Moss.
At 44, he could have won MVP when he had 5,316 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes. Brady also set a single Super Bowl record for passing yards (505) in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He also has 21 career Super Bowl touchdown passes, 10 more than Montana.
New England Patriots number 12 Tom Brady warms up before the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 12, 2014 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Jerome Davis/Getty Images)
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The debate will continue in some circles. Regardless, Brady will be enshrined in Canton in a few years.