Tom Brady shines a light on the “really challenging” aspect young NFL QBs have to deal with in the new era
Tom Brady has over two decades of quarterback experience, and over that time, he has watched the game of football change and evolve a lot. However, the seven-time Super Bowl champion is dissatisfied with one component of the transition, which involves young quarterbacks.
Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 draft and took over the starter duties after his rookie year. It is this one year that he sat behind the Patriots' previous top QB, Drew Bledsoe, that he gained a ton of knowledge from.
Tom Brady made an appearance on FOX Sports’ ‘The Herd’ on Monday and reiterated his development process under Bledsoe.
“My first year I had Drew Bledsoe to look up to, he took all the reps, I got to sit there from behind and watch him every single day I had a real mentor to look up to in Drew,” Brady said.
According to Brady, young QBs of today are not finding the same form of mentorship that he had; instead, they’re being thrust into the limelight.
“It was rare for quite a while for rookie quarterbacks to come in and play,” Brady added. (Earlier) you had a chance to be groomed well. We're not allowing them to do that much anymore. Now we're throwing them out there. Let's see what you can do. And it's a really challenging thing.”
Many of the rookie QBs drafted this year are in line to begin their jobs as starters for their respective teams. And this is what Brady was trying to highlight: teams want to see immediate results from their top drawers.
Tom Brady sympathizes with the QBs of today
Tom Brady also harped on the added pressures of being a young QB in this day and age.
“If I was a young quarterback in this day and age to go out there with the pressure of the agents and the families, the schools, the social media, the fans, the coaches, the owner, how do these kids live up to that?” Brady said to the host, Colin Cowherd.
The NFL fans will soon be able to hear thoughts and perspectives like these from the 15-time Pro Bowler as he embarks on a broadcaster job with Fox Sports on September 8.