Bledsoe Case Analysis

As Bledsoe optioned to take the ball and run himself, he was focused on reaching the first down marker. Without regard for his safety, Bledsoe kept his body upright and challenged the New York Jets defender to make a play. Both, Bledsoe and the defender lowered their shoulders, except the momentum of the opposition inflicted such force onto Bledsoe, he was forced by his body to remain on the ground. It was evident, a return for Bledsoe was inconceivable. Nonetheless, an unsuspecting, inexperienced but not unprepared Tom Brady, was nearest to carrying out the quarterback role. Tom Brady, number twelve, swiftly placed his helmet onto his head and awaited guidance regarding the coaching move. Brady was given the quarterback position only moments
later. His cleats brushed across the artificial turf as he adjusted his jersey and began the peregrination to the huddle. Behind Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots organization, Brady would eventually secure four Super Bowl rings and an opportunity to instill his legacy as an NFL legend. How did Tom Brady, former backup in college and in the NFL, procure such an incomparable craft? He has always been this exceptional but all he needed was a chance to prove his worth. Tom Brady will ultimately finish his career as the most superior quarterback to play the game, simply because of a fortuitous event that gave him the opportunity for success. Beginning at a young age Tom was a backup quarterback, in high school, college and the NFL, Brady was always second.
Being second is not bad, being second motivates you to work and improve until the time comes when you receive a chance. From the standpoint Brady had, being behind a very successful quarterback, he knew what needed to be done for the team to succeed. He could of arguably had the same skills as Bledsoe but lacked the experience. Tom Brady clearly was not the type of person to want to be behind someone else. His success came from the motivation he acquired from not always being first. Not one day would go by that Brady didn’t question why he wasn’t out on the field starting. He could only work as hard as he could all the time to perfect his skills and give himself the best shot at a starting role. The main criticism about Brady was the quickness of the plays he made. “ Slow on reads, slow to react, doesn’t deliver the ball in time,” what do you think Tom Brady did? He worked hard at those things, but always kept in the back of his mind that the time would come. He would eventually see the day he could display the talents he had been refining his whole
career. “ Do your job” The basis of Bill Belichick's coaching style. He expresses that everyone has their own separate, important role, whatever your position may be. Each position play a vital role in contributing to the team's success. Tom Brady, in particular held the position of backup quarterback. As the replacement, Brady had an important job, that was to be prepared if Bledsoe, the starting quarterback was injured. That time did eventually come and Brady was ready to do his job. “ I’ve always told myself, if you get this opportunity because you never know how many you're going to get, and when you do get your opportunity, you better be ready to take advantage of it” This Tom Brady quote resonates with most people, who visualize success within opportunity. September 24, 2001 was the day an opportunity arose for the New England Patriots quarterback. It was the picture perfect moment, Tom Brady running onto the field with the instrumental version of Baba O’riley playing in the background; it was the opportunity he needed to clinch a starting position as a quarterback in the NFL. Although the New England Patriots lost that game, Brady proved he was capable of competing at that level. With the determination and hope he gained from that game, the Patriots organization along with Brady, never thought twice about the decision to make him their starting quarterback. Second does not mean anything if you are continuing to strive for a goal. Second only gives you motivation and desire to attain that goal. What Tom Brady was fueled off of was the desire to become a great quarterback in the NFL and the first step in getting there was to get the opportunity to take someone's job, and taking that job is exactly what he did. Tom Brady, given the 2001 season as his opportunity to prove what he was capable of, surprised everyone by bringing his team to the Super Bowl.
If this does not motivate you, are you trying to achieve your goals? This was only the second year Tom Brady had played in the NFL, a backup, who had set goals to become the starter. He reached that goal, but he set another one, win a Super bowl. In his first year playing a full NFL regular season game, he made it to the Super Bowl and against the L.A. Rams, won his first ring. The ability to win immediately and unexpectedly from a backup, shows that no matter how young you are, or how inexperienced you may be, you can always set goals for yourself, and those goals can always be attained. Even though Tom Brady started behind at each level, his aspiration, work-ethic, motivation and patience allowed him to prevail as a supreme
quarterback. The 2001 season was not a fluke either, Tom Brady continued his success throughout the next 14 seasons as the New England Patriots starting quarterback, including three more super bowl wins. Brady, backup on his JV football team in highschool, very well could have quit then, but because of his love and passion for the game, he pursued it. Through dedication and relentless work Tom became backup at Michigan. Again, behind someone else, he could have stopped working hard and let himself be consumed by the growing talent at the quarterback position, but he fought. Eventually becoming the starter at Michigan, he impressed, but was drafted in the sixth round in the 2000 NFL draft, low by NFL standards. Throughout his career, he faced adversity but adversity made him a stronger player and it shows that by not giving up, opportunities will arise. Even though Tom Brady started his NFL career as second on the New England Patriots QB depth chart, he will finish as number one on the all time NFL QB list.