Patriots: Tom Brady’s legacy always on the line

ESPN analysts Tom Jackson and Ron Jaworski went at it in a segment on the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show yesterday regarding which player’s legacy had more at stake in this year’s postseason: Atlanta’s Matt Ryan or New England’s Tom Brady?

The discussion turned into one regarding Brady’s legacy as a whole, and Jackson, never one to have been labelled “Mr. Foxboro,” said the five words that sting the most around these parts: “Brady’s lost two Super Bowls.”

In most arguments regarding the “greatest QB of all-time,” Brady’s boyhood idol, Joe Montana, is the gold standard and unfortunately for No. 12, he will never be able to say he was “perfect” in the big game.

Yesterday, however, Brady did trump the 49ers legend with his 17th career postseason win. Brady now has a legit opportunity to match Montana and Terry Bradshaw for most Super Bowl rings, at four, if he can pull off two more victories in this postseason. 

Jackson’s teammate in Denver, John Elway, is the only other player than Brady to have started five Super Bowl games. Brady could become the first QB to start six on Feb. 3. Already in his favor, Brady has the all-time highest winning percentage for quarterbacks with over 100 wins.

Now more than ever, every Brady start is chock-full of history.