It’s been a year of comeuppance for key members of the New England Patriots’ dynasty. Team owner Robert Kraft and former head coach Bill Belichick were both reportedly snubbed by Hall of Fame voters, and legendary quarterback Tom Brady fears he could be next.
Brady cast doubt on his first-year Hall of Fame chances Tuesday, saying he should “be a little concerned” about missing the cut once he gets his name on the ballot.
Advertisement
Brady made those comments during an appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on Tuesday. Brady was asked about both Belichick’s and Kraft’s reported snubs, and took issue with both men missing out on the Hall of Fame in their first years of eligibility.
Near the end of his response about Kraft, Brady added, “Maybe it’s not trending so well for ex-Patriots. Maybe I should be a little concerned here.”
That comment drew laughs from Cowherd, but there could be some truth to it. Based on his numbers, Brady is a no-doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer. His trophy case is full. Brady has seven Super Bowl rings, made 15 Pro Bowls, is a three-time All-Pro selection and a three-time league MVP. He holds the all-time NFL records for starts, completions, attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns and first downs. He’s widely considered one of the best — if not the best — quarterback of all time.
Surely, all of that is enough to get Brady into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot, right?
Advertisement
Well, that’s exactly how it looked for both Belichick and Kraft. Both men have resumes that suggest they should have waltzed into the Hall during their first years of eligibility. But that didn’t happen. In Belichick’s case, the coach may have been penalized for his involvement in both Deflategate and Spygate. Kraft may have been similarly punished for both scandals happening while he was the team’s owner.
If Hall of Fame voters follow suit, Brady could actually find himself in trouble when he’s eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028. While Brady may not have played a big role in Spygate, he was a central figure in Deflategate, in which he was accused of intentionally deflating footballs to make them easier to grip and throw. Brady was eventually suspended by the NFL for four games for his role in the scandal. If those scandals were truly the reason Belichick and Kraft were snubbed, Brady should be worried about getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
Advertisement
But, as Brady said when discussing Kraft and Belichick, there’s little doubt both men will get into the Hall eventually. Given all they’ve accomplished in the sport, it seems extremely likely Belichick and Kraft will cruise into the Hall of Fame the next time they are eligible.
If Brady does get snubbed during his first year of eligibility, it’s essentially guaranteed he’ll follow that same path. A Pro Football Hall of Fame without Brady doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Leave a Reply