Apologies to Max Kellerman. We’ve been directing all of our vitriol towards the wrong bloviator. Skip Bayless predicted Tom Brady and the Patriots’ demise way back on 2006.
That’s three years before he even married Gisele.
This week’s episode of “Man in the Arena” opens with a brief recap of the 2006 season, which ended with an AFC Championship loss to the Colts. From a talent standpoint, it was probably one of the worst teams Brady ever played on. Infamously, Reche Caldwell was his No. 1 receiver.
Brady’s relatively down numbers that season (61.8 completion percentage, 3,529 yards, 24 touchdowns, 12 interceptions) prompted Bayless to declare his demise.
“I think they’ve lost a lot of faith in that quarterback of theirs. I don’t think he’s Tom Brady anymore,” Bayless said.
For those keeping score, that’s eight years before Kellerman told us Brady was going to “fall off a cliff.” Brady has played two Hall of Fame careers since Bayless’ idiotic prognostication: four Super Bowl rings, six Super Bowl appearances, 65,505 passing yards, 468 touchdowns, three MVPs.
And this season, Brady is a favorite to win his fourth MVP, while Belichick could win Coach of the Year. Patriots-Bucs is now the most likely Super Bowl matchup, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
Nobody is doubting Brady or Belichick this time around.