2. Tom Brady
In 2008 Brady was injured in the first game of season and the Patriots, despite going 11-5, did not make the playoffs. With Matt Cassel behind center, the Patriots offense didn’t produce as it did the year prior with Brady, and a result the team missed the playoffs for the first time in six years.
Case and point: with Brady in 2007, Randy Moss had 93 yards per game and record-setting 23 touchdowns. With Cassel, 63 yards per game and 11 scores — a significant drop in one year. Is there any doubt Moss’ numbers in ’08 would have resembled his ’07 campaign with Brady there?
Brady makes the most of a very mediocre receiving corps, minus Rob Gronkowski, who hasn’t been healthy in two years.
