Super Bowl 2012: Tom Brady Cements Legacy as Best QB of This Generation

Tom Brady's reputation as the greatest quarterback of this generation seems to have taken a hit because the New England Patriots have not won a Super Bowl in seven years. But to tear down the quarterback for his team's shortcomings is wrong and indicative of our "what have you done for me lately" society. 

When his final pass of Super Bowl XLVI fell to the ground and the New York Giants were crowned champions, the questions about Brady's future and where he goes from here got louder. Do we really forget that he just had one of the best seasons in NFL history, with 5,235 yards and 39 touchdown passes?

Here is what Eric Wilbur of the Boston Globe had to say about Brady after the game on Sunday night.

"

The legend is dead, the prince has turned back into a frog, and...well, use whatever other cliché you want.

A performance as bad as Tom Brady's tonight in Super Bowl XLVI deserves a lead just as lame.

Sorry, Tommy Boy, this one's on you. Your hideous performance led to the Giants' 21-17 Super Bowl title win. How embarrassing for your coach, your teammates, and your fans.

--snip--

Tom, it's not all your fault, but you're the poster boy, you had opportunities, and you failed to make them. Add to that your blunders, and it all becomes about you. You blew this Super Bowl. You denied your coach No. 4. You let down your teammates.

"

Were the expectations really that high for THIS Patriots team coming into the year? We knew they would have a good offense, but it was better than expected thanks to Brady and the emergence of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. 

But that defense playing in a Super Bowl? No way was it going to happen. Yet the Patriots were there with a chance to win at the end. What more could Brady have done? It's not like the Giants are chopped liver. 

Brady should be praised for the way he came back after a slow start to lead this offense on consecutive scoring drives to end the first half and start the second half. He should be praised for being the man behind the magic this offense created all season long, and leading them to another AFC championship. 

The Giants won, and they deserved to win. All the accolades that Eli Manning and Co. are getting now they have earned. But to dismiss Brady and what he was able to do in this game and this season is scrambling to find fault with a player when he did nothing wrong. 

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