Tom Brady: The Tortoise Who Conquered The Hare

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Tom Brady. As you hear those words, what comes to mind? Dynasty? Champion? Super Bowl? 

Now think of the word underdog. Tom Brady is just about the last thing you think of. And yet, that's just who he was. Brady was an underdog—a tortoise who conquered the hare.

After Brady was drafted by the Patriots, we all know (or at least most of us do) he had to sit behind Bledsoe for a while; waiting, watching, and learning before his opportunity came knocking.

But I'm talking beyond that. I mean in life, Brady was an underdog. A tortoise as it were. But one with a dream, and who through hard work, fulfilled that dream.

Brady loved sports all his life. He grew up around sports with three athletic older sisters and his parents who supported all of them. Tom also lived 30 minutes away from the 49ers stadium, and his beloved Joe Montana which probably had something to do with it.

Tom Brady actually attended the 1981 NFC Championship between the Cowboys and the 49ers. 

He had a passion for excellence, and a determination to win. He wasn't the biggest, fastest, or strongest in his neighborhood. But he knew how to win. 

Tom would go around challenging any of the fast kids to a footrace. He got smoked every time. But afterwards, as if watching film after the game, he would analyze what went wrong. What made them so fast, and what needed to be done. In time, he could beat any kid in town.

With his intelligence and never say die attitude, he flourished in sports. Not football, but baseball. He could hit, run, and throw with the best of them.

Brady never actually played football until freshman year at an all-boys Catholic school in the town he grew up in, San Mateo. 

His Junior year he was starring in two sports: baseball and football. He was known for his incredible work ethic and actually devised the football workout and training schedule.

His hard work payed off. In 1994 both Blue Chip Illustrated and Prep Football Report regarded him as an All-American High-School Quarterback.

However, in the 1995 MLB draft, the Montreal Expos picked him in the 18th round. Brady had to make up his mind between Baseball and Football. 

After thinking (and perhaps meditating) over his choices, he choose football. Good choice. Although many closer schools were interested in Brady, he choose to go with a scholarship at the University of Michigan.

But he was redshirted his freshman year, and the next was still only a third string QB. Remember, though, this is Tom Brady. With his incredible hare conquering intelligence, he memorized the playbook and practiced with all the starters.

In 1997, he was still last place in the quarterback race at Michigan. As soon as he was starting to get snaps, his year ended due to his getting a surgical removal of his appendix. 

When Brian Griese finally graduated, and after a grueling camp, he was elected starter in 1998. 

It wasn't a cakewalk to the NFL after that though, no sirree. 

They lost their first two games to Notre Dame and Syracuse. Still believing in Brady, Coach Carr kept him at the helm. That led to good results as Tom Brady turned the season around leading them on a winning streak all the way to the season finale—rival Ohio State.

Brady proved himself big time in that game, going 31-56 for 375 yards and a touchdown. He also set records in completions, attempts, and yardage. Remarkably, it wasn't enough as the Buckeyes rolled on to victory in a 31-16 win.

He led the Wolverines to a 45-31 win over the Razerbacks in the Citris Bowl for a comeback victory.

Only Jim Harbaugh threw for more yards then him in a single season in all of Michigan's history. 

Still, Brady wasn't a shoe in for the starting job in 1999. That was sophomore Drew Henson's fault. He was supposed to be a "once-in-a-lifetime" type talent. 

Although he shared time with Henson for the majority of the season, he still emerged as the solo starter for the last four games, wrapping it all up with an overtime victory over Alabama in the Orange Bowl 35-34.

So now he gets drafted and goes on to become a superstar and I need to end this article right? Wrong. However high your hopes may have just gotten...this gets better.

Scouts gave mixed reviews about Brady. While he had amazing work ethic, attitude, and drive there was something lacking. His durability.

He was 6-4 sure, but only just over 200 pounds. He wasn't a mobile Quarterback, and eventually was pegged as a solid back up, not worthy of ever getting a starting job. 

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