Tom Brady: Which Will Come First—Another MVP, or Another Super Bowl Ring?

Tom Brady took home the AP's MVP award in a unanimous decision. It's Brady's second in his career, but something should tell you that it felt a little hollow.

While collecting personal achievements are nice and always help pad the career resume, it doesn't give Brady the satisfaction that hoisting the Lombardi trophy would. 

There's no doubt that if Tom had his way he'd be in Dallas taking on the Packers, but will he ever get there again? We know he'll always be in the hunt for both the MVP and the Super Bowl ring—but which one is he likely to get first? 

Let's look at both sides of the coin and see if we can figure out if his third MVP, or fourth Super Bowl ring is next in his future. 

10. MVP: He's Healthy

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots drops back against the New York Jets during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

There were grumblings even during the early part of the season that Brady wasn't ever going to fully heal from the season ending injury he suffered in 2008.

However, the rest of the season (following the game against Cleveland) Tom Brady put on a quarterbacking clinic that didn't stop till they were bounced in the playoffs by the New York Jets. 

In the last two seasons that Tom Brady has been 100%, he's been nothing short of magnificent. If he stays healthy there is no reason to believe he won't be an MVP again next season. 

9. Super Bowl: They Have Belichick

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots talks with head coach Bill Belichick before playing against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won the g

Most players will tell that they win Super Bowls with their coaches, not in spite of them.  Brady has the luxury of having the best coach in the game.

Three Super Bowl rings—and three AP Coach of the Year Awards—proves that Belichick is as good as it gets. While it's been some time since he's won a ring, it's only been 3 seasons since he got to a Super Bowl. 

The MVP award is a crap shoot that is based on a lot of different factors, but having Belichick as your coach always puts you in contention. The Patriots could win it next year if they play their cards right. 

8. MVP: No Playmakers To Win The Super Bowl

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Wes Welker #83 of the New England Patriots looks on during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

What's true is always true: you need playmakers to win the whole thing. Brady doesn't have them.

When Randy Moss checked out mentally—and then literally—the Patriots lost the only true playmaker they had. Now, they're a dink-and-dunk offense.

Sure, Wes Welker catches a ton of passes, but he isn't the kind of threat that the Patriots need to win it all. 

You don't need a playmaker to win the MVP, but it helps if you have one to win a Super Bowl. 

7. Super Bowl: They Have A Running Game

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 26: Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots runs against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

The one thing that has haunted Tom Brady—the way it has haunted Peyton Manning at times—is the Patriots' lack of a ground game.

Rarely have the Patriots been a running team, but—thanks to Danny Woodhead and Ben Jarvis-Green Ellis—the Patriots have life in the backfield. And if you believe what you read in your mock drafts, it's possible that the Patriots pick up Illinois running back Mikel LeShoure. 

If LeShoure lives up to his billing, and Woodhead and Jarvis-Green Ellis do their part, then you could be looking at an explosive backfield.  That could lead to Super Bowl rings. 

6. MVP: The Offense Is Designed For Success

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks to pass during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/G

This might seem like the obvious statement of the year, but beyond being built to win, it's built for Tom Brady to make fewer mistakes.  (With Moss in the mix, there was a bigger emphasis on airing it out.)

The post-Moss Patriots are a much more conservative offense.

They throw shorter, more efficient passes. While this isn't always exciting to watch, it pads the stats.

When it comes to the MVP award, that's what the voters will see. 

5. Super Bowl: New England's Defense Is Young

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots is congratulated by teammate Jerod Mayo #51 after McCourty intercepted a pass by the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/

While the defense was not a strong suit of the Patriots this year, it has shown promise over the season.

With the addition of Vince Wilfork and Devin McCourty, the defense has made some major upgrades.  Don't forget that before Bill Belichick was a head coach, he was a highly respected defensive coach.

If anyone can take a talented group of young players and turn them into a top notch defense, it's Belichick. 

New England's young defense might come around quicker than you think. 

4. MVP: Brady Gets Better

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a pass during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/G

As scary as it is, it's true. Brady's signature season was the 2007 season—where he passed for an NFL record 50 touchdowns.

This season, Brady managed half as many interceptions.  He also had a completion percentage that was close to previous years, as well as yards that were close and done on less completions.

What's startling is that it feels as though he played better—that he had better command over the offense. He's only 33, and he's going to better before he gets worse.

That fact alone will certainly resonate with voters. 

3. Super Bowl: Patriots Draft Well

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FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 26: Vince Wilfork #75 of the New England Patriots looks on during drills before a against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

The Patriots love one thing more than anything else: draft picks. That's why they have so many.

In just this draft alone, they have six picks in the first three rounds. The Patriots are great at drafting guys that work in their system and commit to exactly what they want.

This year, they're likely to draft a running back and an offensive lineman in the first round—and then just start pooling for the best talent they can. Rest assured if there is a diamond in the rough, New England will find it. 

Draft picks keep a team contending for the title.  Just ask Pittsburgh. 

2. MVP: Too Much Competiton In the AFC To Win a Ring

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is sacked by Shaun Ellis #92 of the New York Jets during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by

While Tom Brady may have visions of Lombardi trophies in his future, the rest of the AFC has some serious disagreements with that. The AFC is stacked.  That makes the Patriots' chances of climbing to the top much more difficult.

Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, and even the Kansas City Chiefs are all players right now.  And there are plenty of teams that look like they are on the cusp of being contenders. 

Brady wants a ring badly, but he might just have to settle for another MVP. 

1. Super Bowl: Too Much Competition from Elite QB's for MVP

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 15: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts greets Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots after the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 15, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won the game 35-34. (Photo

Brady might be the best quarterback in the game, but he is playing in a golden age of quarterbacks.

These include a number of guys who might, or might not be, all-time greats but who are capable of running off an MVP season. Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick, Matt Ryan, Tony Romo, and Joe Flacco are contenders year after year for the MVP.

These quarterbacks can give Brady a run for his money.

What's The Verdict?

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Tom Brady holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy as he stands on the podium with Deion Branch after The New England Patriots defeated The Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Staduim in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Steve Grayson/Getty Images)

Brady will meet serious competition going for a Super Bowl as well as an MVP.  

But not only is there more legit competition for an MVP.  The Patriots are already knocking on the door of another Super Bowl.

If Belichick can find a way to lock down that defense and make it a top five unit again, Brady will be vying for a Super Bowl MVP sooner than we might think.