Tom Brady: 10 Reasons He'll Never Be Comparable to Joe Montana

Tom Brady is considered one of the best quarterbacks of this generation. A lot of fans and analysts already consider him to be one of the best ever.

But how does he compare to the great quarterbacks of the past?

Right now we'll look at Joe Montana, who was the 49ers quarterback through the 1980s and early 1990s before finishing his career in Kansas City.

Montana won four Super Bowls and is now in the Hall of Fame.

While Brady and Montana are comparable on several angles, here are 10 reasons Brady can't live up to Montana.

10. Style Of Play

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FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks to hand off the ball during their NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 7, 2008 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the

Tom Brady is a master of reading defenses and reacting to what happens on the field, but as the Jets playoff game showed, if you don't give Brady enough pre-snap information and you cover his receivers, he loses a lot of his creativity.

Montana was a master at being calm and cool under pressure and found a way to make the play.

9. 75th Anniversary Team

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NEW YORK - APRIL 22: (L-R) Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Marino and Joe Montana attend the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

Joe Montana was named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team. If they do this again for the 100th anniversary, I have a hard time seeing Brady crack that list of Montana, Otto Graham and Johnny Unitas.

8. Super Bowl MVPs

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SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 10: (L-R) Former San Francisco 49er players Steve Young, Jerry Rice and Joe Montana stand with a Super Bowl trophy during a public memorial service for former 49ers coach Bill Walsh August 10, 2007 at Monster Park in San Francisco,

While Brady still has time to get one more MVP trophy, Montana finished his career with three to Brady's two.

Even if the Patriots do make it back to the Super Bowl, there's no guarantee Brady gets another one. At age 33, his time is running out.

7. Super Bowl Victories

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28 Jan 1990: SAN FRANCISCO QUARTERBACK JOE MONTANA TALKS WITH BRENT MUSBURGER OF CBS SPORTS, AS WIDE RECEIVER JERRY RICE HOLDS THE SUPER BOWL TROPHY, FOLLOWING THE 49ERS 55-10 VICTORY OVER THE DENVER BRONCOS IN SUPER BOWL XXIV AT THE SUPERDOME IN NEW ORLE

Joe Montana went to four Super Bowls and didn't lose any.

Tom Brady and the Patriots lost their last appearance in the Super Bowl.

6. History

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SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 9: Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish player and Hall of Famer Joe Montana stands on the sidelines during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 9, 2006 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo By

As far back as his first years at Notre Dame, coaches and scouts had an idea Montana was going to do great things. Even with some questions about his arm strength and size going into the draft, Montana was taken in the third round.

Tom Brady had to fight to become a starter and wasn't taken until the sixth round.

While Brady obviously has had a lot of success, Montana's skills were more developed and on display at a much earlier age.

5. Adversity

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NOV 1987: SAN FRANCISCO QUARTERBACK JOE MONTANA TALKS WITH HEAD COACH BILL WALSH, AS BACKUP QUARTERBACK STEVE YOUNG LISTENS, DURING THE 49ERS GAME AT CANDLESTICK PARK IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule/ALLSPORT

Joe Montana faced a lot of adversity in his professional career.

Because of injuries, he spent most of the second half of his career fighting for starting time with Steve Young.

Brady hasn't had to face any adversity since winning the starting job from Drew Bledsoe in 2001.

4. Better Rules For Wide Receivers

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 05: NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice speaks onstage during the 'Year of the Quarterback' panel at the ESPN portion of the 2011 Winter TCA press tour held at the Langham Hotel on January 5, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frede

The way the game is called has changed since Brady has entered the league.

Montana's receivers had to fight a lot more for the ball than they do now. With the new helmet-to-helmet enforcement, making plays across the middle becomes easier, further separating Brady from the Montana era.

3. The Comebacks

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27 Jul 1991: Quarterback Joe Montana and wide receiver Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers talk to each other during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Raiders. The 49ers won the game 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport

Joe Montana is known for a lot of things, but fourth quarter comebacks were his specialty.

When the team was down, as long as Montana had the ball, the game wasn't over. It didn't matter how little time was left on the clock.

Brady has led his share of comebacks, but Montana is the king. Many of the Patriots most famous comebacks ended with an Adam Vinatieri kick.

The 49ers comebacks ended with Joe Montana touchdown passes.

2. Relative Productivity

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18 Sep 1988: San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh confers with quarterbacks Joe Montana, John Paye, and Steve Young (l to r) during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The Falcons won the game, 34-17

While Tom Brady has broken a lot of records and earned a lot of honors, Joe Montana set some of those records in an era that wasn't as friendly to quarterbacks.

You put a young Joe Montana in today's NFL and he buries Brady, all other things being equal.

In 16 seasons, a few of which were shortened or eliminated because of injury, Montana still threw for more than 40,000 yards.

While Brady may eclipse that, he'll end up playing many more games than Montana. Brady only has one missing season on his record.

You can take any stat down the line and make the same point.

1. The Quarterback Friendly Era

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (R) speaks with Head Referee Walk Anderson during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

There are those who say the quarterback should be out on the field in a dress the way that position is protected today.

Montana didn't enjoy the level of protection Brady does. This undoubtedly changes the way Brady plays and finds receivers. Montana had to be on his toes at all times because he wasn't under the same protection Brady is.