Age is just a number. Tom Brady proved it by becoming the most venerated QB in history. While NFL players are known to focus on size and strength, Brady followed a diverse path. And gradually the 7-time Super Bowl champion became an inspiration for many, Anthony Richardson being one of them. It looks like the Colts‘ rookie QB got a chance to chat about something that made him follow in the footsteps of the NFL GOAT.
In an interview with ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark, Richardson revealed Brady loved the game more than anything and stated, “It was his ambition for the game and the amount of love you gotta have for the game, for it to really like mean something, (the love has to be) astronomical.” And that’s evident from the lines of the GOAT himself, “Football is unconditional love. You have to believe in your process.”
Richardson further said that even though Brady wasn’t muscular enough, the continuous learning trait improved him with each passing day. “Seeing Tom, he wasn’t the most physical dude. He wasn’t the fastest dude. He couldn’t throw it the furthest. But he always made it look easy. It was like, dang, how did he do that? He just dove into learning the game and tried to be better than he was yesterday.”
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“Do you love football to the point that if it were taken away from you, you couldn’t live without it?”@TomBrady won his 7th Super Bowl with the @Buccaneers when @GVOaant was a young Florida gator. He watched Brady become the 🐐 without elite measurables, & “He made it look… pic.twitter.com/xmDz026ykP
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) August 6, 2024
Well, it seems like Brady knew exactly what it takes to be the best QB. In various interviews, Brady was found to talk of ‘pliability‘ that kept his muscles “soft, long, and ready to move”. Interesting right?
So it wasn’t about the muscle size the game needed from a QB but the flexibility. As a result, it was all due to his diverse stretching exercises that Tom could push himself faster and stronger with age. NBA star Chris Paul’s switch to a vegan diet comes to our minds. Well, none can deny these as the NFL GOAT was 44 years old when he threw 201 yards and 3 TDs over the Chiefs to grab the Super Bowl in 2021. Furthermore, his knowledge of breaking through the defense is justified by his comeback plays.
Who can forget the super comeback of the Patriots in Super Bowl LI? Back then, it was the biggest comeback of Tom Brady as he led his team to a victory from a 3-28 to 34-28 against the Atlanta Falcons. In addition, the retired QB flipped the script in the final 10 minutes of the 2017 AFC championship game. He threw a 4-yard TD to Danny Amendola, resulting in a 24-20 victory that sent the Patriots to that Super Bowl.
The king of comebacks indeed!
As the Colt’s QB watched everything with his rookie eyes, he seemed highly motivated. “I know what I can do. I can run and jump and throw the ball far. If I can take that small little piece from him, the rest is gonna be history,” stated Colt. So, how is he ramping up for the season with the Colts?
Anthony Richardson aims to do better: Following Tom Brady’s footsteps for a stellar season
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After a strong start to his rookie season with the Colts, Richardson hit some bumps in April’s drills – first a concussion, followed by a season-ending shoulder injury. But he seems to have beaten the odds and now looks sharp. “He’s in a really good spot. His shoulder is feeling good. He should be good to go for practices,” per coach Shane Steichen. It appears he was performing better than he did in 2023.
The Colts’ QB dropped back, read the pass coverage, and confidently threw the ball deep downfield in the August training sessions. And guess what? As he occasionally ran to the sidelines, the Colts’ fans roared.
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It seems like the rookie was getting the fans’ approval, too. Although his every move was under heavy scrutiny with his errors being magnified more, the rookie QB was confident of success as he said, “It’s definitely easier to manage our offense now,” Richardson said. ‘I’m a lot more comfortable, a lot more comfortable with the call.”
Will Richardson be seen to lead his team against the Broncos on 11th August? Let’s wait and watch.