BBrown: Tom Brady Question for the board...

Submitted by Brandon Brown on
After watching the clip of Brady's speech to the team I started to try and think of another NFL player that brings as much to the table as he does. When it comes to his backstory, NFL accolades, endorsements, current relevance to college-aged kids, level of intelligence, delivery, supermodel wife, etc...is there any other NFL player that can match his overall resumé if brought in to speak to his alma mater???

Sllepy81

August 23rd, 2013 at 1:10 AM ^

would kill in getting criminals for Meyer to commit....things. Barry Sanders, I'm no lions fan but as a California kid he was the man and I grew up watching Montana weekly, Montana just comes off as snobish so I put Barry ahead of him. He's always voted as a cover athlete for videogames whether NCAA 13 or madden 25.

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Leaders And Best

August 23rd, 2013 at 3:10 AM ^

Charles Woodson may not be as famous as Brady, but Woodson is a Heisman Trophy winner, National Champion, NFL Defensive POY, Super Bowl champion, and probable Pro Football Hall of Famer. He's won almost every award a defensive player can win. The only thing missing from his resume is Super Bowl MVP.

Other guys I think would be on this list right npw: Peyton Manning, Ray Lewis (despite what many people think of him, a lot of young players admire the way he played on the field), and Drew Brees. If we aren't limited to just active players, then Emmitt Smith, Joe Montana, Deion Sanders would be on the list as well.

 

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Ali G Bomaye

August 23rd, 2013 at 12:08 PM ^

It's tough to fault Woodson for not being a Super Bowl MVP.

First, a defensive back winning the Super Bowl MVP is almost as unlikely as, well, a defensive back winning the Heisman.  It really comes down to making a spectacular play, as both DB MVPs (Jake Scott and Dexter Jackson) had long interception returns in defensively-dominated games.  Even the best DBs only make a couple plays like that per season (quick, how many defensive plays can you remember Woodson making in 1997?  For me it's three: the interceptions against Colorado, MSU, and WSU).

Second, Woodson's team was blown out in his first Super Bowl appearance because Rich Gannon forgot which team to throw to, and he was knocked out of the game near halftime of his only Super Bowl win.

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Talcelm

August 23rd, 2013 at 1:49 AM ^

Miami (YTM) has had some pretty good speeches by former players...Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp and of course Ray Lewis. Makes me wish more of our famous dedicated and talented alum would come back every year and talk what it's like to be a Michigan Man!!

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snoopblue

August 23rd, 2013 at 1:57 AM ^

Pure speculation but I think this trip also had something to do with Under Armour. Only 4 more years if we fulfill the entire contract with Adidas. It'd be a good idea for Tommy to start getting himself reacquainted with the AD. 

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Jeff09

August 23rd, 2013 at 2:13 AM ^

Maybe Charles Woodson.

Little cool story bro for the board, I'm currently texting w Braylon Edwards. Guy I work with met him out in NYC and pinged me b/c he knew I would get all excited.

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1464

August 23rd, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^

Cooler story, bro.  I was a manager at a nightclub where Josh Cribbs had a birthday party.  Got to hang out with him and Braylon quite a bit that night.  Both were super nice to everyone.  Got to know the entire VIP bar staff by name, tipped well, the whole 9 yards.  Braylon's drink of choice - Hurricane, for what that's worth.

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An Angelo's Addict

August 23rd, 2013 at 7:05 AM ^

He doesn't match every accolade but I always think Desmond Howard's T.V presence is great publicity for Michigan and he brings a lot to the table. For those of us at the UTL game part 1 I thought it was pretty powerful when they honored Desmond before the game and he gave a brief speech

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elm

August 23rd, 2013 at 9:31 AM ^

I've seen Desmond give a speech in front of a group of about 100 people and briefly met him before hand.  He is an amazing man: very humble, very giving, smart and funny.  You're right that his NFL accolades don't match Brady's or Woodson's, but his post-NFL career puts him close, IMO, both his work on ESPN and his charity work (he does an awful lot for the Boys' and Girls' Clubs).

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gustave ferbert

August 23rd, 2013 at 7:10 AM ^

American dream incarnate.  Not highly recruited, not highly drafted.  Had to overcome Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe and become a three time super bowl mvp.  Made the most of each opportunity.  Traded in Tara Reid for Bridgette Moynihan (sic), and then traded her in for Gisele. . . 

Woodson is excellent of course, but everyone knew he had talent.  He wasn't the perpetual underdog that Brady was.

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