Fansided

10 greatest New England Patriots of all time

By Russell S. Baxter

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: A detail as Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots communicates a play at the line of scrimmage in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: A detail as Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots communicates a play at the line of scrimmage in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots pumps his fist running onto the field before Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots pumps his fist running onto the field before Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

1. QB Tom Brady

The resume is extremely impressive. And the fact that any player would leave a franchise after 20 seasons is pretty unprecedented as well. Quarterback Tom Brady, second in NFL history in passing yards (74,571) and touchdown throws (541) to only Drew Brees, will now face the prolific New Orleans Saints’ quarterback at least twice this season – if all goes according to plan.

Of course, the heralded 199th overall selection in the 2000 draft from the University of Michigan toiled for the New England Patriots for two decades. Now he’s a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But football history will not soon forget what he brought to Bill Belichick’s team (and vice versa).

Brady would be the team’s starting quarterback in nine Super Bowls, six of which the Pats prevailed. He was voted that game’s Most Valuable Player four times (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX and LI). In a Super Bowl LII loss to the Eagles, he threw for a record 505 yards and three scores in a 41-33 setback. Of course, he also owns all the major postseason records in league annals and all while with New England.

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The sixth-round pick proved to be quite the bargain for Belichick and the Patriots. And his place in franchise history has been cemented forever.

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