WHY THE BRADY BAILOUTS ARE ALRIGHT BY ME
If you tune into some local sports radio stations, you are guaranteed to hear about Tom Brady bailing out early on plays. While it has started to become more noticable and annoying, in the big picture it's okay.
Assuming you watch all of the Patriots games, you've definitely observed Brady avoiding getting sacked using the following techniques. Like most quarterbacks throughout time, Brady will frequently throw the ball away instead of getting hit. His newer move in recent years has been to see the pocket collapsing around him and then just take a seat to avoid getting hit. While he's been doing this sit down move all season, he's been doing it more often and with less pressure than before.
Some people have theories that Brady is "seeing ghosts" and giving up too early. Others have posed the theory that he just doesn't want to get hit anymore. Furthering the second theory, individuals have added in that he doesn't want to get hurt because of his TB12 company.
Patriots quarterback Danny Etling taking some extra snaps.
While I've definitely been irritated as much as anyone when Brady's given up on a play before there seemed to be any imminent danger, I've gotten over it after thinking a little more about the situation. Sure the two game losing streak full of early bailouts is likely to make the Patriots' playoff run a lot harder than it needs to be, but that's okay.
Why is it okay and how can I be optimistic? Come playoff time I'm certain Brady will be back to his usual self and not bailing out early when the game is on the line. While I'm definitely of the camp that he's bailing out early for self-preservation, I don't think it's because of his company. Looking at it from the standpoint of who would be playing quarterback and what the Patriots' chances are with someone else lining up under center, having the three seed and a healthy Brady sure sounds a whole lot better than the alternative.