The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/100794
������ michigan in the pros and I want to be part of it. I���ll do whatever���s necessary to get back to playing.��� Tom Brady On Record Pace Through Three Games Tom Brady found himself in a familiar place Sept. 27 ��� atop the NFL, this time with the most yards passing through three games. Had it not been for a bad stretch at Buffalo, his New England Patriots would have been at the top of the NFL standings, as well. Brady threw four interceptions in a 34-31 loss Sept. 25, one that dropped the Patriots to 2-1. The Pats led 21-0 on three Brady TD tosses before fading, but the former U-M signal-caller still threw for 387 yards and three touchdowns. That upped his total to 1,327 yards in three games ��� the most yards passing in any three-game stretch in league history. Brady threw for 517 and 423 yards in his first two games, and notched 11 touchdowns and five interceptions through three outings. He���s on pace to throw for more than 50 touchdowns, the record he set in 2007, and for more than former Miami quarterback Dan Marino���s record 5,084 yards in 1984. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees held the previous three-game record with 1,257 yards. As usual, Brady wasn���t focused on numbers after the loss to Buffalo, the good or the bad. He was disappointed about his four interceptions, but shook it off. ���It���s football. It���s a few plays here or there,��� he told the Boston Globe. ���We���ve been on the other end of that before, too. You���ve got to play for 60 minutes. You���ve got to keep your foot on the gas pedal and play mistake free. We certainly didn���t do that. [We had] too many turnovers, too many penalties, too many scoring opportunities that we missed. That���s why we lost the game.��� Brady isn���t likely to remain on his current pace (7,077 yards and 59 touchdowns), but that���s not his concern. ���It���s one loss, and it���s a long season,��� Brady said. ���We���ll go back to work and see if we can play better next week.��� ��� NFL Notes ��� Sporting News released its annual ranking of the top 100 players in the NFL, and the list included four former Wolverines: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady at No. 2 overall (behind only Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers), Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Brady threw for 1,327 yards during New England���s 2-1 start this season ��� the most yards passing in any three-game stretch in NFL history. photo courtesy new england patriots Long at No. 22, Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson at No. 33 and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman LaMarr Woodley at No. 54. Michigan tied with Tennessee and California for the second-most players in the rankings, all with four each. Miami led with six former players in the NFL. Minnesota Vikings offensive guard Steve Hutchinson was unranked after being tabbed at No. 23 last season. The publication noted, ���The once-great guard is 33 and nearing the end of his career.��� ��� The NFL players polled by Sports Illustrated disagreed with Sporting News��� rankings. When answering the question, ���Who would you pick first if you were building a team from scratch,��� the players chose Brady, giving him 24 percent of the votes. Rodgers was second with 14 percent. NFL Player Updates Through games of Sept. 26 ��� Adrian Arrington (Played at U-M from 2005-07), WR, New Orleans Saints: Has played in one game and caught one pass for 14 yards. ��� Jason Avant (2002-05), WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Has hauled in eight passes for 102 yards in three games (two starts). ��� David Baas (2001-04), OL, New York Giants: Has started all three games at center in his first season with the Giants. ��� Jeff Backus (1997-2000), OT, Detroit Lions: Has started all three games at left tackle. ��� Tom Brady (1997-99), QB, New England Patriots: Has completed 93 of 133 passes for 1,327 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions ��� Leads the NFL in passing yardage and October 2011��� ������ the wolverine��� 87