The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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78 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2018 BY AUSTIN FOX N ew England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will eventually start slowing down someday, but 2018 doesn't appear to be the year. He is once again on his way to an- other stellar campaign, tossing 13 touchdowns (tied for sixth most in the NFL) through the Patriots' first six contests. The veteran has thrown at least one score in every game, and has compiled three or more on three separate occasions. Perhaps even more impressively, though, Brady has completed at least 65.7 percent of his passes in every game but one (53.8 percent in a 26-10 loss at Detroit Sept. 23), including a season-best 77.3 Oct. 4 versus Indianapolis. The highlight of his season, though, came Oct. 14 in a 43-40 victory over the previously unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs. The signal-caller rallied New England back from two fourth-quar- ter deficits, before kicker Stephen Gostkowski nailed a 28-yard game- winning field goal as time expired. "The 41-year-old did on Sunday night what he has done so many times before," Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal wrote. "Not that anyone was surprised. "Year after year, Brady has engi- neered comeback drives late in the fourth quarter." The NFL FRANK CLARK ON PACE FOR BEST SEASON OF HIS CAREER Seattle Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark, who played at Michigan form 2011-14, is off to a torrid start through the first six games of 2018, recording at least one sack in four of the team's first six outings, including a 2.5-quarterback takedown perfor- mance in a 27-3 win over Oakland Oct. 14. Clark's career high in sacks in a sea- son is 10 (which he set two years ago), but the 25-year old is on pace to shatter that total. As of Oct. 15, his 5.5 sacks were tied for the fifth most in the NFL. The fourth-year pro also grabbed his first career interception in Seat- tle's 33-31 loss to the Los Angeles Rams Oct. 7, and returned it 26 yards. FORMER WOLVERINES ON NFL ROSTERS Through Oct. 15 • Ben Braden (Played at U-M from 2012-16), OG, New York Jets: Resides on the 3-3 Jets' practice squad and has not appeared in a game this season. • Tom Brady (1996-99), QB, New Eng- land Patriots: Connecting on 67.8 per- cent of his passes with a 13-6 touchdown- to-interception ratio, while tossing for 266.5 yards per game for the 4-2 Patriots. • Jake Butt (2013-16), TE, Denver Broncos: Tore his ACL during practice Sept. 25 and will miss the remainder of the season … Started the first three contests for 2-4 Denver and tallied eight catches for 85 yards. • Taco Charlton (2013-16), DE, Dallas Cowboys: Started all six games for the 3-3 Cowboys, and racked up 14 tackles, one sack and one pass defended. • Jehu Chesson (2012-16), WR, Washington Redskins: Sits on the 3-2 Redskins' 10-man practice squad and has only appeared in one tilt in 2018. • Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Seattle Seahawks: Started all six games for 3-3 Seattle and has stuffed the stat sheet, recording 14 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one pass defended and one interception. • Jeremy Clark (2012-16), CB, New York Jets: Resides on 3-3 New York's practice squad and has not seen game action this season. • Mason Cole (2014-17), C, Arizona Cardinals: Has started all six games at center for 1-5 Arizona. • Blake Countess (2011-14/finished at Auburn), CB, Los Angeles Rams: Hasn't earned any starting nods, but has seen action in all six of the 6-0 Rams' tilts, tallying three tackles and a 25.9- yard average on nine kick returns … Also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers Sept. 23. • Amara Darboh (2012-16), WR, Se- attle Seahawks: Placed on the 3-3 Se- ahawks' injured reserve list and will miss the rest of the season after undergoing successful shoulder surgery Sept. 4. • Devin Funchess (2012-14), WR, Carolina Panthers: Started all five of the 3-2 Panthers' contests, and has caught 23 passes for 312 yards (leads the team) and two touchdowns. • Ben Gedeon (2013-16), LB, Min- nesota Vikings: Participated in all six of the 3-2-1 Vikings' contests (one start) and recorded eight tackles. • Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OG, Detroit Lions: Received the starting nod at center in every game for 2-3 Detroit. • Ryan Glasgow (2012-16), DT, Cincin- nati Bengals: Tore his ACL in a loss at Car- olina Sept. 23 and will miss the remainder of the season … Finished the 2018 cam- paign with three appearances (no starts) and 11 tackles for the 4-2 Bengals. • Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles: Started all six contests for the 3-3 Eagles, and accu- mulated 18 tackles, one sack and one pass defended. • Leon Hall (2003-06), CB, Oakland Raiders: Played in six games for 1-5 Oakland (three starts), and registered 22 stops and three passes defended. • Chad Henne (2004-07), QB, Kan- sas City Chiefs: Has not seen game Through six games this season, Brady was completing 67.8 percent of his passes for 1,599 yards with 13 touchdown tosses. PHOTO BY NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS/DAVID SILVERMAN MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Even At Age 41, Tom Brady Is Still Playing At A High Level