The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1310365
70 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2020 BY AUSTIN FOX E ven at age 43, Tampa Bay Buc- caneers quarterback Tom Brady isn't showing many signs of slowing down. He is once again having one of the best seasons of any quarterback in the NFL, with his 2,739 yards and 23 touchdown passes each standing as the fourth most in the league (as of Nov. 16). The average age of the three quar- terbacks who have more passing yards than Brady — Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons — is just 30 years old. The former Wolverine has tossed at least two touchdown passes in seven of the Buccaneers' 10 games this year, and has eclipsed the 252-yard mark six times. "Tom Brady is literally carving defenses up at 43 years old," ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said. "If the of- fensive line protects him, which they have, he's the best quarterback in football. That's still the case for Tom Brady. There's not a throw in a situa- tion that he cannot make. There's not a defense he hasn't seen." Brady may add yet another mile- stone to his résumé at season's end. He and New Orleans Saints quarter- back Drew Brees are in a tight battle for the game's all-time mark in pass- ing touchdowns, already having flip- flopped the lead several times in 2020. Brees had a one-touchdown lead as of Nov. 16, with 565 career scoring tosses to Brady's 564. JAKE CRONENWORTH FINISHES TIED FOR SECOND IN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VOTING San Diego Padres utility infielder and former Wolverine star Jake Cronenworth finished deadlocked for second place in this year 's Na- tional League Rookie of the Year vot- ing, finishing behind only Milwau- kee Brewers relief pitcher and winner Devin Williams. The 74 votes, including six first- place nods, Cronenworth received were tied for second with Philadel- phia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm, who had nine first-place votes. Cronenworth helped guide the San Diego Padres to the postseason with a 37-23 record, hitting .285 with four home runs, 20 RBI and a .354 on-base percentage. FORMER WOLVERINES ON NFL ROSTERS Through Nov. 16 • Ben Braden (Played at U-M from 2012-16), OL, Green Bay Packers: Signed to the 7-2 Packers' practice squad Oct. 21 and waived Oct. 26, be- fore being signed again Oct. 28 … Ap- peared in one game off the bench, play- ing both offense and special teams. • Tom Brady (1996-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Completed 66 per- cent of his passes for 2,739 yards with 23 touchdowns and seven intercep- MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Tom Brady In The Midst Of One Of The Best Seasons Of Any NFL Quarterback In 2020 Through 10 games, Brady had led Tampa Bay to a 7-3 record and thrown for 2,739 yards with 23 touchdown passes, both marks ranking fourth in the NFL as of Nov. 16. PHOTO COURTESY TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS