Masterful, magnetic Brady has it all

Updated: September 14, 2004, 12:25 PM ET

Honestly, I have been on the fence about Tom Brady, the quarterback of the New England Patriots. I've loved him in the two Super Bowl games he has won, but I've basically thought that comparisons to Joe Montana were flawed. I mean, I understand the Joe Cool comparison, but Montana put together a few great regular seasons with great postseasons.

Brady's regular seasons have been in the good-to-very good-but-never-great category. Even last year, if you're just a statistical guy (which I'm really not), you could make a case that Jon Kitna performed better than Brady during the regular season.

I also have truly believed Peyton Manning could have won two Super Bowls if he had been the quarterback of the Patriots. In fact, I still believe it. I will say the same thing for Steve McNair and Brett Favre.

Yet now, as I have personally witnessed Brady's last two performances – his Super Bowl win over the Carolina Panthers and Thursday night's 27-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts – I am no longer in conflict about his talents.

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