sport as art, #4

understanding the greatness of the above eight seconds just might require hundreds of wasted hours watching football, but i’ll try to explain:

In the beginning, Tom Brady had the ball. For the entire duration of this play, his intended target is Benjamin Watson — who ends up catching the touchdown.

Tom first looks straight ahead, checking to see that Ben has a free release off the line of scrimmage. Check — no defender is immediately in Ben’s way, so Ben is free to run his intended route. Better yet, a linebacker is covering Ben, and most linebackers are not fast enough to cover Mr. Watson. Step 1: complete.

You’ll note, however, the two defenders lurking at the top of the screen. The duo could potentially aid the linebacker in defending Ben. So in order to divert their attentions, Tom gives a quick glance left, and then right.  The two defenders, attempting to read Tom Brady’s eyes, freeze up momentarily.  Ben is still running free. Step 2: complete.

Tom turns his focus to Ben. The linebacker, surprisingly, is sticking to Ben like zits on a teenager. In this situation, most quarterbacks would start looking to second, third, fourth options.

But Tom Brady is not most quarterbacks.

The funny thing is, by most quarterbacks’ standards, the throw Tom Brady is about to make would be considered “bad,” for its speed and location makes it difficult for the receiver to catch it (note the awkward position Ben has to contort himself into in order to make the catch). When developing fundamentals, quarterbacks are taught to make it easy for their receivers to make the catch.  The fundamentals say that for a receiver as covered as Ben, there is no easily catchable throw — so don’t throw it.

But Tom Brady is Tom Brady. Fundamental, schmundamental. Tom Brady has faith in his teammate skills, the arrogance to attempt a pass few human beings would even consider, and the ability to make it all work. 

You can almost see the moment where he thinks “Who cares, I’m Tom Brady!” He shuffles forward a bit, charges up, and hurls a torpedo.

Step 3: Touchdown. It all went according to plan, and Tom Brady just might be the only human being in the world who could have made that all work.

It must be nice to possess such a mastery over one’s craft.