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Former NFL Comeback Player of the Year Blasts Brady, Patriots' Dynasty: 'Cupcakes!'

Originally posted on New England Patriots on SI
By Richie Whitt | Last updated Nov 28, 2023 8:54 PM ET

The NFL's greatest player was just intercepted by the greatest comeback player.

Last week New England Patriots' legendary quarterback Tom Brady bemoaned what he perceives to be the league's deteriorating quality of play. Bad coaching. Constrictive rules. Poor habits.

"A lot of mediocrity," Brady said.

When a seven-time Super Bowl champion speaks, most of us just listen, nod and take notes. But Alex Smith comes from a different perspective.

A former No. 1 overall draft pick, he suffered a gruesome injury and almost had his leg amputated before rallying to again play in the league. Few dare to challenge Brady, but Smith obviously comes equipped with thicker skin.

On last Sunday's NFL Countdown on ESPN, Smith fired back at the GOAT over his assessment of the league in 2023.

"I completely disagree with this,” Smith said. "In my opinion, the game has gotten better.”

Brady threw his last pass as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Wild Card playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys in January 2022. Smith, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback and 2020 Comeback Player of the Year, played his final game against Brady in 2021.

But he not only countered Brady's point about the NFL's quality, he accused the Patriots' dynasty of being accomplished on easy street.

"He played in the most uncompetitive division in NFL history,” Smith said of Brady's Patriots. "I mean, you come out of training camp in the biggest cupcake division, you got a ticket to the playoffs right away. Like, talk about mediocre.”

Give Smith props for not bowing to Brady. But he might also need a small reminder: The Patriots' success made the AFC East fodder, not vice-versa.

This article first appeared on New England Patriots on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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