Will Tom Brady’s Deflategate suspension prevent him from winning some individual hardware?
Max Kellerman, Stephen A. Smith and Donovan McNabb discussed Brady’s sizzling start to the 2016 season and whether the New England Patriots quarterback should be considered for the NFL MVP award on Monday’s episode of ESPN’s “First Take.” Smith and McNabb seemed to agree that Brady has a strong case despite missing the Patriots’ first four games, whereas Kellerman is a bit skeptical because of that absence.
“You say four games like it’s a low number. That is 25 percent of every game played by that team this season,” Kellerman said. “You’re getting caught up in the unfairness of it all, because he’s playing at such a high level that obviously if he had those other four games, too, he would be MVP. But you got to take that value out of his season.”
Brady has been dominant since returning in Week 5, totaling 1,319 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions while guiding the Patriots to four consecutive wins, improving their record to 7-1. The 39-year-old certainly deserves to be in the MVP conversation regardless of his four-game suspension, even if he ultimately falls short in his quest to land the trophy.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
