About the only NFL games I ever watch are post season. If I had to pick a team I’d go with the Steelers (PA resident), but I don’t really care.
I can see that you’re not a Patriots fan. Do you really want to hang your hat on “shot up 3%”? There are many variables in the game of football, the most significant are talent and preparation. You portend that the only change in the history of Patriots football is the ball. Really?
Well, 3% is the annual average of "Brady betterment"...and it's really "only" 3% because Brady had some down years 2012 and 2013.
In 2000 thru 2006 -- which included a couple of Super Bowl teams, mind you -- Brady was completing 60, 61, 62, 63%. Brady was ALREADY a good QB.
So...'06 he completed 61.8%. Suddenly it's 68.9% the next season ... where one of the few variables is that Brady has new Patriot-minted footballs to operate with...
Now a 7.1% completion % improvement = sudden 11.5% upturn...If you're earning $61,800 per year and then get a raise to $68,900 the very next year...your boss has given you an 11.5% raise over the previous year.
11.5%!!! In a season where the Pats ALSO -- just as suddenly -- essentially stopped fumbling!
That...is quite dramatic! No gradual improvement there! (Something you'd expect from already high-quality Qs)
And then even coming off of an injury in '08, Brady had completion % higher in 09, 10, 11 than any of 00-06 (same with 2014, btw):
09: 65.7%
10: 65.9%
11: 65.6%
You portend that the only change in the history of Patriots football is the ball. Really?
You ask a very good Q here...for my response, see my next post to Cletus D. Yokel...