(This is part 1 of a 5-part series, check back soon for part 2 and for another edition of players I do like…)

I have never been a fan of Tom Brady. I know that I should probably stay unbiased and give you, the reader, a straight up assessment of why I am so down on Brady this upcoming season, but it’s hard to do.

I can’t be unbiased about Tom Brady. I hate him, and I always have. Ever since that terrible tuck rule game, when the Raiders sacked him and stupid tall, uncoordinated, un-athletic Tom Brady fumbled the ball. The referees of course overturned the fumble, setting into motion one of the most annoying dynasties of all time.

I hate him because his team cheated, and barring their almost perfect 2007 squad, they were extremely boring to watch. Brady himself doesn’t have really memorable plays tied up with his legacy other than having a fumble overturned; he doesn’t have Montana’s “The Catch,” or Young’s run or any of Favre’s miracle plays. In his “game-clinching” championship drives, Brady would only have to take his team 40 yards or so before getting off the field and letting Vinatieri kick those field goals. I could check it down while a defense plays prevent defense too.

I’m just bitter, I guess.

The Patriots Will Suck This Year

I know, it sounds weird. To think that this team could finish anywhere below the 10 wins they managed to grind out last year seems like heresy to league “insiders.” I just don’t see how they’ve improved. They signed a washed up Torry Holt and added some rookie defensive players that may or may not actually be any good.

To top it off, the most annoying player in the league, Wes Welker (I hate his five yard catch, turn and run for five more routine) is coming off of a serious knee injury, and despite what bloggers may say, they is no way this guy will be as effective as he has been at the very start of the season.

Brady lacks that defense which helped guide the Patriots to three Superbowl wins and an appearance in a fourth. Discounting a great defense, or even an average one, is always a huge sin in fantasy football. That 2007 defense created turnovers and held other teams scoring down so that Brady had the opportunity to work on a shorter field, while also feeling like he could take more chances, chucking it up to a motivated Randy Moss in double coverage frequently.

Now Brady must return to his old self, to be more of a game manager taking calculated risks. The defense backing him up just simply isn’t strong enough.

Fantasy Wise

Look, it’s simple. Brady has thrown for more than 28 TDs only once in his career. He’s not worth reaching on. All his receivers have gotten a year older or torn up their knees. His defense isn’t very good, so he’ll have to be playing from behind, and for anyone who watched the Patriots postseason defeat to the Ravens, well then you know that might not be such a good thing.

All the greats in the game, which I begrudgingly admit that Brady is one of, inevitably begin to decline on teams which have already peaked. Brady may be entering his phase.

He’ll probably make me eat these words, just like those Patriots always do, but pass on Brady and grab one of the other nine quarterbacks who will put up similar or better numbers.