GumboBC

The Brooks' bashers always have to have something to hang their hat on every year.

And this year is no different.

Here are some of the most used.

1. Aaron Brooks' backward pass: Yep, he did it. I saw him myself, so I know he did it. Was it foolish? You betcha. But I also saw Tom Brady make one of the most foolish plays I've ever seen too. As Brady was being tackled, he threw the ball underhanded, and almost behind his head , to a defensive linemen when there was absolutely no Patriot in sight who had a chance of catching the ball. I saw Favre make some of the most stupid throws too.

2. Brooks calling himself a great QB who has played on an average team.

Did Brooks say it? Yep. But it's never put in context. The whole thing came up right before the Saints played Delhomme and the Panthers. Brooks was being compared to Delhomme, over and over and over. And Brooks was tired of all the comparisons.

Brooks said Jake was a fine QB who had the luxary of playing on a great team that went to the super bowl. Then, not wisely, Brooks said he was a great QB who has played on some bad teams.

Brooks wasn't putting down any indivdual player. He was talking about the overall performace of the team as the reason why the Saints haven't won as many games as the Panthers.

Brooks saying he was great was not wise. But I'm sure its frustrating to be dogged by the media like Brooks has been and Brooks did go out and back it up when he beat the Panthers.

Let's not fool ourselves here. MANY QBs have made stupid remarks to the media. Chad Pennington looked like a whiny little brat when he blamed the N.Y. media. And lets not forget the Kurt Warner situation a couple of years back.

While I wished Brooks would not say some things in the media (because he can never win that battle) I do understand where he's coming from.

Brooks has to live with the criticism (unfair) every waking hour. On the street, in the resturants, in the media, in the super dome.

All things considered Brooks has really handled the situation pretty well. Probably better than I would have.

Terry Bradshaw stayed away from Pittsburg for about 20-years because of the way the fans and media treated him. He was hurt by the criticism. Don't tell me it doesn't affect players. I know for a FACT that it does.

And I know that receiving criticism can cause a player to say stupid things. And coaches too.

There are some fans here who like to bring up these things over and over and over and over. That's fine.

But, don't fool yourselves. Cause you sure ain't fooling me and a lot of other folks.

Now get out there and do some Brooks' bashing. I have no doubt you will.