Dropped Passes Tarnish Brady's Legacy

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Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks off the field after losing to the New York Giants by a score of 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 5, 2012 in Indianapolis

Legends are hard to build and even more difficult to live up to.

Just ask Tom Brady.

After completing his 16th straight pass, a third quarter touchdown to Aaron Hernandez that gave the Patriots a 17-9 lead, New England failed to score on its final four possessions.

Instead of being lauded for breaking Joe Montana's Super Bowl record for consecutive completions, Brady has to endure a second heartbreaking title game loss to the Giants that, fairly or not, undermines his legacy.

Would Brady be held in higher regard if Hernandez and Wes Welker didn't allow perfect throws to slip through their hands in the game's waning minutes? Or if the Pats recovered any of three Giants fumbles, including Brandon Spikes' fourth-quarter strip of Ahmad Bradshaw at New York's 10-yard line?

Fortuity shined on the Giants at Indianapolis much like it did in the NFC Championship, when Bradshaw's apparent game-changing fumble was recovered by the 49ers but negated by an official's quick whistle.

Sports are filled with quirky plays that define careers and the fate of organizations. Brady and the 49ers learned that the hard way.