Readers say Tom’s terrific

What prompted Bill Plaschke to write a slash-and-burn column on Tom Brady [Jan. 27]?

So what if the Patriots quarterback doesn’t have dirt all over his face like the old-timers? Is it Brady’s fault that the rules have changed and that he was born after Johnny Unitas retired?

And what about Joe Montana, Dan Marino and Peyton Manning? They’ve also had the benefits of playing in the modern era, but nothing was mentioned about their clean uniforms. Obviously, the article was written for the sole purpose of berating Brady and his team and getting New England fans all rankled.

I’m old enough to have watched Johnny Unitas play in this prime and he was one of my heroes. But trying to make a comparison with him to a present-day player like Tom Brady is ridiculous. That’s like finding fault with General Omar Bradley because he couldn’t ride a horse as well as General Ulysses S. Grant.

Charles Reilly

Manhattan Beach

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To suggest that Tom Brady is anything less than one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time is simply the sad ranting of an old man longing for his glory days when the snow was deeper, the sun hotter, and the work harder.

Sure, Johnny U. called his own plays and didn’t have a microphone in his helmet. The Colts were lucky if they had 20 plays in their repertoire, and secondaries back then played only man-to-man and zone coverages and most just played man-to-man.

I love Johnny Unitas, but I’m not sure he had the arm strength or athleticism to play today’s exponentially faster, bigger, stronger, more sophisticated game. Time passes, Bill, and so will yours. Get over it.

Scott Barry

West Hollywood

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Gee Bill, no kidding, Tom Brady does play in a different era of pro football under different rules and conditions than Unitas, Baugh and Tittle. Thanks for that keen insight. Though the funniest part of your column was your side-splitting claim that Brady is football’s Alex Rodriguez. Stop it, you’re killing me!

If you’ve been paying attention, Rodriguez all but disappears during the playoffs and turns back into a pumpkin at midnight. Brady, like Montana, Bird and Jordan, excels in the spotlight and pressure and has something Rodriguez will never have -- championships.

In one respect, Plaschke is like A-Rod: His columns fail .667 of the time.

Billy Sottile

Palmdale