Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge’s The Inside Story of Tom Brady’s Fight for Redemption delivers what the title promises. The quarterback’s redemption reaches its climax when the New England Patriots pull off a historic comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51 in February 2017. NFL fans, die-hard and casual, will easily get swallowed up in the retelling of Brady’s stunning performance.
The New England Patriots’ Tom Brady is arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history. His image and off-the-field behavior had been impeccable until he became embroiled in the bizarre 'Deflategate' scandal in which it was alleged that Brady had masterminded a scheme to partially deflate the game balls before the January 2015 championship game with the Indianapolis Colts. The authors of this account of Brady’s 'redemption' after the scandal have a definite agenda: to show how Brady and the Patriots recovered from their 'tempest in a teapot' by staging a remarkable comeback in the 2016 season, leading to a come-from-behind victory in that season’s Super Bowl.
If you’re a fan of the Patriots, you likely believe there’s nothing to Deflategate, the investigation that resulted when opposing teams charged that Brady had an unfair edge with an underinflated ball during the 2015 AFC championship game. If you don’t like the Pats, you’ll likely endorse the charge. Sherman and Wedge...write that they 'were committed to write this book fairly and accurately,' but their account isn’t likely to settle the matter in the minds of fans, even if it was adjudicated and analyzed meticulously ... Not definitive, but a readable companion to the more insightful Collision Low-Crossers (2013), by Nicholas Dawidoff, as a behind-the-scenes look at the NFL.
In this astute history of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s 2016 Super Bowl–winning season, Sherman and Wedge begin with the 'Deflategate' scandal ... Brady, at the center of the controversy, denied involvement but was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season. The authors portray Brady, often vilified by non-fans, as someone who possessed a rabid work ethic and herculean football talent. With unprecedented access to the Patriots’ organization...the authors focus much of their attention on the behind-the-scenes proceedings surrounding 'Deflategate' ... The authors’ balanced treatment of the quarterback is refreshing, making this a welcome addition to many a football fan’s library.
