Tom Brady said he's not the greatest quarterback of all time and lent credence to an interesting theory about his career

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May 15, 2017 5:55 PM

Tom Brady said his success was a result of the Patriots' system.

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After Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to a wild comeback from a 28-3 deficit in the Super Bowl in February, many thought he had cemented his status as the GOAT, the greatest quarterback of all time.

At 39, Brady has won five Super Bowls and shows no signs of slowing down — he improved upon two of his biggest weaknesses last season.

However, he's not the greatest NFL quarterback of all time, according to one man: Brady himself.

In an interview with ESPN's Ian O'Connor published Monday, Brady deflected that title and said what many others have about his career — that he's a product of the Patriots' rock-solid system:

"I don't agree with that, and I'll tell you why. I know myself as a player. I'm really a product of what I've been around, who I was coached by, what I played against, in the era I played in. I really believe if a lot of people were in my shoes they could accomplish the same kinds of things. So I've been very fortunate. ... I don't ever want to be the weak link."

Brady is not the first to argue this. While Brady's talent and hard work can't be denied, some believe he has benefitted from playing under Bill Belichick and a system that can seamlessly plug in and replace players. Without a great scheme — not to mention some great teammates along the way — would Brady be the player he is today?

Belichick has pulled back the curtains on some of his philosophies, too. For instance, according to Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, Belichick's personnel strategy isn't all that complex — he just coaches players he likes. There isn't some magical formula that makes the Patriots good. Belichick coaches and the players execute.

Brady also told O'Connor he was successful partly because he outworks everyone else:

"I think there are many more players blessed with more ability. I've worked hard with what I've been given ... and I've had to go about making improvements in different ways. If I was doing the things everyone else is doing, I wouldn't have the same results.

"I'm still 100 percent invested in helping this team win. I never want to let my teammates down. My lifestyle choices got me to this point. ... Football is more than just what I do. It consumes me."

Brady could just be acting humble. But even with five titles under his belt, he and the Patriots are in a position to dominate this season, giving him a chance to further cement his legacy.

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