Tom Brady Puts Fernando Mendoza in Peyton Manning Territory with Bold Expectations Claim

Fernando Mendoza hasn't even played one snap with the Raiders, already Tom Brady is putting immense pressure on him.

Tom Brady Puts Fernando Mendoza in Peyton Manning Territory with Bold Expectations Claim

Peyton Manning, Fernando Mendoza and Tom Brady inside the circle (Image via IMAGO)

Being the number one overall draft pick comes with added expectations. Tom Brady is drilling that into Fernando Mendoza. Brady himself didn’t experience it, but he witnessed another player who handled the pressure like a warrior.

As the Soccer World Cup is taking place on US soil, Brady made an appearance on the world’s foremost soccer podcast, Stick To Football, hosted by former players Garry Neville, Ian Wright, and Roy Keane. Speaking with the trio, Brady compared Mendoza’s position with Peyton Manning’s.

Manning was Brady’s senior in many ways, but fans viewed them as rivals. Manning, similar to Mendoza, was the first overall pick. He played a large part of his career with the Indianapolis Colts before retiring as the Denver Broncos signal caller. Manning’s father, Archie Manning, starred for the Saints during his playing career. So, the expectation of emulating or even surpassing him rested on his shoulders.

What I appreciate and love about Peyton [Manning] is that he always outperformed his expectations. It was a tremendous talent that he had to be able to do that. He was very much like me: process-oriented, disciplined, driven, accountable, and I’d say that his path is harder than the path I took. If he failed, everyone saw it right away.

Brady said

Manning won two Super Bowls, one with the Colts and one with the Broncos. He finished his career as a five-time NFL MVP, twice as the Offensive Player of the Year, and earned seven first-team All-Pro honors. Manning was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

Brady, on the other hand, was drafted 199th overall by the Patriots. Fans barely knew about him until he replaced Drew Bledsoe after he suffered a nasty injury.

Technically, Mendoza only had one good year of college football. He went unbeaten the entire year, won the CFP championship, and became the first Indiana Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy. Naturally, fans are seeing him as the next face of the NFL.

Fernando [Mendoza], whom we chose, he’s got the same expectation. Now, fortunately, he has me there to help mentor him.

Brady said

During his final year in college, Mendoza threw 273 completions for 3535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He further rushed for 276 yards and scored 7 touchdowns.

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Tom Brady gives his honest take on Fernando Mendoza

It was the worst-kept secret that Mendoza would go to the Las Vegas Raiders as the first overall draft pick. Regardless, Mendoza diligently participated in pre-draft events, including the Combine and the Top 30 visits.

Tom Brady Puts Fernando Mendoza in Peyton Manning Territory With Bold Expectations Claim
Fernando Mendoza (Image via IMAGO)

Recently, the Raiders released a video of Mendoza visiting the facility for an exclusive interview with the coaches during the Combine. Brady wasn’t in the building, but he still made a point to speak with the young quarterback with the help of FaceTime.

Brady permitted Mendoza to call him by his first name and wished him the best of luck. The Raiders, as previously advertised, drafted Mendoza first overall. When asked to explain the reason behind selecting Mendoza over others, Brady claimed he’s the most “developed prospect.”

The Raiders have been searching for the right fit ever since Derek Carr left the club to join the Saints. They tried out Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, Geno Smith, and Kenny Pickett, but none of them managed to drag the team out of the AFC hellhole.

Last year, Smith carried the Raiders to a 3-14 record. It was also Brady’s first season as a minority owner. After the season ended, they appointed former Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as the new head coach. Kubiak, of course, won the Super Bowl last year.

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