Second thoughts

New England’s Tom Brady is better than Hall of Famer Joe Montana when it comes to the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks, according to Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

New England’s Tom Brady is better than Hall of Famer Joe Montana when it comes to the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks, according to Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

— Kraft says Brady tops Montana

There’s at least one person who thinks that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is better than Hall of Famer Joe Montana when it comes to the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks.

That would be Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

“I think that Tommy, with all due respect, is better than Joe Montana,” Kraft told NFL.com’s Albert Breer. “I know that’s a leap, but I really think he might already be the best of all time. I watched how involved he is, how driven he is.

“He’s like [Patriots Coach Bill] Belichick, he’s into the details.

And he’s got a skill that makes him so special, he can process all of it so quickly. And then, he’s just got that quality. Certain people have that sincerity. He’s a very genuine guy. People can relate to him. People can trust him.”

Kraft has seen Brady lead his team to three Super Bowl championships (2001, 2003, 2004). But Montana won four with the San Francisco 49ers (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989) without losing one.

(Brady has lost two Super Bowls, both to the New York Giants in the 2007 and 2011 seasons.)

Brady and Montana have some similarities. Both players missed a season because of injury - Brady with a knee injury in 2008 and Montana with a back injury in 1991. Also, Brady and Montana did not start in their rookie seasons.

Montana threw for 40,551 yards and 273 touchdowns in 1979-1994 with the 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. In 12 seasons, all with the Patriots, Brady has thrown for 39,979 yards and 300 touchdowns.

Brady’s response to Kraft’s comments?

“Well, that’s my boss,” Brady told NFL.com. “And I love Mr. Kraft for a lot of reasons, and we have a great relationship, and a great friendship. He’s been through a lot the last few years.

There’d be nothing more exciting for all us players than to win for him, because it means a lot to him.” Uecker’s day

The Milwaukee Brewers unveiled a statue of broadcaster Bob Uecker on Friday “just a bit outside” of Miller Park.

Broadcaster Bob Costas was the master of ceremonies. Doc Severinsen of Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show and his band played. Major league baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, Hall of Fame outfielder Hank Aaron and actress Ilene Graff, who played Uecker’s wife on the 1980s sitcom Mr. Belvedere, attended.

Here are a few highlights from the ceremony, via Yahoo! Sports:

Why he never left Milwaukee:“I don’t know. It was a parole thing.”

On hitting two home runs against Sandy Koufax: “I apologize to him every time I see him.”

On the sculptor showing him the pool of molten bronze used for the statue: “I said, ‘What do you want me to do?’ He said, ‘I want you to get in there.’ ” They said it

Washington State football Coach Mike Leach on his team’s 30-6 loss at Brigham Young on Thursday: “If you really wanted to see us play well, you should have been there for Monday’s practice.”

Comedy writer Tim Hunter, with a sign that a fan may be too excited for college football season: “You’re breaking in a new set of stadium cushions at work.”

Chicago Cubs Manager Dale Sveum, to the Chicago Tribune, when asked if Monday’s 15-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers was a game to forget: “I hope so. I don’t want to think about it too much longer.”

Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times, on the New York Jets’ offensive struggles in exhibition games: “They’ve just been declared the official team of Major League Soccer.”

Quote of the day

“I think our football team is trying to express that, ‘Hey, we have an opportunity to do something special this year, let’s go do it.’ ” Arkansas Coach John L. Smith on the 2012 football season, which begins today against Jacksonville State

Sports, Pages 22 on 09/01/2012