Galloway Needs Chemistry with Brady

Joey Galloway has caught many passes in his NFL career. He's grabbed them from Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, John Friesz, and Rick Mirer, among them. The list, all together, is twenty-four quarterbacks long in fourteen seasons.

So Joey Galloway, it would seem, knows how to build a relationship with a quarterback. Galloway and Brady just aren't playing nice together. It's not a personal problem; it's a performance problem.

When Galloway came to the Patriots NFL franchise on his single-season free-agent deal, he cited being happy to know that the presence of Tom Brady was a major positive influence. He referenced Brady's abilities and the fact that he was clearly the starting quarter back for a long time to come as a significant plus. It was good to know, he intoned, who's in charge of the offense. Much better, he inferred, than not being certain from week to week who might win the starting position.

Yet, when Brady throws passes, Galloway isn't catching many, and that's not playing nice. Against Buffalo, Galloway got the call twice and didn't catch one. Versus the Jets, Galloway went only five for twelve.

Galloway has spoken about "chemistry" and that "It just takes time." He, however, does not comment on just how much time it might take.

Brady, for his part, has cautioned against expectations of Joey Galloway.

But it's hard for Patriots fans to dismiss the 2007 season and the "chemistry" between Tom Brady and Randy Moss. After being added to the New England roster, Moss had hamstring trouble and missed most of training camp. Still, in the first regular season game Moss caught 9 passes for one hundred eighty-three yards and a touch down. That's chemistry. And it takes a protracted amount of time to develop?

The Patriot's passing offense relies heavily on timing and therein may lay the rub for Galloway. According to recent comments by former quarterback Trent Dilfer, Galloway does not run routes precisely and is slow getting out of breaks.

Joey Galloway says that Tom Brady is a special NFL Quarterback. That it's Brady's system and he's running it seems clear to Joey Galloway.

Galloway says it's easier for him because his quarterback knows what he wants and how to get it. He expresses that Brady coaches as he plays, telling you what he wants and how you can deliver.

So, what's wrong with Joey Galloway?

Because that sounds like chemistry to me.