Brady weighs in on MVP race: Ryan, Rodgers both had incredible years

As Tom Brady has already won every award he's been eligible for at least once, the New England Patriots quarterback doesn't mind endorsing others as the league's most valuable player.

Brady lost out on the first-team All-Pro nod to Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who he believes is an admirable choice for NFL MVP. Having won the award in 2007 and 2010, Brady understands how special it is to gain the honor.

"I've been fortunate to win (the MVP award), so it's a very cool thing because you think about how far you've come as a player," Brady said Monday on WEEI radio, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "Everyone starts and kind of has their own football experience. To realize, 'Man, I won that award - they only choose one guy and they chose me,' is very cool.

"But I think Matt has had an incredible year. I think he is as deserving as anybody. He's got that team playing well."

Ryan led his team to the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, throwing for 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns, two less than league leader Aaron Rodgers, who Brady could also see taking MVP.

"Watching Aaron Rodgers play last night, he's had an incredible year," said Brady. "It always just seems to go to a quarterback. It's very rarely that it doesn't. There are a lot of great players in the league. Just to be in consideration is very flattering, but you couldn't do it without your teammates.

"The individual awards, to me, have always been a reflection of what your team success has been. If you're 2-14, you're not winning any awards. If you're 14-2, yeah, you'll be considered for a lot of things because your work is paying off. ... What matters to me is just winning every time we take the field."