Brian Billick: 'Tom Brady could have tough season'

NFL analyst Brian Billick has insisted that Tom Brady should become a Hall of Famer if he manages to succeed with the New England Patriots this season.

Billick said that without Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, Brady will have to be at his best in order for the Patriots' offense to have any joy in 2013.

"If Tom Brady can pull this off and come anywhere close to that level of productivity, they ought to at the end of the season just slam dunk him into the Hall of Fame," Billick told NFL.com.

"Forget five years after he retires. Just do it at the end of the season. At the end of the day, this league has been, is now, and always will be about talent on the football field. [The Patriots have removed] Welker, Lloyd, Gronkowski and Hernandez."

Brady has thrown for 44,806 yards throughout his career.