Can Belichick win without Brady?
The coach or the quarterback? The quarterback or the coach?
In what was truly a worst-case scenario, the Patriots lost quarterback Tom Brady to a knee injury at Foxborough today on their 16th offensive play ... of the season. Brady limped off the field and never came back. Lifelong backup Matt Cassel came off the bench to lead the Pats to a 17-10, season-opening victory over the rebuilding Kansas City Chiefs, but it certainly felt like the entire 2008 campaign crumpled to the ground in a heap.
Prepare for the worst, Pats followers (Update: Belichick confirmed your worst fears Monday -- Brady out for the season). This was one of those times when it seemed no MRI was necessary to give you a diagnosis.
The pit in your stomach was enough.
"Any time you have a starter go down, no matter if it is your quarterback or anybody [else], I think it hurts,'' Pats receiver Randy Moss told reporters after the game. "By [Brady] being the face of the New England Patriots and Tom being who he is -- and the competitor that he is -- it actually ... it kind of hurts to be honest with you. I know the show must go on and hopefully Matt Cassel is ready to step in. From a team standpoint, we are ready to embrace him and let him lead us.
Don't hold your breath.
Brady might not be walking through that door anytime soon.
So now, the obvious question: Where do the Patriots go from here? Late Sunday afternoon, Patriots players spoke about picking up the slack in the absence of their leader, but this really is not about them anymore. Rather, it is about their coach, the estimable Bill Belichick. More than Bill Parcells and Drew Bledsoe, more than the entire Kraft family, the tandem of Belichick and Brady has made the Patriots what they are today. Since the early stages of the 2001 season, when Mo Lewis knocked Bledsoe senseless, the Patriots have always had the security and comfort of a B&B, granting all of New England a certain coziness in even the most difficult and hostile circumstances.
The Patriots didn't merely have the best coach.
They had the best quarterback, too.
Along the way, while the Patriots were going to five AFC Championship games and four Super Bowls while winning three league titles, we encountered a chicken-and-egg conundrum: Who comes first, the quarterback or the coach? Seemingly, the Patriots have won because they had Belichick first and Brady second, Belichick second and Brady first. In the end, all that really mattered was that the Patriots had them both, simultaneously, which gave them two unflappable and impenetrable decision-makers in a game in which decisions must be made quickly and decisively.
Consider this: With Brady as his starting quarterback, Belichick is 87-24 as a head coach during the regular season, 14-3 during the postseason. He is 3-1 in Super Bowls. Without Brady, Belichick's career regular season record is a mere 41-57 and he is 1-1 in postseason play. (Gulp.)
As such, now might be a good time to point out that the Patriots will likely be forced to change their entire offensive approach without Brady. Over the last seven or eight years, New England's entire attack has been built on Brady's ability to read defenses, make the right choice, find the open man. His mind and his poise always were his best weapons. From David Givens to Deion Branch to Doug Gabriel and Randy Moss, the Patriots always have said that the receiver they throw to is the one that's open. Unsaid in all of that was that they had a quarterback who could find the open man, almost unfailingly, and who played the rest of the NFL like a pinball machine last year when the Pats finally got him some big-time receivers.
Now, Brady appears to be headed to the sideline for an extended period of time, which would offer Belichick arguably the greatest challenge of his coaching career: Can he win without Brady? The Patriots have great depth at running back, a stable of first-round draft picks on the defensive line, three Pro Bowl linemen protecting the quarterback. They have some accomplished veteran linebackers and a bright, promising young one. They have some question marks in the secondary and arguably the best tandem of starting wide receivers in the NFL.
What the Patriots might have, too, is an enormous void at quarterback that could unmask or further elevate one of the great coaches in NFL history.
So what do you think:
Does Bill Belichick need Tom Brady more than Tom Brady needs Bill Belichick?
Share your thoughts in the comments section.



If Brady's out for the season, well, it's wait until next year. Clearly.
Very depressing. Cassel might be OK...but just ok. There will be no miracles off the bench. The Pats have left themselves too vulnerable, for too long, without a top notch backup. Unlike the Chiefs, for example, we don't have a Damon Huard to go to. Every Pats fan knows this.
If Brady's out for the season, well, it's wait until next year. Clearly.
Very depressing. Cassel might be OK...but just ok. There will be no miracles off the bench. The Pats have left themselves too vulnerable, for too long, without a top notch backup. Unlike the Chiefs, for example, we don't have a Damon Huard to go to. Every Pats fan knows this.
Belichick needs Brady more than Tom Needs Billy. Look at thats pats pre-2001. I rest my case.
Does anyone know where Drew Bledsoe is at?
Tom Brady is not only the best qb in the nfl but the best player in the most effective system. But he didnt win all those games alone. This is Belichecks system and they will still keep winning. This time will show how great coching will prevail over one player injury.
Of course they can win without Tom. They did it today. Tom is a terrific QB, but if I'm not mistaken, the Patriots haven't won every Super Bowl since 2001, there were other winning QBs along the way. They keys are making it to the post-season, staying relatively healthy (today notwithstanding), and have some momentum going into January. Last year's Giants are a perfect example of this.
Stay the course, make the necessary adjustments with Matt, win as many regular season games as you can to get the highest seed as possible, then see what happens in the playoffs.
the only good thing is i dont have to feel bad about staying infoors on sundays now - the season is over if brady is out.
done.
Injuries are part of the game. You either rise above them or get consumed by them. There is still enough talent on this team to make a run. The defense really now needs to step up and take some pressure off Cassel and Co. I expect a return to the conservative game plans of 2001, and given the quality they now posess in the backfield, I anticipate a lot more emphasis on running. This injury really hurts, but the season is not lost by any means. If you are a real fan you are in it for the long haul, not one season. Get behind this team. Could this be the galvanizing factor they need like spygate was last year?
Pats are pretty much done. You simply cannot replace Brady. Yes we all know what happened in 2001. The fact is that Bledsoe was nowhere near the level of Brady when he was hurt so we cannot expect Cassel or Simms to come in and make this team a contended.
The bottom line without an elite QB you have an average team. Very rarely do teams with poor-average teams win superbowls.
I would expect the Pats to quickly look for a starting NFL experienced in leading the team. Cassel did a good job today, but the high octane offense needed to make a serious run for even a Division win is lacking starting now. Don't expect Bob Kraft or Bill Belichick look to simply "get by" with what Cassel can bring them.
Bill Belichick will be exposed for the fraud that he is.
If for nothing else, if Brady is done for the season, what would the Pats have to lose in seeing if Daunte Culpepper is available ??? Aside from the obvious chemistry with Randy Moss, he's a seasoned pro who would immediately have more weapons than he ever had in either Miami or Oakland.
What about calling in Daunte Culpepper?
Seeing what he could do with a descent team around him?
Reconnecting him with Randy?
Desperate hopes.
The Pats are still an above average team. Belicek and the rest of the Pats (Bruschi, Harrison, Seymour, Moss) will take this as a challenge to prove they have a great team, not just a great QB. Pats will make the playoffs with at least a 9-7 record, maybe 10-6..... after that, anything can happen. Does 9-7 or 10-6 mean Belichek is a great coach or will Maz and others dictate that he wins a SB w/out Tom?
Well maybe we can pick up Dante Culpepper, who else is available?
Season over, done.
Ok its official, Giselle needs to go. Clearly Tommy has been cursed since she came into the picture. Anyway its "possible" Cassel may be able to do what Brady did when Bledose went down in 2001 but it wasn't just Belichick in the picture at that time. Weiss and Crennel helped quite a bit. Without them and without Brady I think this is going to be an off year for us and for Bill. Guess we'll have to settle for a Celtics Championship and a possible shot at another World Series in 2008.
Two things: it's still early, we don't know the true extent of the injury and whether or not it's season ending. Second, I can't imagine Pioli's not going to reel in a veteran backup at some point, who may end up seeing significant time as the season goes on. At the same time, who knows, maybe lightning can strike twice. Not that Cassel will replicate what Brady did in 2001, but maybe he can do just enough with a fairly soft schedule to get us to the playoffs. Remember ow conservative Belichick made the offense when Brady was leading it that first year, and Cassel at least has ball hawks like Welker and Moss. I'm not ready to write off the season just yet. Frankly, I was impressed with the defense, which played a solid game after a very mediocre pre-season. Maybe that's the key for this year.
They may no longer be the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, but that doesn't mean they won't be competitive. In 2001 when Brady stepped in, he didn't do much. His stats were pretty pedestrian the rest of that year as I recall. But he limited his mistakes (unlike Bledsoe) and he was at his best in the crucial moments. Let's give Cassell a chance to do that before we figure it's over. 10 or 11 wins is not out of the question with this group. Remember the Ewing Theory!
let's not forget that brady was an untested backup in 2001. this could be cassel's time to shine.
The reason Brady went down is he was not in shape. He skipped conditioning sessions this off season so he could travel the world with the lingerie slut Giselle Bunchen. Karma.
We'll finally see just how overrated Brady is. Pats go 11-5 with Cassell.
Belichick is good, but i don't know if he's good enough to turn on a dime. Cassal is passable (no pun intended) but, believe it or not, it may be better to go with O'Connell. He's a quick study, can run and may be easier to rally the team around him. Otherwise, we may still make it to the playoffs in some capacity but we won't go far.
Hell is freezing over. first Obama being selected as the Dem's choice, the Rays in Tampa playing like a playoff team, Brady getting hurt.....and the Buffalo Bills playing like the superbowl contenders, the PATS were supposed to be.
Chris Simms coming in for a tryout? PLEAHSE.....! I am a die-hard pats fan, but maybe this is karma due to the video-tape gate from last year. I'm just saying.......karma is a two edge sword.
I can't wait to see who the Pats get for a 1st round draft pick for next season....1st to worst in the AFC East?? I fathom the the thought.
Belichick is a sub-.500 head coach lifetime with anyone not named Brady playing quarterback. Is Daunte Culpepper a better choice than Matt Cassel or Chris Sims to fill the void at quarterback, considering his experience with Randy Moss (Vikings) and Wes Welker (Dolphins)?
I want to throw up right now..
Football is one of many sports in which success rests not on one individual but the entire team. From the coaching staff to the trainers to the players, the team that works together for the same goal will have success, and that's what the New England Patriots have been about during their successful Super Bowl teams. Bill Belichick excels at in-game planning and knowing what players he needs at what situations so he can win games. He is the cog that keeps the successful Patriots team running and is the one asset this team cannot do without.
With Tom Brady being out for the year, Belichick loses a player that excels at his system, but he doesn't lost his ability to coach. Will it be difficult going forward?
Oh, yes, it will be. But it will be now when we see Belichick put his master planning to good use. The Patriots may not win 12 or 13 games, but his team still has the ability to win 10+ games and win this division, because Belichick will have his defense playing well, his running game going well, and (I believe) Cassell doing enough to keep his team in games.
Bottom line (for this commenter): The Patriots can't afford to lose either Belichick or Brady, but if I had to take one over the other, I'd rather have Belichick with no Brady rather than Brady with no Belichick.
I say play for Rey Mauluaga and prepare to dominate the league in 2009.
"IF" Brady is out !!! The coach will get us to the playoffs, There are other qb's out there> The Patriots need to get a top rated veteran on the roster to back up cassel from injuury or inability. Too early to judge what we have on the bench/
I want to throw up right now..
I'd love to know who these great backups that everyone wants are. I'd also love to know how everyone wants to pay for these backup qb's. the same people that complain about the lack of a good backup qb (which no one has), are the same people that would complain if the pats had injuries to the receiving corp. the fans would then be mad that we didn't have 263 wr's on the bench waiting. you can't have everything with a 53 man roster. fans operate in a fantasy world of no salary cap, no player ego's, and no financial restraints.
Kevin O'Connell
Belichick is left with cassell, if we had a real backup QB this would be a real question.
This marks the end of the Pats era. We need 10-15 years to go back to GLORY.
Bill will just have to cheat a little harder this year to make up for Brady's absence
horrible day to be a pats fan.. if brady is out our team goes from a 14 win season, to now perhaps a 9, or 10 game winner.
depressing.
Belichick needs Brady. We saw today that it isn't the quarterback that makes the game. Without the coverage Brady, or any quarterback isn't going to have any success. Who directs the rest of the team? Belicheck. Brady doesn't make the plays himself, otherwise he wouldn't be risking his body every week. He'd be on the sideline calling the plays.
Bring back Troy Brown!!! He plays every position....Maybe he can QB too!!
It's a great question. I think BB has been nothing if not resourceful when injuries called for it. It feels terrible right now, but I'll be watching next week to see what he comes up with, BB and Josh McDaniels, too. I'm not counting the Pats out yet.
I love these quick-fire answers without thinking about it a little more. Were the 2000-2001 Pats the 2008 Pats talent-wise? Not even close. Can Belichick handle a team effectively that's this talented without Brady? Yes. To win 13 games? Maybe not, but 10 or 11 is not out of the question.
Am I saying I think the Pats will perform just as well as they would with Brady? No. But let's think about the talent surrounding the QB position and how it can help him regardless of how experienced or inexperienced he is.
I think the scheme on offense will remain the same, and while Cassel is less experienced and not as good of a decision maker as Brady, I think the talent and preparation done by this team will help it reach a playoff spot. Whether or not its a division championship, I am less confident about that.
Is Drew Bledsoe available?
The ultimate irony would be signing Drew Bledsoe to lead the Pats to another Super Bowl victory.
The question is unfair to Coach Bill...as it would be to any head coach. As stated in the article, the Pats have been built around Brady. A coach can't be judged on the teams he's built if the foundation of that team is suddenly lost. Now, if Brady had suffered a career ending injury (see Theisman...sp?) Belichick would be judged over a fee seasons after he'd adjusted his roster around a new QB. Besides, it's pointless to give credit to one person in the ultimate team sport.
Ryan, you forget that Belichick has been head coach only since 2000, a year where the team was largely what outgoing coach Pete Carroll had built. The 2000 season can be regarded as a transition year, and 2001 would probably have been an improvement even if Beldsoe had played out the season.
One of the things that kept Brady healthy in the past was a quick read, short passing game, which was far less vertical due to a lack of deep threat receivers. It's not a coincidence that Brady was hit on a long pass to Moss...although the Safety for KC had no business lunging at his knees. That was a weak, move but it happens when you expose your QB to extended pressure.
Clearly, after the Giants demonstrated that blitz pressure would disrupt Brady, the Patriots were in for a long season of heavy blitz packages and pressure. They will continue to be challenged to find a way to protect their QB within a vertical passing game going forward. Cassell is in for more of the same. It's a demoralizing day for New England. Belichick had better hope his offense can run the ball to take the heat off of the QB, whomever he turns out to be.
A finesse oriented Oline will need to be beefed up going forward. This was an obvious weakness which the Patriots demonstrated when they started claiming Oline free agents like a kid jumping for candy at Halloween.
"Look at the Pats pre-2001?" TERRIBLE reference. Seriously. 2000 was Bledsoe and BB's first year in NE. Bledsoe was not a fit for this system.
Tom Brady was built and made here. Everything he is, is from this program. It's not the end of the world.
People need to relax. Hopefully we get to hear some BRETT FAVRE stories this week. /sarcasm
Time to call Donte Culpepper, he and Moss tore it up in Minnesota. I know Culpepper isn't what he was, but he can still be effective.
Well ...Culpepper to Moss would not be bad....but would he do it especially after his email retirement letter blasting the NFL and all the teams.. Heard that Chris Sims was heading up here for tryout tomorrow...I can see a revolving door of QBs coming in for tryouts over the next few weeks until they find someone to back up Cassel who they are comfortable with. Unfortunately I do not see them being more than a 9-7 team.. Definitely means that Junior will not come back if they need LB help. Tough break for Harrison and Teddy as this is probably their last years...
Football wont be the same...The question of who made who?
They made each other.
We will see a new game plan for Cassel. More conservative...it was the same for Tom when he began... until he grew, and gained more confidience. They are not the same without Tommy.The NFL isn't the same. It is sad... but thats life.
GO PATRIOTS !!!
Well ...Culpepper to Moss would not be bad....but would he do it especially after his email retirement letter blasting the NFL and all the teams.. Heard that Chris Sims was heading up here for tryout tomorrow...I can see a revolving door of QBs coming in for tryouts over the next few weeks until they find someone to back up Cassel who they are comfortable with. Unfortunately I do not see them being more than a 9-7 team.. Definitely means that Junior will not come back if they need LB help. Tough break for Harrison and Teddy as this is probably their last years...
Na na na na, na na na na, na na na na, hey hey, good bye!!!
In Belichick we trust. there are alot of question marks but I see the pats still making the playoffs at 10-6.
HEY KEVIN FAULK!
next time leave your weed at home you bum. The pats' best blocking running back was in street clothes while sammy morris couldnt keep pollard off of brady.
ps
I still havent forgiven you for that fumble against the bronocs in january 2006.
Maybe BB should pick up the phone to see if Bledsoe would come out of retirement for a year.... Just for the heck of it...
Hi Tony,
I don't think that the hit on Brady was at all a 'dirty hit'. Players on defense are taught to roll wherever they can to disrupt the play.
I'm an avid fan living down here in the southwest and was at a bar in Socorro, NM. Everyone thought it was a tough play, gutsy that the Pats held on, (this is not Patriots land, everyone dislike us, anything Boston, you know) but it was not a cheap shot. You could even see it in Pollard's eyes, that he felt terrible that Tom was hurt.
What do you think?
Was I the only one who was terrified when Brady WASN'T on the injured report? My first thought was, "He's already injured or he's going to get injured." It was like when Belichick wore his red hoodie in the Super Bowl. You just don't tempt fate.
The news (if true) is horrible but I think it has a silver lining. With Cassel at QB, the league will write the Pats off as strong playoff contenders, taking that target off their backs. Second, they still have the strong running game and the strong receivers. Third, they still have that easy schedule. Most important is that the team will rally together when the league writes the Pats off, similar to what the team did with Spygate last year. As long as Cassel doesn't become an interception machine, the season is not lost!
What goes around...Comes around...Remember how elated Boston fans were whem the Yanks lost Wang, Posada for the year?Justice has been served. Enjoy your season Pats fans...Go Jets Go..
I feel sick. I was finally getting over the Super Bowl loss, excited for the start of the new season. So much hope, and promise... another extremely talented team... another potential Super Bowl run... I just can't believe he's done for the year. He walked off the field! He's unarguably the most important player for his team in the entire league. Irreplaceable. This can't be happening. :(
The bad karma continues... good luck, Matt.
I hate to say it, but the division will go to the JETS this year. The Patriots will be fighting for a wild card for the first time in a long time. They'e fortunate to have the league's easiest schedule, but all of a sudden the Patriots are on a level playing field with the rest of the league. Instead of 16-0, we'll be fortunate to win 9 games.
There is a fantastic core... Brady is by far the top, but there has to be something. Should the pats find an actual starter? Maybe Culpepper could un-retire... who knows...
It's not over yet...let's see what Cassell can do next Sunday with a full week of prep under his belt. He's surrounded with tons of talent, which should help a lot. McDaniels can prove himself as much as Belichick. Let's see if the team's will to win with what they have is as strong as they'd like us to believe. I like the idea of Culpepper more than Simms.
Have a little faith sports fans. Down 0-3 to the spankees?!? A sixth rounder replacing the first round franchise QB?!? (thank you Mo Lewis). A football team is more than one player, its a team (remember the 2001 super bowl introduction?). Bill B has seen enough of this guy to hang onto him for 4 years. Go Pats! Go Matt Cassel ! Guess we now know what the rest of the football world feels like.
Honestly, I think that this is a SOLID 10 win team regardless of who is behind the center. Tom Brady is clearly the best all around quarterback in the league right now (I write this while watching peyton manning's recievers bobble every other un-manning like throw he makes tonight) and his presence allows this team and coaching staff to conserve immeasurable amounts of energy and focus in every regular season game, allowing for a few lapses in perfection necessary concentration. Without Brady, Belichick knows he must be at the absolute top of his gameplan every remaining regular season game to secure a playoff spot, and so does every one of the other 52 players. However, I have faith that this focus is possible and with the talent that this team has, it is completely possible. Matt Cassel did everything he could, and needed to, to guide this team to victory today. Given, it was the Chiefs, but I'm sure many of us doubted we would secure this game when we saw #16 in the huddle so early on. He played with confidence and he played as well as he could today. I expect him to play as well as he can next week, and with Belichick preparation, it will be considerably better than he was this week. A Tom Brady offense was the best in the world. A balanced Patriots offense, even without TB, is the best in the AFC east. That's all we need. With a solid 7-10 point win next week, I think we will all be a little more confident in our playoff chances...Did I mention our jet-puffed marshmallow schedule? My prayers however, are undoubtedly with # 12 and his swift recovery.
Cas still has the best WR Offense (Moss& Welker ) in the league to trhow to.He has a great running game with Maroney Morris Faulk & Jordan.The O Line is fine and can still play.Casell might just surprise us and Bill will not ask him to be Brady .The Pats are still in the top 3 in the AFC
now nothing is standing between the steelers and ring number 6
Some are born to greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them. Matt will have manage games as Tom did in 2001, take what the d gives you and minimize risky plays. Should Matt be 85% of Brady 2001, his teammates will need to pick up the slack. All is not lost, just ask Bill.
You have to have THE QUARTERBACK Every genius coach has THE QUARTERBACK!
Since expectations are always so high for the Pats, what's the definition of success? A Superbowl win right?
It will be very difficult to acheive success without Tom Brady. A few years ago, the Pat's defense was dominant, they could have pulled it off. Now, they will have to over-acheive to go deep into the playoffs.
I think it's possible, but not probable.
There will be no miracles, just a dismal season where Belichick will be revealed to be quite mortal.
We've already waited a year! If we keep waiting, the rest of the team will, will be coming up for contract talks (i.e. 2008, 2009, etc...). The Pats really needed to take advantage of whom they had signed/together. Last year was a major gaffe; this year TB is gone. The rest of the league got what they wanted. Patriot fans might have to hope on the next Tom Brady (i.e. his ankle; his knee; what next?). It was a great run! However, it's a plain shame that it had to go out on a spoiled championship and an injury- yikes!
This situation will definitely challenge Bill and the coaching staff ... we will get a good barometer of what will happen after the next 3 games ... my take is that Bill will use Matt in same manner that he used Brady (his first year) ... minimize turnovers by going to conservative game plans (using the running game and reduce the number of throws) ... until Matt gains some experience and proves himself.
Start with the premise that no one wants to see this team without Brady for the rest of the year. However, it is clear that will not be the case. The offensive scheme will need adjust to the strengths of Cassell. The team likely will become more run-oriented. Some will perceive this as "conservative" and I am sure all of the talking heads will refer to the scheme as such. But think about it, an offensive scheme with a slant toward the running game shortens the game for an aging defense and keeps the D fresher for a playoff stretch. McDaniel and BB are innovative and will incorporate the running game, screens, the TE all in an attempt to win close games through time of possession. The key, as always, will be turnovers and mental mistakes. If Cassell can stay away from t/o's and the rest of the team can keep its focus, then an AFC East title and plyoff run is not out of the question. Not to mention the fact that BB already has enough bulletin board material from 4PM on today to motivate these guys (note--an ESPN.com writer has already predicted a 1-15 finish). They are underdogs again and we all know BB loves that position.
Uhm, before we all go off jumping off of the proverbial bridge here people, remember there was once a day when Tom Brady was nothing more than a sixth round pick backing up a veteran quarterback. He had to become what he has become. Let's give Matt Castle and this team a chance. They still have a lot of weapons on offense and a decent defense. They could still do some things this year. After all, if Trent Dilfer can win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, Matt Castle can win one with this collection of players
This is too simplistic. There are eleven guys on the field and a whole slew of coaches, not just Brady and Bill. Boiling it down to just those two means the rest of the team is just spare parts. They have some serious talent at the skill positions and they can coach up Cassel to get through the dregs of the AFC. The questions come against the Chargers and Colts. They can probably make the play offs, then who knows? I wouldn't have counted on Eli Manning doing much last season.
Actually, what Bill needs is to pick up the phone to Duante Culpepper ... now.
He and Moss had several good years together in MN and he could be a very adequate replacement who has played with pressure on his shoulders before.
i learned from the '86 world series not to live & die the sports teams anymore, but i still love to watch and that's *still* entertainment...
so the understudy replaces the star...
the last time that happened was, le'see... oh yah, 2001...
just enjoy the show and go back to work...
Have faith Patriot Nation...Cassel is ready for the challenge and the coaching staff will adjust to his strengths and utilize the great stable of running backs to balance out the offensive attack.
The system works...We're still in line for the Super Bowl and Brady will come back with a vengeance next year.
Go Pats!
Heal fast Tom!
Belichick needs Brady when he builds a team around his offense. The offense now becomes mediocre, and I'm not sure that defense is built to be on the field as much as they're going to have to be.
Without a doubt, the offense runs seemlessly through Brady. Without Brady, Belichick (and Josh McDaniel) will have to get creative with their game plans to ensure a balanced attack because Cassel doesn't have the experience to carry the offense. Last season was truly something special and this injury to Brady illustrates the importance of depth at the quarterback position. As depressing as this situation is, I'm confident they will pull together and really turn in a total team effort this season and still make the playoffs.
Belichick should take some heat here! His insistence of running up the score on some opponents last season, with Brady in the game late, deprived the team from developing a legit number two QB. Post #2[ Ryan[ hit the nail on the head; the Head Coach can design any play he desires but the QB has to execute. A .500 season would be quite an accomplishment !
I'm not going to pretend to know what is going to happen with this upcoming season, but would it really surprise any TRUE Patriot fan out there if the Pats do succeed this year. Every time the dirt is thrown on their coffin, somehow a hand busts through the dirt everytime!!!!
The Patriots are a good team... the Brady led Patriots are a great team.
I've always said that Brady NOT Belichick was the reason for the tremendous wave we have enjoyed since 2001.
Sadly and hopefully not for the entire season, we'll now know more about Belichick's coaching ability and who is ready to step up their game.
I was at the game today when this happened. I moved out out of the region 6 years ago and flew in specifically for the season opener. I left the game feeling really dejected. Belicheck needs Brady to win. Anyone who says otherwise is deluding themselves. Cassel sucked in the pre-season. He was pretty much Trent Dilfer - He didn't lose the game, but I doubt he'll win any games either. It's going to be a long flight back tomorrow.
I wouldn't even say "wait until next year." THis has huge ramifications beyond just this season. After last year's horrible hangover, all of us fans figured this year would be our last great chance to bounce back and bring the trophy back.
Next year is far away, and, as healthy as Brady could be in 2009, a lot of other crucial parts to this team will be gone - both physically and mentally. Bruschi's getting up there, as is Vrabel, as is Harrison. Will Moss be as good a year from now?
Unless we somehow morph into the 2000 Super Bowl Ravens - all defense, we are headed to 6-10 at best, even with this schedule.
Cassel is NOT good. He did enough to keep us from losing the game and I commend him for that. He had all pre-season to his skills knowing there's be a good chance he could start. Well, we know how that went. Now, ta-da!
It will be very tough for this team to rally around Cassel.
Here's to the ACL stories being planted by Belikchick's spinmeisters to magically charge the team up a la Paul Pierce! Brady comes out of the tunnel against the Jets next week, ready to play....ow, this is bad...
Losing Brady is a huge blow to this patriots team, but Belichick and the coaching staff like always will find a way to get wins out of this team, lets remember the offensive weapons that are still on the field including the punishing and diverse running game. One last thing, defense wins championships.
return of the defensive genius coming up- belichick will get his defense to play and bring back memories of Brady's first opportunity. The defense got us into the playoffs after Bledsoe got hurt and Brady took over. We have many more weapons than we did back in 01. We may not be 16-0 team but we will see what kind of heart this team has now
pray to God we make the playoffs and roll the dice from there....we'll see if "the easiest schedule in the league" helps out.
Where's Drew Bledsoe, Is he in game shape? He's only 36.
Look no further than Natick, MA. It's time to pull Doug Flutie out of retirement.
Belichick will rise to the challenge, as he always does, and adapt. Still, there's no getting around the fact that the loss at such a key skilled position is a real blow. No undefeated season this year, and everything becomes that much harder.
The Sox just lost one of the greatest hitters in history, making a difficult trade under pressure. That move could have been a disaster. Many pundits (some in the newspaper business) said the loss would be irreparable, doom the team, etc. Instead, the team has moved on and done well.
So yes, a team CAN move on from the loss of a Tom Brady, if Brady is not the whole team, like Namath (sort of) was with the Jets.
Its not a case of one or the other: its both. Tom without Bill would make it to the Divisional round of the playoffs, same for Bill without Tom. There is no way that you win a title without a decent QB, and there is no way that you win a title without a decent coach. To win 3 and make another SB you need a GREAT Coach and a GREAT QB. The magic that has been the union of the two.
Season ovah....
Let's see if Cassell step into the breach and go all the way to the Super Bowl.
Hey, it's been done before.
oh the horror. Feels like my football heart has been ripped out and stamped on.... and look who gets to exploit this first...NY. My best wishes are with Cassel coming up big. No doubt Bellichek needs brady more than brady needs bellichek. Talent on the field can go from team to team and flourish, coaches need the talented fielders to perform for them to get the w's.
We all said the same thing about Cassel now as we did about Brady 8 years ago-"I sure hope Drew Bledsoe doesn't get hurt, we won't have a chance if Brady starts." Maybe, just maybe it'll be possible for another thing to happen as it did 8 years ago. Matt Cassel will come off the bench and play miraculously for the Pats. Cassel has one of greatest teams assembled around him, that will provide him with some confidence to win. He also has backed up some of the best quarterbacks to play the game, surely he learned something sitting behind these players for so long, especially playing behind, arguably, chance to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Give Cassel some credit, he deserves some support and a chance to show what he can really do. He does face some great adversity but with the people around him and one of the best coaches of all time behind him, I believe he will be successful.
Belichick was rebuilding the team then and didn't have the team he wanted pre-2001, so you can't judge it fully on that. That'd be like saying he doesn't need Tom because he beat the Steelers with Bledsoe in the AFCC game. Now Bill has the core offensive players, front 7 on defense, and leaders to work with, so this is truly THE test to see if he needs Tom more than vice versa. Then again even with Tom our secondary has enough questions to potentially bring this team down anyway.
Brady was pulled from nowhere to replace Drew Bledsoe. Nobody is irreplaceable in the NFL. The Partriots will find someone to replace him and they will win with his replacement. All the players are expendible. It is a business.
My nightmares have come true.They all jinxed Tom Brady when in preseason what if PATRIOTS without Tom Brady.Will it happened and now what.What about Jake Plummer ? Any one have his phone #.
Let's face it, the Pats were going nowhere even with Brady this year. They would've been a sub 500 team, perhaps going 5-11 or 6-10, something like that. Without Brady, they might get 3 wins, possibly 4, but more likely they'll go either 2-14 or 3-13. Their defense is old, they could barely win games late last year, the coach is overrated, the OL can't block anymore. They're done, it is all over. Time to pack it in. Maybe get a good draft and see if Brady comes back next year, then maybe they'll be 500 team for the next few years, but the playoffs, forget about it until 2012 at least.
This team is the culmination of a lot of talented players and coaches.
There are enough very good players who can contribute in their own way to make up some of the loss.
Coaches coach up, players execute with coaches who know what they are doing. This team loss their leader and a very good player ... they did not lose THE WHOLE TEAM and their coaches.
Throwing in the towel or saying the season is lost is absolutely ludricous ... if this were another NFL franchise that might be the case but this is the Patriots owned by one of the best in the league.
You don't come this far with this much success and talent to 'call it a day'!!!!!
Makes things interesting at the very least. Tom was kind of blah last year, despite the big numbers. There were very few moments that he displayed the intensity we had seen in the past. I say there will be hiccup during the transition but the Patriots will rebound and still be a team that will compeat for the championship. Let's not forget how Tom got his job, and what we thought of him before Bledsoe went down. Maybe this is the beginning of something even better. It's not like this scenario didn't cross Bill's mind....
With no Brady the Pats are still competitive, but it is going to be very tough to watch and we'll probably lose a few we should win. However, the schedule is easy and I think Cassel should be given a shot at getting through the first few weeks. There's *no one* out there waiting for a call - if there was, he'd already be in Miami or Chicago or in about 8 other places.
Pats won't win without Brady, if Cassel started the entire game the Pats could have lost to the chiefs, one of the worst teams in the NFL. Hopefully, these reports are incorrect, as Brady did walk off the field. But without Brady, the pats won't even go 8-8. The responsibility goes to BB and Co. Everyone could see the holes in this line and with Neal out, their was no execuse not to sign a top lineman. If the Pats go 1-15 this year without Brady(a very real possibility). BB should be fired for keeping Cassel and not signing top lineman to protect Brady, because he won't look like a genius without Brady.
No, there are a few that ARE irreplaceable. If Peyton gets whacked..the Colts will NOT win with Jim Sorgi. Brady is the linchpin. Shanahan has never won without Elway. Let's see if Coach Hoody can win without Brady, cause he is gonna have to.
As Insane as it may seem, I'd rather have Bledsoe taking the snap than Matt Cassel. Drew should know the system. It's so irrational, yet in my opinion, I'd feel a little better with Bledsoe. That offensive line best get to work and lean how to run block fast! Drew, it's time to come home. Yikes!
Next week at the Jets will be a statement game for Belichick and the team.
The season hinges on this contest.
I believe that they are up to the task, and you will be feeling better as the season progresses.
Try not to be so typical, you Boston fans.
This may indeed be a new era
If anything, this will finally weed out the weaselly bandwagon fans that have plagued this proud franchise as of late.
If the offensive line can stabilize- come on, they have been looking shaky since the end of last season (not to mention the Super Bowl)- and he doesn't let the pressure get to him Cassel has a good chance to prove he is more than a back up. One thing is certain, even if Simms comes on, Cassel is primary because he knows the team. Besides, if Week 1 has been any indication, we are looking at a huge shakeup this season all over the NFL. It ain't over til its over.
PS. If you are more than a Tom Brady follower (not to mention a member of Red Sox nation), you are used to a little disappointment. Stiff upper lip.
The season is not over. The Giants won a SB, including help from the officials, with a QB with less than average intelligence. Maybe the calls go the Patriots way, even insanely, this year to make up for it?
(over the loudspeaker at a wal mart) Ryan Leaf, Ryan Leaf you have a call on line 1, Ryan Leaf call on line 1
Drew Bledsoe is actually residing in Dallas now. I don't think Brady is the entire team, so I predict a 10 win season without him.
I feel sick to my stomach like all Pats fans but not just because just losing Brady for the rest of the season, but rather the painful way in which it happened. The play was obvious he wasn't coming back because the knee doesn't bend that way in it's natural range of motion. The Pats will obviously be a different team.
Last time I checked folks, it takes a TEAM to win and this team STILL has a chance. I believe in Coach Belichick and believe in his staff to get the job done. I believe the team should start a "Win it for Tom" campaign and silence all the Monday morning QB's of the media. The team knows how to win when faced with challenges like this. I believe Cassel has the tools and the team will support him. Have faith and enjoy the ride to Tampa in Feb!
"Daunte Culpepper to Randy Moss for a TD!"...
At least Cassel is well rested....
Let's all get real, if Brady is out for the season, and unless Cassel can pull off a Brady of 2000 (Does anyone really think that will happen?), our Superbowl Championship dream for this year has become a nightmare. Without Brady the Patriots have gone from the odds on best team in football to just an average to good one. I think now if reports are true that Tom is out for the year I can speak for most Patriot fans and simply say "Our football lifes really now really suck" After last year who would have thought after only 16 plays into the season all real hope is now most likely gone. Injuries are part of the game but "Tom Brady is out for the season" is the worst news any patriot fan could ever fathom they would hear. Now to me that is why they developed the phrase Motherfuc***.
If chumps like Eli Manning can win...then so can Cassell.
Buffalo is the best team in the AFC East now though.
BEAT THE JETS!!!!
It's over for 2008. This "Team" will go 7-9. Rest Teddy, Rodney, Vrabel and Randy for 2009. Also, Give BB the year off so that he comes back refreshed. Pick up two offensive lineman (one in the draft and a good free agent) and prepare for 2009. Tom will be back next year and lead this team to the promised land.
Cassel is a young, strong, smart football player. Make no decisions on his ability to lead the Patriots at this point in time. What we do know is that he has learned the art of quarterbacking from Bradyy, the master. This will enable him to do just fine. He may lose a game here and there but overall we can comfort ourselves knowing our team will be represented in the play-offswith Cassel at the wheel. You may call it wishful thinking but write it down....you heard it here...
The team will bond togeather better and tougher than ever thru the efforts of our one in a lifetime professional football coachs......Bill B.
WELL, SAD AS IT IS ,AND IT SOUNDS LIKE NO TOM THIS YEAR--AND NOT ONLY WILL THE PATS SUFFER WITH NO TOM ---ALL FOOTBALL FANS WILL SUFFER
BECAUSE WE WILL MISS 16 GAMES....[ REMEMBER ALI,S LOST YEARS ]BUT GUESS WHAT OLD PAT FANS , THINK BACK TO OUR OLD LOSING WAYS [70,S AND 80,S] AND TO THINK WE COULD HAVE A TEAM LIKE THIS WITHOUT BRADY --WE WOULD HAVE SAID[[[OUR PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED]] SO WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS WATCH EACH GAME -AND I WILL FIND OUT HOW MUCH OF WINNING COMES FROM A GOOD TEAM THAT WILL PLAY BEYOND THEIR TALENT IN HONOR OF THEIR FALLEN LEADER-- THINK WE CAN SELL THAT SCRIPT--LETS WAIT AND SEE,JACK
While many of you believe Brady has made BB look like a better coach than he is ... I disagree. Brady is a great quarterback and Belichick is a great coach. Don't underestimate his ability and value to the team. I have great confidence that Kraft, Belichick and Co. will explore every option and put together a game plan suitable to the talent he has and/or will acquire. In recent years the New England sports world has had a pulse for winning, and the football Patriots have been a significant part of that scene. They will not rollover and die. They will do everything to put a winning franchise on the field. Be not dismayed. They won't go undefeated, but they will also not take a "wait t'il next year" posture as some of you think. Go Pats!
today's game was against the CHIEFS... they are horrible team with horrible QB and we barely won - granted there were couple of uncharacteristic fumbles and Cassel didn't throw an INT...but this is the CHIEFS. If we beat the Chargers with what we have then I believe in BB
Turn out the lights, your season is over....
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS
The Giants did it with an average Eli. Why can't we? I think we have a better team then they do all around.