Monday schedule

Is there any word on what Drew Bledsoe is up to? is there even the remotest possibility that he's even under consideration?

How ironic would that be?

Do you think the press conference was pressed back to be after the MRI? Do we know what time the MRI will be?

Do you know what time Brady's MRI would be? If he's placed on IR, what time would we learn the news?

I am a physician, not ortho however. I hear all these reports about a torn ACL yet Tom Brady has not had an MRI. I realize that you can see exam findings that would suggest a torn ACL, however nothing is definitive without imaging.

Thanks Neuro.. There seems to be alot of people jumping the gun...

Lets keep our fingers crossed!!

My understanding is that there are mobility tests they can do that can almost guarantee if the ACL is torn.

No worries - Gerry Callahan is in contact with Sarah Palin to QB the team.

Scheduling an MRI is confirmation for what is found clinically. But MRI's are not 100% accurate either...especially if you factor in swelling which could cloud the picture a bit. My guess is that they already did the MRI yesterday (why would you wait until the next day to do an MRI and let the knee swell?)....Tom was positioned with the possibility of an ACL tear.....we will know soon enough....

Has anyone had the temerity to suggest that this all might be a quintessentially Belichickean drama? Or would "farce" be a better word?

Has our Sideline Shakespeare Krafted a Comedy of Errors for us?

Will the Hamlet of the Hashmarks today decide to tell us that it was just a mild sprain? That the horror we anticipate is just a ligament of our imaginations?

Or is it truly good night, sweet prince?

Coach Belichick makes Hamlet seem like an impulse shopper. So let's not expect a whole heck of lot at 3PM.

And whatever sound and fury emenates from the podium, let's not lose sight of what it likely signifies.

An MRI is only used to confirm clinical findings and it is not 100% accurate. My guess is that they did the MRI yesterday (why wait for swelling to get into the knee and cloud the picture?) and the team is working to rule out all possibilities. We'll know soon enough....

I'll go with partially torn ligaments & hyperextension of the knee...

I am an orthopedic surgeon. It is possible that they postpone MRI (imaging) for a couple of days if swelling is an issue. Therefore, conclusive results may not be immediate however mobility tests can give a great sense of the severity and exact location of the injury

As a Physical Therapist, I agree w/ the DOC... nothing is confirmed w/o the MRI

Regardless of whether it's torn or not, its obvious that our boy is hurt pretty bad. What's our best case scenario, a severe sprain and he's out 6-8weeks? We roll the dice with Cassell and then Brady comes in halfway through the season, at 60-70%? Yikes.

Shawne Merriman, I hope you're paying close attention.

I think the Pats should call Culpepper out of retirement. He is good friends with Randy Moss. Moss Should make the call to Duante

Culpepper? I thought we were looking for a QB with two good knees...

Now we see the importance of having a few joints in your pocket. There was no way Kevin Faulk could've predicted that his actions might jeopardize the season.
But, he should've been there in his usual blocking assignment and the odds might have been tilted that Brady wouldn't have been reached.

Flutie, Flutie, Flutie!!!

I agree with Culpepper comment. Its the first thing I said yesterday when he got hurt. Randy make the call. Let's hope the best for TB.

I had my ACL torn and my first MRI's came up negative. I went to another doctor for a second opinion and he did some mobility tests with my knee and could tell right away it was my ACL. An MRI later confirm his statement. I really hope this isn't the case for Tom.

He's my quarterback man... my quarterback..

Why isn't Daunte Culpepper our first call if brady is out for the season?

MAKE THE CALL RANDAY!

why are people mentioning culpepper?
hes terrible.. wed be better of with robert kraft as our qb over culpepper..

is the conference gonna be on the radio

Randy should decide. He is king. Isnt Culpepper working at the CBS scene restaurant anyway? He could come down and throw some passes.

Are there any Matt Cassell Jersy's for Sale?

We're just hoping and praying he'd be able to play in the playoffs, right? In other words, I'd take news that he'd be back in week 12. The team would have a whole different mindset if they believe there's a chance that Tom would be back. If he's out for the year, they have no chance in the playoffs even if they were to sneak in.

With all due respect to BB, TB is worth 5-6 wins per season.

Culpepper's best days are behind him. He can heave the ball but lacks confidence. Let's rally behind Cassel and hope for the best. The D is what will keep us in games. We need to generate some turnovers. Looks like the running game could be a strong point. Randy Moss (captain), we will see your true character here this season, so far so good.

Randy should decide. He is king. Isnt Culpepper working at the CBS scene restaurant anyway? He could come down and throw some passes.

Everyone's askign the questions I am thinking. Can he play later in the year if its just a partial tear? Is it possible its a MCL tear and they have no idea what shape hte ACL is in?

Would they even put him on the IR? Rivers played with a Tore ACL against us in the playoffs. If its partially tore, could he rehab and come back a the end of the year with a brace?

Knowing what Tom seems to be like, I bet he is pressing the doctors to find a way for him get back by the end of the year unles his ACL is completely tore, thats my guess. The MRI should confirm whether its a full tear or partial tear, or just sprained and swollen.

Im just wondering, what are the scenarios for a return this year if its not a full tear?

Did anybody see the strill shot on SI of the hit on his knee - Take a look. Any doubters of a torn ACL will change thier minds. He a tough guy and will be back 100% next year.

I find all this speculation about Brady's injury by the media extremely distasteful. As others have approprately said, until MRI, (even that techniques has limitations), its premature to speculate that the ACL is torn. A bad sprain will have the same symtoms as a tear, but would likely not require surgery. Shame on those who are taking pleasure in another persons injury!

Let's bring Favre out of retirement.............how great would that have been.

Doc if it is a torn ACL they say rehab takes between 14-20 months and yet you had Carson Palmer back in 9 months and Philip Rivers in 6. Is severity of the tear a factor in the rehab time?

Paul Pierce anyone???

I'm not a doctor and it's impossible to diagnose from watching an injury happen. Still, the hit that Brady took looked like it would cause major damage to the MCL. The impact mostly came from the left side, causing the knee to flex inward to the right. I can imagine that the ACL might also suffer damage in an injury like this, but from the impact, it would appear to me that most of the damage would be to the MCL.

Michael Vick - Work Release Program?

At this point I would be jumping for joy if Brady can come back at any point this season, yes I believe we can make the playoffs and if Brady comes back in time for the end of the season, I love our chances!

-Remaining hopelessly optimistic

Will this press conference be on TV or no? if so, do we know what channel?

Too bad Pats fans. First the loss in the superbowl to the G-Men. Now this! Guess after too many years of winning teams up in beantown, your luck has run out. Hope you enjoyed it

Docs:

I think you answered one question above (swelling) but why do they always wait until the next day for the MRI? Couldn't they do it Sunday night?

If it's a ACL, is there anyway he's back in time for the playoffs and or Super Bowl? What's the full recovery period?

I'm going to puke

The Pats will still go 10-6 or 9-7 and possibly make the playoffs. Remember, statistically they have the easiest schedule of any team in the league this year. They still have a lot of weapons on offense and a good defense.

Let's not jump off the bandwagon quite so quickly people.

From the way Brady's knee withstood the pressure for a moment and then suddenly snapped forward, there is no way that the damage is limited to "partially torn ligaments & hyperextention of the knee." Best case at this point is that this is just a season-ending injury, and not a career-limiting injury.

If the Pats offensive line can protect anywhere near like they did last year (minus the Super Bowl) - they should look at bringing in either Drew Bledsoe or Jake Plummer. I think the other names being tossed around are crap. Bledsoe and Plummer are both still in their mid 30's, both have won many pressure games, are proven veterans and both have great arms.

I don't know about Plummer's current status, but Bledsoe was contacted by 3 teams to play last year and declined becuase he was busy with business ventures but said he wouldn't rule out playing again in the future if the situation was right.

The Patriots would be a dream situation for a veteran QB with a strong arm and the desire to win.

Yeah, with all the talk about Moss going wherever Culpepper went this off season, I'm surprised not many people are taking the idea of signing Culpepper seriously. Honestly, how much money would the guy demand? Nobody's going to pay an unproven guy like Culpepper anything serious, but this just seems like way too perfect of an opportunity for him to pass up. I realize the offensive system the Patriots have is everyone but simplistic, but Culpepper is a proven veteran with plenty of experience throwing to Moss. With such a great O-Line, running game and battery of receivers, how could he not possibly want to use this as an opportunity to redeme himself? It just seems like way too perfect of a situation for him.

I agree - Culpepper will be the best bet if we need to go shopping.

I like how everyone jumps the gun. My hope is its not a tear, I am not a doctor, but from watching replays and the way he walked off, I am assuming the worst. I think Bledsoe or Culpepper would be a huge mistake, especially Dante. Just because he had success w/ Moss in Minnesota, how long ago was that? Not to mention that was prior to his knee injury. He has been horrible since, and you would want him here(?) If they'd go after any retired QB my bet it would be Vinny T. BB loves him, and knows what he can do.

Face it folks, if the results for Brady are what we all fear. This is Matt Cassels team. Lets support him and the team. No, he is not Tom Brady, no one is. But if Belichick has kept him around this long, that must mean something, right(?)

I'm not a doctor but I played one on TV. He's done for the season. Cassel will lead the team to the Super Bowl in a deja vu moment. Belichick will give the league and the haters a big middle finger by finishing what he started last year. This is the perfect motivation, the madia and the haters calling this karma and already discounting the team...well they can give me their address now so I know where to send the plate of crow come February. If you can't back this team and believe they can still win, drop your Patriots jersey off at my front door and go root for the Jets.

or better yet how about we dust off Champagne Tony Eason.

If you fail the Lackman test (manual manipulation of the knee joint by torsion on leg) immediately after injury, ACL tear is virtually certain diagnosis. Brady was examined before any swelling would have set in, so they know what they are dealing with. Also, ACL tear rarely occurs in isolation. The terrible triad (ACL tear, meniscus injury, MCL sprain or tear) is most likely, although I would not rule out a scaffold fracture (sometimes called a dashboard fracture, due to lower leg impact against dashboard in car accident) from looking at the replay. MRI will tell the tale.

This morning on ESPN radio, Culpepper was mentioned. However, the Pats offensive system is VERY complicated and would probably take someone quite a while to get comfortable with. Cassell has been toting the clip board for 4 years and knows the system as well as Brady. In Cassell we trust!!!

I live in the Tampa area and word around here is saying the Chris Simms is up there for a physical and tryout. I am relly hoping for the best for Brady. Let's just hope it is a sprain, but the news I have been reading is not that encouraging.

Can a team begin negotiations with a prospective replacement before a player is officially put on the disabled list?

I just want to say to all the jerks expressing elation at the Brady injury (I am a displaced Bostonian currently residing in Baltimore) -- that's just a horrible thing to say! Secondly, it was clearly a cheap shot and whoever hit him should be suspended, without pay, for as long as Brady is out (if at all). Lastly, I am assuming the worst with the caviat that nothing's definitive until the MRI is complete.

Also, if indeed the worst has happened, Cassel is the best option because he knows the playbook.

What's with the report about Chris Simms coming to Foxboro for a physical?? I'd take Cassell over him any day of the week.

I love Tommy

bring back bledsoe

Whats the word

Forget about Culpepper......the knee never fully recovered and he's not the same QB he was when playing with Randy Moss. As a Raider fan I watched Culpepper play last year. Granted our O-Line doesn't hold a candle to yours, but he can't move in the pocket and has lost some of his accuracy because of the weak knee.

Look elsewhere for QB help.

i think caulpepper would be the best opion because he know moss well and has a pretty good arm

There is no way Chris Simms could pick up this offense. As Cassell been here for three years and knows it, i'll take him over anyone right now.

as a ravens fan and former resident of boston--i was in school at BU for my masters program-- i am elated to hear of the news..best news all season..this is what happens when you have your entire team around one person..i knew this day would happen.

Bostonians lit up Indy message boards last year when Marvin Harrison & Dwight Freeney got injured. Payback. Karma. Call it what you like.

That is really too bad about Tom Brady but he will be back in a year and probably better than ever -- so Pats fans should not worry. Pats fans should know that he is not the whole team or the only reason that the Pats win. He is part of team and there are some other stellar players on the team.

Besides, he has always has his modeling career to fall back on, right?

Bostonians lit up Indy message boards last year when Marvin Harrison & Dwight Freeney got injured. Payback. Karma. Call it what you like.

I didn't see the hit live, only slo-mo replays. All of my friends who saw it live say there was no way it was a dirty hit (and they are some of the biggest homers around.) If they say it wasn't dirty, I'll take them at their word and agree, it wasn't dirty.

As for all the morons in NY who were cheering, well that's another story. From 95-01 the Yankees were as dominant as the Pats have been. We here in NE all thought Jeter was just as smug as New Yorkers believe Brady to be. However, Neither me nor any of my friends would ever cheer a Jeter injury. Ok maybe if he got hit by a pitch on the hand and couldn't bat in the ninth against us but not something where he would lose any length of time, let alone a year or a career.

You just don't do that. You clap for the guy as he walked off the field, wish him the best and move on. In the words of Ron Burgandy "Stay classy New York, stay classy!"

Cassell has a job on the team because of the way he prepares the defense for the next opponent...he's quite good at pretending to be the upcoming quarterback, whether it be Peyton, Garrard, Vince Young(you saw Cassell scramble yesterday), whoever. That's why Belichick kept him on the team, that's why Belichick loves the guy.
It's like comparing a studio musician to Eric Clapton. He's important...but you'd never pay money to see him. He's good at what he does...but he's not franchise material.
I say screw it. Give Cassell the ball. Jimmy Page started as a studio musician. Ever heard of Led Zeppelin?

B