Tom Brady injury situation

This is awful news.. but, I am more worry about next year too. cause Brucki, Vrabel, Faulk, Harrioson, will be more older and now sure, what's going to happen with Defence...

P.S I wonder if Lynch still will come to Patriots...

R.I.P 2008 Patriots season

Mr. Reiss:

This is a great opportunity for you to show that you have integrity not shown by many of you colleagues. A narrative is developing around this story that Pollard's hit was not a dirty, illegal play. The league banned hits of quarterbacks below the knee - with great fan fare - a few years ago following the Carson Palmer injury. Now everyone is rushing to the defense of Bernard Pollard because no one can accept what has happened here.: a dirty player has knocked the quarterback of the best team in the league out for the year.

Why should pollard not be fined and suspended? It is my fervent hope that you rise to the occassion and write this up as it is and not how the league wants it to be.

The season isn't lost yet. The defense made plays when they needed to and played pretty well, though it is obvious Harrison has lost more than a step and is no longer the player he once was.

Also take solace in that fact that teams have won Super Bowls with the likes of Trent Dilfer and MArk Rypien, while Neil O'Donnell, Jake Delhomme, Stan Humphries, and Rex Grossman have all led their teams to Super Bowl berths.

Borges broke this at 7:56 PM on weei.com

Brady replacing bledsoe was a surprise but cassel isn't - Bill could try cassel and then go to simms or someone else. Perhaps we can get Daunte culpepper back from retirement? I think he is probably a bit better than Chris simms.. I wouldnt replace cassel until he does really bad the next few games.

Any replacements you can think of Reiss?

That could be the sound of the end of an era for the Pats. The D is getting old and they did not impress vs the Chiefs. Moss will be older and so will Brady. Could it be the end of an Era for the great Pats? What a shame. I can't watch Matt C play QB because he sucks. He could not start over Matt L at USC who can not play at ARI. He just can't get the job done. This team could have a losing record with the easiest sch in the league. This sucks.

If there's something good about this is that bandwagon fans will be taking their crepe paper character to another team. Good riddance - and go away now, starting with you two (Pawan and nate). The Jet's are perfect for you two but smarter (or less stupid) bandwagon fans will root for the Bills.

this is really bad hope somebody will step up like casell or someone else

How the hell did jets came to know so early that brady had an ACL. Is there a freakin mole in the organisation?

Ding dong the 9 point dynasty is dead. belicheat had better get a new cameraman.

I am just devastated. I think Matt Cassel is capable of stepping up... but Brady is ovbiously the face of the NE Patriots! This is horrible! Since last year ended I've been awaiting the 2008 season with optimism. I was waiting for redemption and for this to happen opening day it is so devestating!

i'm not a fan of simms. i'm fine with cassel. i'm not a fan of culpepper, but i'd much rather of culpepper than simms. but again, i'm still okay with cassel. obviously he's the best option since he is the most familiar with the system. "optimistic", i agree...if rex grossman can get a team to the superbowl, than cassel can as well.

I have to echo a portion on Justin Dangel's post...now I don't think it was with malicious intent that Pollard hit the knee, just a dangerous and careless play. Nonetheless, the low hits seem to have been banned for the very reason that happened today. Malicious or not, a fine should be levied.

I have to say I am annoyed at the spin used by the meatheads, I mean talking heads, that Pollard "rolled" into Brady's ankle or that he was pushed. Clearly from the reverse replay of the play, Pollard lunged for Brady's lower leg before Morris landed on him for a third time. This reaks of FoxPublicanNews or MSNBCratNews spin.

I suppose it's too much to ask the main sports outlets to report it as it clearly shows...Pollard lunged/reached for the leg to make a play (disrupt Brady) not "accidentally rolled" onto or was "pushed." Also, Brady stepped and then Pollard lunged into the leg, not the other way around...contrary to many write-ups, Brady clearly steps into open space and Pollard lunges toward the leg.

How quickly the story and opinion of low quarterback hits will change if NFL goldenboy Manning reinjures his knee tonight due to a low hit.

i watch a lot of soccer(futbol) and where Tom grabbed his leg was not on the knee.
I believe that he will not be out for the season.
BUT..... Matt Cassell is not the answer.

I grew up in Boston and live in Tampa and saw a lot of Chris Simms.
He could be the answer until Brady comes back in November.
He has Live NFL game experience with a shit offensive line and has shown his fortitude. I know with the front 4 of New England, he will shine.

Kevin O'Connell should be starter.

the bottom line is all we are doing is trying to place blame. here or there forget that how about we say we hope tom gets better fast. not beat up the pats lets be true fans and back our boys like we should cause i know i will. the ottom line is i hope your ok tom and if its next year i see you play then fine i will still spend my 200.00 dollars a month this year on the nfl package to watch my pats win or lose.
in the pats we trust!!!

your ride has ended beantown.
that sound you hear is the window being closed. there will be many salty beers tonite,
goodnight billy

All good things come to an end. In sports, that can mean the end of your luck, an aging team and retirements, or, a big injury to a key player at the wrong time. Don't gripe, Pats fans. You've had a long and successful ride for many years. It had to end sometime. These things are going to happen.

I hope these reports are not accurate. They still sound a bit like rumor. I would not rule Cassel out. He is young and has an amazing work ethic. His first drive from the 2 was AMAZING!!! I would rather see them give some young guys a chance than go with people we know have failed. Remember a 3rd string QB who was a backup at Michigan from a few years ago? I think the team will get behind Cassel...something that Bledsoe was never able to do...and that someone from away wont be able to do either. I think they should Gutierrez back as a 2nd or 3rd string option.

It's a sad day. Hopefully it isn't a career ending injury. Let's hope that Matt C will be able to step up and be the player we need him to be. Many thoughts are with Tom tonight.

Pats fans, its time to rally around Matt as we did around Tom in 2001. In Bill we trust, remember?

I'm from N.Y. and I admit I'm a huge Jet fans. But it's tough to see one of the best players in the NFL gone for the season. Then again, maybe this is Karma biting you in the ass for cheating in every conceivable way over the past eight years. Or maybe its for Tom Brady getting a chick pregnant and then dumping her. Maybe this is actually the most wonderful thing that has happened in a long long time!!!!! Whoppeeeeeee Bye Bye season!!!!!

This "dirty hit" talk is ludicrous. Look at the replay: Pollard was in the act of tackling brady. He hit Brady below the knee; Brady's leg buckled back and snapped forward, likely causing the injury. Also, Vince Wilfork flung himself sideways, elbow extended, at JP Losman's knee last year after a throw, not as he was in the process of throwing. Wilfork wasn't suspended on an obviously dirty hit last year; Pollard will not be suspended for this hit.

season isn't over, cassel it's time for you to prove everyone wrong.. we still have moss welker and gaffney no one can stop them

Die Pats Die!!! Your season is over, perhaps even better, your run is over!!! You were always one Brady injury away from being average or worse. And with an average and aging defense, it may be worse. You barely got by KC, probably one of the worse teams in the NFL. Good luck when you play some of the better ones. HAHAHAHA. Die Pats Die!!!!! Oh and save your lame Fins suck come backs. We'll be going up just as the Pats with Belicheat are going down. hahahahahaha.

This puts a lot of pressure on the coaching staff, and as "optimistic" said, lesser QB's have taken their teams to the big show. We still have Moss and Welker, Maroney and Morris. Cassell is going to have to play within himself, make minimal mistakes, and hope that we can develop a power running game.

But, Goddamn hearing the news just flat out sucks. Go Sox!

I'm calling it right now! if Brady is out for the season, they will call Mr. Culpepper to reinvent the Vikings magic with Moss. There is no way we can reinvent the magic with Cassel.

Tim: Yahoo report was up well before Borges. Of course Borges stealing someone else's work would be nothing new.

I'm calling it right now! if Brady is out for the season, they will call Mr. Culpepper to reinvent the Vikings magic with Moss. There is no way we can reinvent the magic with Cassel.

When does Michael Vick get out of jail? HA HA

Culpepper Now! He needs to reinvent the magic with Moss. It could happen.

Yup.

J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHA!!!!
Oh, Well I guess Tom & Gisels will have a nice warm winter together..
Couldnt have happened to a better team or head coach..

How about Flutie?

Can't believe the people jumping off the bandwagon. I went to Patriots games to watch the inestimable Hugh Millen and Dick McPhearson; and you want to throw the season away because Tom Brady gets hurt?

I'll wait and see before I say the season is over, I'll root for the Pats, and still love every game.

By the by, I didn't see Pollard apologize :p I don't think it was a dirty hit, but I don't really think he cares one way or the other.

I cheer for the whole team. Best of luck Brady.

lets go!!! This may just be the challenge that they need.

Stick a fork in the Pats -- they're done.

Daunte chucking it to Moss again, wow, that could be nasty.

It's not over yet, they still have one of the easiest schedules and have some pretty talented players on both sides of the ball, and the culture of winning has clearly taken hold. At this point it feels like expectations have drastically swung in the other direction, that now if the Pats even make the Playoffs it will be a huge success. I'd rather people write us off now, I think that would be a mistake.

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny isn't it. Bill B. gets caught cheating and suddenly Tom the boy wonder loses the Super Bowl and then skips the pre-season and hurts his knee in the first game of the season.

Perhaps Tom the wonder boy can't win if Bil B. isn't telling him what plays the defense will be running.

So long Tom he wonder boy, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out of town.

I hear Drew Bledsoe is available.

Drew - where are you? Bring back #11...

PATRICE BERGERON = CUP (STANLEY)

Cassel can definitely run better than Brady (several 1st downs on QB runs). If Cassel can successfully run the 2-minute offense under severe pressure, that would be great. He has the same great weapons that Brady had at his disposal. He's studied under Brady for years. Really hoping for the best here.

Also - is it possible to walk down stairs if your ACL is torn? If Brady's ACL was torn, they would have used the cart. Someone who is familiar with this type of injury please helps the fans here.

forget about the patriots for the rest of the year.........this is the Bruins' season to win the CUP!

Yep, we are done. And I have to agree that our aging defense is looking aged. With Brady, the defense would rest now and again...but now, if it is put on the shoulder of the defense to win games, we will witness the GPD (Great Patriot Demise) week after week after week.

What a great ride! Sad to see Randy not get a ring, he sure did right by us.

It's over. Brady will never be the same. The "D's" old. Moss will loose interest and start squirting refs with water again. The last team to win the sb the year after losing it was the 72 dolphins. Perfectville - Population 1

The season is not lost. I don't live in Boston anymore, but really, sometimes Boston sports fans take themselves and their games WAY too seriously. Even if Brady never plays another NFL game again and the team falls apart, the Patriots have had an excellent run. Things change and they can't be kings forever.

That being said, it's not the end of the world. Please get over yourselves.

I honestly don't think it was a dirty hit, but I also think the NFL should - and will - fine Pollard. They got Wilfork last year for his hit on Losman - this was essentially the same hit.

I have to say that I'm completely miserable right now...Cassel did just fine against the Chiefs, but it was the Chiefs. Next week will be a little different. I don't see anyone else stepping in but Cassel. He's the guy until we hear otherwise, but given his preseason performance - despite today - I don't feel real good about this.

"A chance to see what the Patriots would be like without Tom Brady". This was a Bob Ryan quote a few weeks back and the countless theme of the Globe reporters during the pre-season. Well, how prophetic. At least everyone started their research on the subject.

No more week-in and week-out talk about how the Patriots are blowing out and continuing to blow out opponents. Now the talk with be how they can salvage anything out of this season. Unless Divine Intervention steps in, it ain't with Matt Cassel regardless of Sunday's outcome. Having the leagues easiest schedule might soften the blow a bit.

I was just going to get NFL Sunday Ticket. Boy, that was close. I guess things happen tor a reason.

Karma...

wonder how the Cheatriots will do without the Golden Boy

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

Pollard is a cheapshot scumbag

I am so upset............he is an outstanding player. I am huge Brady Fan!! And it is not easy being a Patriot fan living in NJ. It will not be the same watching the Pats play this season.

Karma...

wonder how the Cheatriots will do without the Golden Boy

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

I was a fan back when this team wasn't very good at times and going to the old Foxboro Stadium at times was like a scene from Animal House.
These are different times with different people and I believe the foundation of this team will allow it to be competitive even with a first ballot HOF quarterback knocked out for the season. Look around and take a breathe people on a weekend where two other AFC powers both lost, S.D. and Indy we still have an awful lot to be proud of with this team.

First off, I think we all want Tom to know that we wish him the best!
Secondly, looking forward assuming Brady is out long term, we need to ask ourselves how many undeniably great quarterbacks are in the NFL. I'm confident with an answer of 2 and stretching when I approach 4. Next, we can ask ourselves how many teams are in the NFL. As any simple mind can see (even trolls included) the majority of teams in the NFL maintain a highly competitive level and can even win championships with average, at best, quarterbacks (take the Giants last season). Who the heck are we to honestly even speculate at a lost season because of this injury? Does anyone remember 2001? I have at least 15 more Pats games to watch and enjoy this season! I'm going to do so no matter what. This is definitely time for true fans to step forward and support this team no matter what. Go Pats and wishing a speedy recovery to To

Season is over, I get the feeling this is going to be a long agonizing season. but we could have a chance at getting some talent here threw the draft. Brady is getting older so in that respect i say play oconnell and let him start a new era , at least he will have experience in case brady is too long to get back. The earlier we get him going the better we could be in the future. so i say scuttle this year with what we have and build from it. I dont give us really much of a chance for the fact of the preseason we were terrible with out brady. I hope i am wrong... but I think our super bowl dream will have to wait.

It's still just a game. Get hit with some real challenges in life and then decide how big a deal this is. (And I am a lifelong fan back when we'd be excited because the Pats actually won a game.)

I don't understand the sentiment that the Pats D is an old, aging, dinosaur ridden group. The defensive line is full of young players in their primes. There are a few oldsters in the linebacker crew and secondary, but they have drafted players like Mayo, Wilhite, and Wheatley that have looked good and have a lot of upside.

There is no doubt that Brady is the best player in the league... They are probably a ways from the Super Bowl right now, but they are still probably the best team in the worst division in football, with very good players and a cupcake schedule. Hey and the Colts lost to the awful Bears tonight at HOME.

Any Pats fan that say the season is over without Brady isn't a bandwagon fan, just a fan living in reality.

In Belichick I trust. The Patriots will still win the division and anything is possible in the playoffs---no other teams are that dominant, including the Colts who lost today. GO PATS!!! GO BRADY'S SURGEON!!!!

BB's a brilliant coach and there a lot of guys on the team with great character. The pats could still make the playoffs--perhaps a wild card spot. But it's obviously gonna be tough....

I'm sure the Pats will somehow manage a 10-6 record with good defense, a solid running game, and mistake free quarterbacking....but, they won't win a superbowl this year. This is indisputable. After today, it looks like it'll be Buffalo-Chicago, or some lame combination like that.

None of us is smarter than all of us.

Believe in the team... Go Pats!!! Go Defense... Go offense... Go special teams...

b-bye. hope he gets better. Cowboys this year.

The Pat's will survive and will still make the playofffs. Lets wait and check to see exactly what the injury is. And you die hard people who just live and die sports please remember that Brady dosen't have cancer he will be back. Lighten up and get a life.

IN BILL WE TRUST!

This team will make to the playoff, then anything could happen. Did you see SD lost?

Tom would be a terrible loss for the season, but remember that football is a team sport, and the Patriots are a pretty darn good team.

I still expect a good showing from the team despite lack of support from a fickle fan base.

I know it is hard, but try to keep your chin up.
Take solace in the fact that now the Pats will be considered underdogs, and its veteran group will rally in an unpredictable AFC East.

There was a time in New England when the fans were malcontents and frankly they were not nice to be around. I hope that the fans can act like a group of adults now that they may experience something other than Nirvana,

But I fear they will start acting like #7 Ryan Let's see if the pariots fans can act as professionally as their players do, I have my doubts.

Pats reign is over, brady is not coming back, hes signing with another team, yet another superbowl loser not making playoffs

Brady will be out for the season, thusly our season is at an end.

love it hoe reiss screens so many comments thanks a lot let the people speak!

"The D is getting old and they did not impress vs the Chiefs".
Yeah, 'cause we all know holding a team to one TD is pretty much looked upon as failure.

This was just another reminder that I hate you.

This sucks, but if there is a football team on this planet who can shock and break it's own records it's the PATS. I believe in Belichuck and will never give up on MY PATS!!!!

Mike, are you planning on posting offense/defensive participation breakdowns? Those are the best postgame blog entries.

It's only sports, kids. Brady's just a man. We've got much bigger things to deal with right now.

us steeler fans will trade you leftwich for say a 1st and 3rd rnd pick in the next 3 drafts or if you pat fans just stop crying and calling every injury hit to a player on your team a "dirty hit" i so sick of the excuses.this is just the come upings you had commming to you for all the "video taping" and "cheating" you have done to get the edge to win................so take solice that there is 15 more weeks of misery for all you to endure or mortgage you furture now.................peace out CRY BABIES

there was no reason for the that guy to lunge at him so low! wtf our season IS over face it. im not going to STOP watching but seriously guys. we just went from contenders to fillers. done.

Based on how all the other powerhouses in the AFC played today, I think the Pats still have a shot. Our offense will be circa 2001 (short passes, few big drop backs, more play action) and we have a stronger offensive team to help Cassel, especially at RB. The defense will be a force further into the season with the additions we made during the off-season.

Right now I put the Colts at the top of my list to win the AFC (sorry, I just have to). Both the Pats and Chargers lost one of their best players, but I think both will still be in the race for the SB. The Jags defense will need to transistion without Stroud and still don't have a good receiver on offense. The Titans need Vince Young to emerge before they have a realistic shot. It think the Pats still have a chance to win, it will just be much harder than ever before.

this is devestating. my heart sank when i saw this news. I'm still gona be watching and rooting every game but I was so pumped for the season,, and now this. I just hope they can make the playoffs nd make a run, mayb surprise some people, especially with ther easy schedule. the D will have to be dominant. good thing is that the bye week is early so they can try to get whoever the qb is up to speed at that point. GO PATS

Winners never cheat and cheaters never win. The curse is back!

Depressed. Incredibly depressed. The season is over and it hasn't even begun. I'm sure this team will work hard, but lets face the cold hard facts -- this is NOT a playoff team without Tom Brady.

I'm reminded of a line from The Waterboy right now. When Bobby Boucher (Adam Sandler) is told he can't play in the Bourbon Bowl for the Championship, Rob Schneider, who plays a redneck in the crowd of people, exclaims, "Oh, no! We suck again!" There are several thoughts going through my mind as I try to be funny.
1) F*&^!!!!!!!!!
2) If Brady is out for the season, he will never come back and be the same Tom Brady. I hate the idea of seeing him play for another team, and no matter what, this season will not be as much fun without watching him play.
3) All the Jets and Dolphin fans jumping up and down because the demise of the New England Patriots is the only thing they have to live for.
4) We jinxed ourselves with all this talk during the preseason about Brady getting injured.
5) In general the Patriots looked awful today, and all the problems we knew we had were exposed, like a weak backup QB and especially a crappy defensive secondary.
6) Pollard's hit was cheap if not dirty. However, we knew defensive players were going to be looking at taking him down with stuff like that based on all the crap we took last season about "running up the score." Blog after blog warned that people were going to be after Brady for last season.
7) Initially the hit didn't look that bad, but an AP photo shows the lower part of his leg at about a 20 degree angle right at his knee. It's bad, folks. It's not Joe Theisman-bad or Fran Tarkenton-bad, but he's gone.
8) San Diego and Indy both looked bad today, too. It might be good that our Bye week comes so early this year. We just have to get by the rest of the teams in the AFC East.
9) Chris Simms? It will take him at least 4 weeks to learn the offense.
10) I just to hope for 2009 just so we would be rid of George Bush. I hope it's not so that we the Pats back where they should be... stomping the other teams into the ground.
11) Gisele Bundchen is probably pretty happy right now. She'll at least be able to spend more time with him.

Everybody take a step back here, ok Brady might be gone for the season, but look as what he has given us over these past 6 years..lets just hope that his injury does not cost anything more than just a football season, imagine how he feels tonight, and how Cassel must feel tonight, if we are fans, we need to get behind the QB that BB picks and move on.....

Don't worry, New England. The Patriots are still my favorite team. I do things like this every now and then to tease the Dolphin and Jets fans. I have to have some fun.

DREW.

But, remember Dad, I'll be back to win and piss you off again!

Go Chargers! The time is NOW!

To the people saying that the season is over- good riddance to you, and I hope you dont watch another Pats game in your lives. Tom Brady is one of my favorite athletes ever, but that is because he did all he did for my team. If he had played for the Jets would any of us care about him?

POint is- believe in your team, dont disrespect the ret of the team by putting all the glory with one individual. Whether you win a game by 3 points or 33 points is ultimately irrelevant, as the Giants showed us last year. And lest we forget- statiscally, the 2007 season was an anomaly for Brady. All Cassell has to do is maintain and limit mistakes, we'll be fine. We have a great team, and with the loss of the bandwagoners we have great fans. Lets turn Gillette back into a football stadium and not a library, and lets show these guys still playing they have our 100% support.

The season is not over! We have the best team in the NFL. Now Brady is an integral part of the team but now the TEAM has to pick him up. The team is aging but they play as a unit and I do not think Matt C. is the answer but people did not give Tom a chance when he stepped in. Matt is no Brady but the team will pick up the QB no matter who it is. The season will be bumpy without Tom but we will make the playoff's! Make no mistake about it. It is time for the nation to rise up and show these people that Boston is where this country was founded and Boston is where Great Teams Rise up. Now is our time! So hang on its going to be a wild one.

Let's go Jets.

The Matt Cassell Era is here, and it will be brilliant. And all you Pats-haters can keep on hating, you losers, or, as we say in NE, LOSAHS, RETAHDS.

Why was Belichick so jovial during the post-game press conference?
Why do several Jets seem to already 'know' that Brady's out?
What's Bill got up his sleeve...?

I agree with post 14. I was at work all day and didnt get to watch the game but heard about Brady going down. I just seen the play on stupid ESPN and the KC player did in fact lunge for Brady's leg and wrapped his arms around it. He was NOT pushed into Tom's leg as I had read on several sites. Something should be done about this but Im sure nothing will because of all the people who hate NE and Tom Brady because of their stupid jealousness.

"us steeler fans will trade you leftwich for say a 1st and 3rd rnd pick in the next 3 drafts or if you pat fans just stop crying and calling every injury hit to a player on your team a "dirty hit" i so sick of the excuses.this is just the come upings you had commming to you for all the "video taping" and "cheating" you have done to get the edge to win................so take solice that there is 15 more weeks of misery for all you to endure or mortgage you furture now.................peace out CRY BABIES
Posted by class organazation STEELERS September 8, 08 12:07 AM"

Irony (unwittingly, and witlessly) defined. And Leftwich sucks.

Look, I'm not a Pats fan but to cheer when a good guy gets injured is just sick. I'm a a Cowboy's fan and when the Eagles' fans cheered when Irvin got hurt and later retired, I lost all respect for the whole city. Remember people, it's still just a game. You still have hope Pats fans. That's why they play all the games.

This injury to Tom Brady is the best thing that could ever happen to this New England Patriots team. The Patriots have built up such a high code of excellence and dominance that they had truly reached the pinnacle of professional sports. Unfortunately, every good streak has its fatal end and the beginning of that end was the Super Bowl against the New York Giants. In that super bowl, the Patriots had nothing to gain, they had already reached the pinnacle, and that super bowl victory would be adding too much pressure. The Giants on the other hand had absolutely nothing to lose and that in fact helped them win the super bowl. Go back to the 2001 super bowl; where the Patriots started this dynasty, and you will find a similar matchup in which the Patriots had nothing to lose and the Rams had everything to lose. This long run by the Rams resulted in them hitting rock bottom with a fast decline. The Patriots were nearly at this rapid decline themselves in the 2008-2009 season. Although it is hard to believe, there was an extremely good chance the Patriots would not win the super bowl again and the result would be another “disappointing” season by the standards of the high level of expectations naturally set. This injury basically turned the Patriots into a normal NFL team with nothing to lose. The Patriots, with their experienced coach, defense and great supporting cast, will probably be competing for a wild card spot in the playoffs. It will be a fun and exciting season with hard fought wins. They will have nothing to lose. Even though they might not win the super bowl, they will be better fit for when Brady is healthy the following year. The Patriots essentially evaded the rapid decline that most franchises would experience, instead they went straight to the “nothing to lose” stage which will develop into another streak of success.

The story line is that Cassell takes a good team to borderline playoff contention. Brady recovers faster than anyone imagines, and returns to the team (against doctor's orders?) for the last few regular season games. His presence fires up the team which crushes a couple of teams, and rolls into the playoffs. Suddenly the Pats are a huge factor. Redemption after all?

It may take Chis Simms 4 weeks to learn the offense, but that won't translate into a win. I love the Pats and will be routing for them, but what we saw in preseason is what were going to see in the regular season. Fans that wear blinders and think BB is a genius are going to get a hard dose of reality without Brady. Because last time Brady wasn't the starter the pats went 5-11 with BB and Bledsoe.

Will we beat the Jets next week????

There really is an NFL rule against this kind of hit.

" If possible, rushing defenders must make a conscious effort to avoid low hits on the quarterback. Previously, defenders were not compelled to make a conscious effort to avoid low hits if momentum was a factor. Penalty: Roughing the passer, loss of 15 yards.
Reason for the change: Player safety. "

Rule was changed as a reaction to the hit that took Carson Palmer out of the 2005 playoffs. That was the same kind of hit: a low hit to the legs from a side angle.

Bob C. Shut your pie hole. Only a moonbat would bring Bush into a Tom Brady discussion. I can't wait for McCain to really make you sick in November. How's your Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker holding out?

I concur on the season not being over. After watching the Bears game I think we have a good shot. Bears's Orton is pretty awful and their WR sucks - their D is better than us and that's about it. Today Sammy and Maroney ran pretty well - if we just control the clock with short passes to welker/moss and run the ball well i think we have a shot at the playoffs. I don't think we will get to the finals unless manning or LT goes down. We need Culpepper more than simms and the other guy they were interviewing tonight. I think Culpepper + Moss might be magic again that is they are on good terms now.

And you call yourselves Patriot fans.....quit crying...its a shame Tom went down and we wish him the fastest recovery! But This dont mean our season is over have some faith in the rest of this great team.....Brady isnt the whole team it took the whole team to win those Championships!!! Go Patriots...this is our division and why let these fans from other teams try to take away our season with the comments....Patriots all the way !!

Even without Brady, the Patriots are still the team to beat.

it's strange that a season ending injury to Brady makes some people here happy. That's because it's the only way their team has a stinkin' chance to win. How pathetic is that?

Maybe the Patriots will have lightning in a bottle again with Matt Cassel. I'm guessing not...

Even though Brady was the heart of this team it does not mean that we are finished. We can try Casell and if it does not work, there are a lot of good QBs out there that are available. Remember, this team went 18-1 last year. We can get to the playoffs with this team and Brady will be ready for it.

Remember the 01 season? Pats were 0-2 and the season was "over". How'd that turn out? Much like 01, expect the team to play as they did then; short passes, power running, suffocating defense, minimize mistakes. The have the O-Line, backs and WRs on offense to do it, they have the front 7 on defense to do it. Any team would take a step back after losing their starting QB, never mind arguably the best of all time, but they'll be alright.

I'm glad all the haters showed up to show their true dispicable colors. Karma's a b!tch, as you'll soon find out, and at the end the the day, I have the Sox to watch, and 3 rings to savor...what's your team...or city...done lately? Basketball Championship? Baseball? SOCCER?!?!?! Hold on, I've got something for you...just let me get my belt off...now pucker up...

moss,welker,maroney,faulk,etc.... we will be an incredible running team with a mix of MOSS & WELKER... It wont be 7million pts scored and 3 million td's like last year but it may be good enough to take us through. Remember, when TB came in for Bledsoe that first year, that team was not the team we have now. We will win...just by not 21 points!
GO PATS!
favre sucks

whose it gonna be? Who SHOULD it be? Matt C? Chris Simms? Kevin O'connel? Rattay? Cullpepper? Testavarde? Brady? Other?!?!?!?!

who the heck is 'Tom Brady'?

Everyone needs to step off the ledge. Someone needs to step up on this offense, no doubt, but having a HOF wide receiver just might help. This is Moss's moment to step up.

Outside a handle of QB's, the rest of the league has to rely on complete team play to bang out wins. We have been spoiled, yes, with Brady able to carry the team for long stretches. But I look at that team and see big names on both sides of the ball. If they can find a QB that limits turnovers and does the really hard task of chucking it to Moss in whatever coverage, the offense should be able to stay afloat..

Patriots are not finished?
The season just got started.
Now, it gets really interesting.
Patriots have the easiest schedule
and have to go with a backup quarterback
with little or no playing time since high school.
I have all the faith in the world that BILL
can guide this team to victory.
He is the supreme intellect in the game today
bar-none.

Even if I still have some hope that tomorrow someone will be saying that Tom could get back this year, I think that we have to rally behind Matt, the running game and the defense. It hurts to see Tom go down, and lets hope he is OK, but hey we have a team to support and we can still pull it over.
We still have Bill running the game, and Bruschi, Harrison, Wilfork and all the guys at D will come up big. We trusted the offense last year, its time to rally around the defense. We proved today that we have a powerful running game, and if Matt is able to manage the game we can do it.
I think that we all Pat's fans were looking forward to this season after what happened in the Super Bowl. But instead of showing the NFL that we would that revenge for what happened, its time to show them what the Patriots Nation is all about.
Lets support Matt, the D and all the guys from this great team. Lets hope Tom is OK and hope he gets better as soon as posible. But in the meanwhile, I LOVE MY NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AND I'll BE THERE SUPPORTING MY TEAM.

GO PATS, GO MATT, GO BB !!!!!

And Tom our prayers are with you......

Ouch! That really hurt.

I think I heard a snap.

I'm gonna pull for one of the Mannings now. I'll be on the couch with a model of some sort watching the rest of the season. Maybe TO will bring me over some popcorn.

i don't even know where to begin....i was traumatized beyond what i could handle when i heard the dreadful news. for me, this is just as depressing as the loss of XLII. i think mr.bellichick should start cassel because i believe he can get things done alright. mangini is a snitch and the entire jets organization can go to hell. if they can barely squeak by maimi with BRETT FAVRE then they should look at the bleak road they have ahead of them while they can. haters, i will say this once: you have an exiguous amount of intelligence with the provincial minds you have for not being patriots fans. i bet all of you hater retards had to look up the words "exiguous" and "provincial" after you read this comment that completely flabbergasted your minds after i wrote this.PATRIOTS TILL I DIE!!! PATS FOREVER!!!!!

IRONY - Everyone who is blaming this incident on "Belicheat's" Karma will be eating their words come January. This injury will prove Belichick the greatest coach of all time once and for all. He will do this with a quarterback already on his roster. The pats mgt. is wise and has chosen their backup qb's carefully. Read Patriot Reign and you may get a glimpse into Belichick's mind.

Both O'connell and Cassel have the same rare poise in their voices as Brady. Picking up on this poise is the reason why our coaches are so great. All great Athletes have it. O'connell will go down as a stud. Cassel will be a good qb. No chance for Culpepper. They are only bringing in FA's for either backup or 3rd string.

Our D is old, but last year they were on the field a fair amount bc we scored so quickly. This year we're going to run the ball a little more and eat some clock. I think we're going to be like Indy after they scored all those points I think three years ago. Them scoring less eating more clock made their D better. They won the Superbowl that year.

We'll just have to win the way we used to win: close, grind it out, clock managing football. Maybe it won't be as fun to watch...maybe Cassell isn't a 4th quarter magician....but we have 15 games to find out.

For those of you cheering on an injury...you've obviously never played sports. You're a disgrace. You're garbage. You can bring up Spygate all you want...but when an athlete's health is involved, you shut your mouth. PERIOD

This organization is a disgrace. The coach is a disgrace who has made his reputation by cheating repeatedly. He should have been banned from football. The superbowl and this are karma. The guy leaves his pregnant girlfriend and he's considered a role model. He never won a game. He benefited from blatant cheating. All of your games and "records" are blemished as bad as those home runs hit by the steroid boys. I'll spit if and when I ever see a Patriot from this era in the hall of fame.

I saw the hit by the safety from KC and I have to say that he was on the ground and then lunged at Tom's leg. I think that Moss is right and it was a dirty hit. I also feel that Daunte Culpper should get a look because I remember He said he wanted to finish his carreer with Moss and now here is his chance. If the Pats play carefully, go with a power running game, and the defense plays with a chip on their shoulder, they could make the playoffs. And maybe Brady's knee is not a saeson ending injury, just a few weeks. Either way I love my team and will always support them and there is always next year. Hopefully the Sox can bring another title to beantown if the Pats can't. GO SOX!!

Well I hope this is not a season ending injury. We should be able to get to the playoffs with our remaining casts. This is an opportunity for our Defense and running backs/receivers to step up their games. We have a fully able team. I hope maybe, just maybe Brady can return by the time playoffs start. I was working and I was checking sores on ESPN.com. That news ruined my day. And I will have hard time believing that #12 is not behind the center in coming weeks. I have my full support to Cassell, just like I had my full support to Tom when he came to rescue the season back in 2001. Culpepper is not even in my thoughts. I haven't seen enough from Simms. Vinny is just too old. Matt doesn't have experience but he has the knowledge of the system. This is not going to be 16-0 season but I have full faith in Bill that he will have the remaining parts moving well to compensate this huge loss. Let us al support the team even more. They will need us more than ever before.

The Patriots had a golden chance at going undefeated,instead they blew it in every way possible.There is no redemption for this team.Wonderful run though but now it's time to pay for their foolishness at losing to the Giants.I'm a Patriots fan and i love them but i could be their harshest critic.Belichick is going to do to Brady what Shula did to Marino which is waste his years with poor personel movement,and just like Pat Riley Belichick is infatuated with veterans and they can only carry you so far.The only way i see this team redeeming itself is by going undefeated again and win the Super Bowl but that will never happen so they're stuck with the choker label that they so diligently attached to themselves when they lost the Super Bowl.The Football Gods are demanding retribution.R.I.P. PATS

It is absolutely astounding that fans of a team that had a miraculous streak of dumb luck to win one super bowl and blatantly cheated their way to two more are now crying about the perfectly legal, legitimate hit that will end Brady's season. Get over it. The Patriots weren't winning a Super Bowl this year, anyway. Now they won't make the playoffs and you'll get a better draft pick for when Brady does come back.

"what's your team...or city...done lately?"

Not much... we just won the super bowl last year. Bend over.

This is perhaps the beginning of the end of the Tom Brady era for the Patriots and I'm truly saddened by that. However, in this case, this season, Cassel does not necessarily have to fill Brady's shoes. The entire organization knows how to win. Our running attack should be strong this year. Moss, Welker and Gaffney are truly great, and our defense could be very strong this year as well. Plus, many teams have at least gone deep into the playoffs and even won Super Bowls in spite of their quarterback. Matt Cassel just has to be solid and I think, barring anymore crazy injuries, the Pats will still be at the top of the league.

Cassel has been studying behind the best quarterback of this decade for 4 seasons and has a similar look to Tom in the pocket (at least from the booth cam, and if anyone actually reads this I might get pounded for that). Josh McDaniels is great and we have Bill Belichick. Belichick saw in Tom what no one else did. Let's hope he has a similar intuition about Cassel.

This team will be out of their mind focused. They'll have something to prove as most (including plenty of bandwagon Pats fans) will write them off. They also have more champions on their team than any other team in the league. So let's let the next few games play out. Week 1 showed us that this season is really up for grabs (although I HATE to say that the Cowboys might have the tightest grip).

Cassel won't be another Brady, but let's face it -- no one will. Yet, if Eli Manning can win a Super Bowl because the rest of his team lifted him up, then maybe Matt Cassel can too.

Get well soon, Tom. You have spoiled us more than we ever could have imagined....

Stick a fork in them, the Pats are done!

Go Brett!

i wonder if Deadbeat Dad Brady respects the Jets now? Oh well, it he doesn't, he'll have a whole season of watching from his hospital bed to learn respect. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!!!

Patriots fans are about to realize that the whole emphasis on the "team" concept was a joke. You won because you had Brady. Period. Outside of Brady, the Pats have usually had an average roster. He just makes everyone look better than they actually are.

Wait until Cassel starts consistently throwing picks in his own 30 territory. We'll see we're the Pats defense ranks in overall scoring at the end of this year. All of a sudden, everyone on the defense will seem very old. The running game will seem futile. Moss and Welker are the only really talent left on the roster. The Jets, Dolphins, and Bills can't automatically be chalked up as 6 wins.

Welcome to mediocrity!

as i made mention several hours ago, but oh i guess the boston globe scrutinizes their blog input much like the hoodie, let us finally see what the hoodies' actually got.
this miserable, fortunate enough to have 199 in the first place will finally get the chance to show the rest of the football world what an 8 and 8 coach is all about.
might be time hoodie to pull that hood over your big bulbous head and realize that you are nothing without 199.
hey hoodie.... at least you appeared to be a head coach as long as 199 was there.

I never bought into Tom Brady until the overtime game in Miami when he hit Troy for the 80 yard win.. That being said, this doesn't seem like that Tom Brady. Clearly football is not the most important thing in his life anymore. I just can't believe after all the preseason talk of not having a decent back up, Tom goes down in the first quarter, hard to believe... Oh well... We've been spoiled. This could be a rough season... But nothing we can do about it but relax and root for the team on the field(and pray its only going to keep him out 6-8 weeks)

ok, this is my third try to post a comment. i guess this time i will be forced to only give the cliff notes.

tom don't ever say i didn't tell ya bled..so!
see ya on the wolverine tv, i mean, radio network!

I think Tom prefers dolling it up before the cameras anyway.

The front office made a huge mistake this offseason by not upgrading the backup QB situation and is now going to pay. Despite Brady's long string of starts, it's beyond me why they didn't address this in the offseason knowing he was injured coming in to this season. Simms/Rattay? What's the point in keeping 4 QBs if you are going to walk these losers into the door when Brady goes down? No thanks, just give the kids a shot. At least we'll have a chance to see if Cassel and Guierrez are worth keeping next year.

This team's window of opportunity was already very short. One more season wasted. With the age this team is showing in a number of positions, I can't see them winning a SB 2-3 years from now, at which time we'll have to start a major rebuilding program.

I think people have to understand that this is the NFL and that starting quarterbacks do get injured and that we have been very lucky over the past seven years that Brady for the most part has been injury free.

I also believe that this is an opportunity to have a fine season and raise eyebrows around the country especially since the scedual this year does seem to favor New England.

Superbowl this year I do not know , but a fine season is still a very real possibility .

its funny you guys all say its over, they'll still win the super bowl

When does the Celtic's season strart?

For all you Patriot "haters", whoever wins the Super Bowl, you can put an asterik* next to the victory. Kind of like the PGA Tour without Tiger Woods.

Kudos to you and your team Mike for not trying to report news that is unconfirmed by the team. No matter what the actual situation is, I'm happy to see that to some of the media this is not simply about breaking a story (aka Tomase; sorry for the vulgarity). Irregardless of what the NFL Network, Yahoo Sports or any other outlet who reports on speculation, says or think, I will always come here to get my Patriots news.

Keep the faith Patriot Nation!

hows it feel your guy hit lossman low paybacks a bitch bills fan

Very sad.
Is the season over? No.
Is the Super Bowl hope over? Yes.

I still believe in Pats. I am a fan from Romania and I was thinking to come to see the game vs Steelers, in November. I will not change my plans! I want to see the team, I am a fan of the whole team, not only a fan of Brady.! Of course, it will be tough without him, but we have to live with that. But from what I saw, I think that there is a small chance for Tom to come back somewhere in December, just in time for the playoffs! Good luck Tom! Go Pats!

One and done.

For all you Patriot fan's crying abouit this being a dirty hit, you have the dirtiest fraud player in the history of the league in Harrison. What goes around comes around. There season is over as far as winning anything.The Bill's and the Jet's are now better teams.

What Pollard did was exactly what Vince Woolfork got fined for last year in the openere when he knocked out JP Loosman. He actually did the Bills a favor. Trent Edwards stepped in and played better.
No such scenario here. When Brady missed the preseason, we all saw the huge dropoff between his play and the backups. It was clear that Cassell, Gutierez and O'Connell were not a long term solution.
So they are now forced to sign someone else's reject. Someone who was discarded by another team. Pickings are slim. They bring in the usual suspects. None will even approximate Tom Brady. We may limp into the playoffs at 8-8 or 9-7 and bow out in the first round.
How good would a retired Brett Favre look now?
This is the worst case scenario from which there is no recovery. We may answer the age old question: is Brady or Belichick more important?

Couldn't have happened to a better set of angelic guys. They don't know the meaning of playing dirty, being cheaters or just being arrogant schmuks. What goes around, comes around. CHEAAATEEERRRRSS

All this is, is pure speculation. IF Brady is out for the season...THEN...IF he comes back in November THEN...IF we sighn Simms or Culpepper THEN....

Lets look at a simple fact. In the 06 season, we had a great quarterback with below average recievers and we missed the Superbowl by a few bad calls in the championship game. This year we have great recievers and an average quarter back with a descent defense and Bill Belicheck. I kinda like our chances. There wont be any stellar blow outs like last year, but guarenteed, the Pats will be in dog fights every week and win a few of those.

The Charges and Colts both looked suspect in their opener. The Bills looked pretty sharp, but can they keep that up all season? The Steelers looked the most impressive, but lets all keep in mind, this is only the opening week. A lot can happen in an NFL season.

Pats 11-5 and a playoff bith.

PEACE!

It was not a dirty hit !That being said-IF Pollard is fined then I bet the fans of the NFL teams that DONT CHEAT will line up to help him pay it. I did not want anyone to get hurt but what goes around will come back around and bite you in the ass. It is finally time -his on and off the field actions have gotten him here.

Here is what disgusts and saddens me more than anything.

It's the fact that so called "adults" who are fans of other teams would come onto this blog and openly celebrate a serious injury to an NFL player. That is sick beyond description and it says a lot about the kind of people they are. My guess is that anyone who does that is uneducated, clueless and ignorant.

They are also something else.

Cowards.

People like that hide behind the internet and use it as a despicable weapon to give their pathetic and meaningless lives some meaning. They know if they were to spew their nonsense in real life they would get their butts kicked. They are wussies of the highest degree.

And they will never change. Because losers are incapable of change. They see football and the NFL as more than a game. They draw more meaning from a football game than they should because they have nothing else.

It's pathetic and it's sad. People like that need professional help.

Harrison had a reputation for being a dirty player for years, but that was mainly back when he played in SD. He gets the whole "dirtiest player" stuff based solely on reputation, kinda like Jeter winning gold gloves. Seriously, when was the last time you saw Harrison make a dirty play? I watch every Pats game and can't think of a single dirty play Harrison has made, and I don't think Pollard made a dirty play either. Just bad luck.

Is the season over? Of course not. We still have 15 more sub-par games to watch.

get culpepper at least we know he can chuck it to Moss

There is no bigger fan than I and no bigger homer than me, but it was not a dirty play, it was football. Unfortunate for sure, Pollard did what he is paid to do tackle the QB. This time that QB went done for a long time. As a Pats fan and Tom Brady deciple, I have no fear that he will return next year with a vengience. Belichick will have this TEAM ready for next week and will prepare them for next year. As much as we love Tom, the Pats have proven time and time again how they are a TEAM and will prevail yet again. Go PATS!!!!!

Pollard's hit did not look dirty at first but if you look at that in slow motion you see that he first hit his knee helmet first, head down, then Morris landed on him. Morris did not fall on Pollard and thus push him into Brady.

Boo Hoo! All you fairweather fans out there.....proclaiming that the hit was illegal....its the NFL! People get hit and people get injured. Wake up. The Pats are still a good team, just not a super bowl team. So sorry!

It is OVER. Any questions??

Drew Bledsoe is the guy who can step into a familiar offense and play. He's by no means a savior of the season but the best qualified and not quite over the hill QB (36) to fill in for the Patriots.

with all the Cheatriot cheating and dirty hits particularly from Wilfork and Harrison I hope Cheatriots fans aren't going to be hypocritical. What goes around comes around. By the way Pollard's hit ws clean, Wilfork and Harrison are dirty players. Congrats Cheatriots you got waht you deserved if Marsha Brady is out for the year

People who say the Patriots season is done are not real fans they are the Patriots they wont lay down they will go in as underdogs again and prove all the the haters wrong. This team has way to much talent to let people walk all over them , they have to deal with the bias ref's and league already not ven a mention of an investigation of the illegal hit . The rules say no hitting the quarterbacks knee's guess pollard didn't get that memo , and Dan deirdorf needs to call the game not make apologies for pollard the bias buffoon.

I'm a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and I hate to see anyone get hurt. Tom Brady is one of the best QB's of all time and is awesome to watch when he is not playing the Steelers. But what goes around comes around. Bill Belicheater is gonna get what he deserves, a 3-13 season after what happened with the whole spygate thing. Matt Cassel is not even close to Tom Brady. He's not even close to Matt Schaub. I just think is is sad that a player like Brady had to go down for Bill Belicheater to get what he has coming to him. If the Pats were playing anyone other than KC yesterday they would have gotten crushed. You won't see to much of what you saw yesterday the rest of the season, the Pats winning. They are done, Buffalo Bills will win the AFC East. But the Pittsburgh Steelers will win the Superbowl 31-6 over Dallas!!!

its a shame people can rejoice,and laugh about a great football player going down for a season.maybe longer.for it gives your pathetic team a chance now.i looked at a lot of games sunday,and the jets looked pathetic in there win over miami.the chargers loss to the panthers,the colts got romped by the bears.before you laugh about anything look at your teams,and say hmm.

I think it was a matter of time before this happened. The biggest problem that faced the Patriots in the SB was the offensive line. The management did nothing to address this situation in the offseason. Our two tackles are at best second stringers on any one else's team, and the guy playing right guard is a third stringer.
This was not a good team we played yesterday, but they were still able to stuff the offensive line on multiple occasions. The team was sucessful last ear because Brady was able to pick up the open receiver quickly and get rid of the ball. Matt C. at least right now is not able to do this. He will be rushed on every play, and if the line does not step up (and I don't think it can), he will be throwing a lot of interceptions. Even Tom Brady needs time to throw, as evidence seen in the SB.
The management of this teem need to focus on the main problem, rebuilding this sorry excuse of an offensive line in the offseason

We should remember 2001 and have faith. The Patriot way is to go one game at a time and play with the best 53 people they have.

Next week is the Jets.

If anyone had said the Patriots would win the SB in 2001 with TB in 2000 no one would have believed it, so lets Remain Calm and trust in Bill and the Patriots organization to see how far they can take this Team because it is the team that beat Kansas City yesterday.

This is the NFL anything is possible.

The injury to Tom is really sad. He is a disproportionately large part of the winning team. And even though football players get hurt no one wants to see it. I wish him the best and a speedy recovery. Also, Matt did a great job yesterday and the team won so I will hope to see the team come together with a different dynamic and continue to win. Bill will know what to do! We have a lot of great players still playing!

Obviously we don't have any Athletes here! You people don't know that those b*stards did it on purpose. You don't attack a Quarterback while he's throwing the ball and your on your ass. His ankle or ankles should have been grabbed. That piece of sh*t who took that cheap shot should have been handed a citation or something! Come on people! Cheering for this is just wrong and it sucks without Tom Brady, but this is the New England Patriots! We can find a way to go all the way. The rest of the league SUCKS!!!!!

WOW, as I sit in Iraq and read the comments I’m amazed at how short the memories are. Remember when the Pats had the open try-out, put together blitzing attacks from everywhere because the defense was so bad and were gypsies around Boston, those were bad seasons. Look at the past year, there has never been a time anywhere, in any city, that had a run like Boston. The Sox will probably not win the World Series or the Celtics the Championship so why are we going head over teakettle with Brady or the Superbowl?

The team will do fine, they will win games, they may even win all of them and it will be an exciting season. We will get our moneys worth, the players will be the professionals we expect them to be and we will have great memories about “The Season That ______”, the description has yet to be written. This will be another ________ year. GO PATS!!!!!!!!!!

For the haters:
Tough to compare era to era, so let's stick with this:
Pats: Greatest Team of the Salary Cap Era (1994-now). Period.

Winning Seasons: 11 (Tied #1 w/ Packers, only 5 teams have 10 or more)
Playoff appearances: 10 (Tied #1 w/ Colts & Packers)
Superbowl Appearances: 5 (#1, five teams have 2)
Superbowl Wins: 3 (#1, only Denver has won 2)

So, hate all you want. (Man, this must be what it's like to be a Yankees fan.) Fact is this team has built a dynasty in an era that is specifically tailored to discourage dynasties.

And before you question the disparity in the Winning Season vs. Playoff numbers: The 2000 Packers missed the playoffs at 9-7, as did the 2002 Pats. The 2002 Pats had the same record as the division winning Jets, and lost on the 3rd tiebreak (Common opponents)

So, yeah, the Brady injury stinks, big time. But this is great TEAM. There's always rough patches. But I'm feeling good. After all, the Pats have as many winning seasons in the Cap era as the Panthers, Browns, Saints, Cardinals, Bengals, and Texans combined. To put it another way, there have been 14 cap seasons. Seventeen teams have more losing seasons that winning campaigns in that time. I live in Atlanta. I've seen football misery. But as a transplanted NE'er, I'm not complaining. (And it looks like Matt Ryan's gonna be fun to watch.)

Now, how 'bout that Sox/Rays series?

Guys, don't forget that the patriots will do what the patriots do best. Win with the players that are there and use the talents that they have. I have a feeling that the playbook for Cassal will be different than it will be for Brady. He will be asked to not throw picks rather to throw touchdowns. The key for the patriots is to get the ball into the playmakers hands as quickly as possible. That use to be Brady. Now it's Moss, Welker, Maroney and Co. I'm sure the playbook will have a lot more draws, short passes, screens and trick plays like it was in the year of SBXXXVI. It's the patriots and we will always have the best from them. Don't forget that BB can do great things with the players he has. For those that don't believe in Bill really don't know him. Whatever team he left was always better off than when he got there.

If the hit was intentionally below the knee or not...
One side yelling "dirty" while the other yells "Cheatriots..."

A really talented tactician got his season potentially wiped yesterday afternoon, and an ACL is painful to suffer through. Show some respect.

I'm hoping Cassel steps up and makes us all eat our words, but I'll entertain the idea of Simms as well.

After the initial shock of losing Brady, you just realize that football is a violent game and what all Pats fans hope wouldn't happen did. These people who crawl out from under their rocks to laugh at someone who is the league mvp and possibly out for the year are pathetic. I can't stand Peyton Manning or his antics as quarterback but I wouldn't wish for him to be hurt in this way. All this does is test the mettle of this team. Belicheck and Capers will have to step if up a notch with the defense while Cassel/Simms? will be thrown into the fire. The division title should be the goal now and not all that impropable. Games in Oakland, San Francisco, home to St. Louis and 2 games with Miami will add to their win total. Belicheck's coaching alone can steal 2 wins. Hang in there Pats fans.

One word: DREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's tan and rested.

Just dessert for all those Sox (Pats) fans who come on the Yankees board and taunt them?

Ironically, it was injuries that finally did in a great Yankee's run, and it will be an injury that ends the Pats run.

Like it or not, New York Baseball and Boston Football are FIRST COUSINS! They have more in common with one another than not.

Hey Karma, grow up.!!! Spygate is over and was all false, anyone who celebrates and injury like this jealous and needs serious help.

Its a game, not the IRAQ war. Karma go back to your hole now!

Pats will be ok.

QUESTION TO ALL: And if Pollard heard Brady scream why was he celebrating after the play? So he hit Brady, heard Brady scream, then celebrated! mmmm?

Dirty????? hey last year several players were rumored around the leauge saying they wanted to take out brady at the knee, Remember Bundys article about players attacking Bradys knee.

I am not saying it was dirty, BUT you cant say it is NOT either

The coaching staff will tweak the offense to suit the next quarterback they start.
There is to many talented players on this team to say the season is over.
Make the adjustments, practice hard and move on.

The football "odds" finally caught up to Tom Terrific. How many hits can a body take in this modern era of pro ball before it cries "ouch" !!! The discussion of the kind of hit it was is irrelevant. The man went down. The ACL (or whatever) couln't take the stress... and voila..... angst in the ranks..... Now, we go back to my earliest days as a Pats fan and wonder week from week if they can even compete. Coach Bill will pull out some Rabbits from his Hat. The running backs will get more work. The defense will have to get real stout. Moss and the receivers will get less chances. And we shall see !!!! And, oh yeah, Tom will be under deep cover doing his rehab and finally come back (some day) to prove that he belongs in the same sentence as all the Historic Great Quarterbacks

I'm from Philly- so let me be the first to say, I share my regrets with all Patriots fans. There is nothing worse than watching your franchise QB, your star, go down.... Despite the pain of that Super Bowl loss to you all a few years ago, I'd never wish this on the Pats- how sad.

Welcome to the life of Eagles fans, everyone...

PS- Root for us next Mon. night- as we all know Dallas is evil (the Yankees of football, as it were.)

Ugh, this is terrible. Keep the faith, fans.

Why don't the naysayers explain exactly when the last time was that Rodney Harrison ever hurt anyone by playing dirty?

Daunte Culpepper, Vinnie Testeverde, Jake Plummer, Steve Mcnair, Drew Bledsoe heck even Doug Flutie or Jeff George, get one of these guys out of retirement! I don't know too much about Simms but Rattay could do well in this offense. Make a trade for somebody if you have to. Kurt Warner, Gus Frerotte, Brad Johnson, Trent Green, Mark Brunell, Kerry Collins.

You moaning Nancyboys and gloating mouthbreathers all receive fail. You clearly have not been paying attention what the history of the Pats have taught us. Success flows from ownership. Good owners hire good managers who pick good players. As long as Kraft is there, this team will be in the hunt. Think back a couple of decades. What would past Pats fans have given to be able to say that?

let's go BRUINS!!!!!!!!!

Well, the biggest surprise from that game was how slow rodney harrison seemed. I hope he is just working out the cobwebs from the pre-season. Brady going down was just a matter of odds. Quarterback in the NFL is a dangerous position because of the constant contact. Was it an illegal hit???? Doesn't matter now does it!!!!!!!! I'd like to see O'connell get a shot at some point this season. I feel bad for the guys on the down side of their careers like rodney, tedy, etc. It pains me to think what these guys will be playing like when they are on the field twice as long during the season. I don't see how a lot of people can be happy with Brady going down. Don't you want your teams to be playing the best opponents??? I hate the colts, but I wouldn't want manning hurt. It is more satisfying to see your team beat the best, not some patchwork offense or defense.

No Brady will suck, but we are still better than the phins and J E T S!!! If FAvre tries to throw passes like he did yesterday next week, we will have 3 Ints. 10-6 for the Pats. We win the East.

Obviously, if Brady is out for the season, it's a big loss. But, this might not be as devastating as believed Here's why:

1. the offense will become more balanced. For years, all the Pats fanbase has been griiping about is the lack of carries for Maroney, Morris, et al. Now, the team will be a balanced offense and the OL can hit the opposing team's DL. No surprise that the run/pass breakdown against KC was something like 29/28.
2. the bulls-eye will be off the Pats back. Yes, teams will still get up to the play the Patriots but I think some (not all...especially not the Jets) will take the game as a win is a given and could be surprised. The Patriots still have Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Maroney, Morris, Watson, Thomas, etc on offense and these guys can move the ball.
3. Don't forget about the Patriots "soft" schedule. NFC and AFC West this year...couldn't have been a better time to draw those two mediocre divisions. Not to mention 2 games against the Fins and winnable home games against the Jets and Bills.
4. Bill Belichick is still the head coach folks. If there is ever a master of motivation and preparation, it is him. I bet the first thing he'll do is post all of these ridiculous "the Pats are done" quotes all over the locker room for the guys to read to get them motivated.
5. the play of the rest of the team will elevate. We already saw Morris and Maroney run alot more inspired yesterday, thanks in part to huge holes that the OL opened up. Everyone on the team will be asked to elevate their play and they will. These are the Patriots folks, not the Pennington-less Jets.

Given their schedule, I still think the Patriots are capable of winning 10-11 ball games this year. Obviously, some games against the "also-rans" like the Jets and Bills will become alot closer than what they should be but splits against them are still VERY possible. The 49ers, Cardinals, Dolphins (twice), Broncos, Raiders, and Rams are on the schedule folks. If they can split the Jets and Bills, that gives them 10 wins and puts them in the middle of a playoff race (not counting any other games that they could still win).

Also a blessing: a week 4 bye week. They just have to get past the Jets on the road (they looked mediocre against a bad Miami team) and Miami at home then they can go into the bye week and evaluate and, if necessary, re-organize.

Hey, losing Brady is huge and a devastating blow indeed. He's the best player in the NFL and anytime you lose someone of that stature, it hurts. But all is not lost people. This team, without Brady, is still very capable of 10 wins. This is the NFL where anyone can beat anyone on any given week. If you fans want to give up on this season in week 1, then please return all of your bandwagon Super Bowl champion t-shirts, pennants, and foam fingers at the Gilette Stadium gates. Complaining about injuries and feeling sorry for yourself is for other teams in the NFL...not the Patriots.

GO PATS!

Hahahaha

Serves your cheating scum bags right !!

I guess he didn't know where the pressure was coming from, like say, the past 6 years.

Funny, you date cheat in the Superbowl and lose, and the first game in the regular season you don't cheat, your QB gets his butt whipped and is gone for the season.

Plus, aging QB with knee problems. See ya career, can you guys get Bledsoe back??

hahahahahahahaha

Randy Moss should shut his pie hole. If someone on another team suffered the same injury he'd have no problem with it. I've yet to see a commentator or analyst say it was intentional or dirty. Let's see how the "second coming of God" team does this weekend with a back-up QB. All the big mouthed trash talking Patsie fans now have nothing to say..... too freakin' bad your hot shot QB is out. I doubt he will for the season but for now, deal with it. Every team has injuries. I don't want to hear any excuses from anyone about his injury keeping them down

Quite frankly - I think this situation/season is going to prove to be this franchise's FINEST HOUR in the Kraft/Belichick/Brady era. I really do.

hey, it makes us the underdogs again...and that is the best place for the Patriots to be...I hope Tom gets better soon adn that it is not a career ender...

What Pollard did was exactly what Vince Woolfork got fined for last year in the openere when he knocked out JP Loosman. He actually did the Bills a favor. Trent Edwards stepped in and played better.
No such scenario here. When Brady missed the preseason, we all saw the huge dropoff between his play and the backups. It was clear that Cassell, Gutierez and O'Connell were not a long term solution.
So they are now forced to sign someone else's reject. Someone who was discarded by another team. Pickings are slim. They bring in the usual suspects. None will even approximate Tom Brady. We may limp into the playoffs at 8-8 or 9-7 and bow out in the first round.
How good would a retired Brett Favre look now?
This is the worst case scenario from which there is no recovery. We may answer the age old question: is Brady or Belichick more important?

Boo hoo hoo.... What goes around comes around... Not only are you guys known as cheaters....do you not have a dirty player on your team named Wilfork who has been fined for similar incidents??? I seem to remember him taking out Losman's knee against us and getting fined for it. Seems like poetic justice to me for the horseshoe you guys have had up your ass for the past years! Welcome to mediocrity you losers....

Belicheat had years to get a decent backup for Brady and share some of the games when the Pats romped, but NO, he stuck with 2 pieces of crap for use in preseason games only!! The run is over and it is time to rebuild the bunch of oldies. ( Seymour isn't old, but has no desire anymore.)

I agree with Randy Moss' comment, that whole play was just dirty. The Patriots have a strong team with or without Tom Brady. This now gives Matt Cassel and the back up QBs a chance to step in. After all they were drafted to play as well and after playing behind a guy like Tom Brady they should be able to handle it. I think the Pats will be fine. This is just what the team needed and this will make them better and stronger if they handle it the right way.

I have a lot faith in our NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS and I think they will make it to the SUPERBOWL this year. I think Tom may not be playing but he'll certainly make his presence known and be there to help his teammates out.

I'm saddened for the Pats and for Tom Brady. This could be a career ending injury of the one of the greatest football players in history- regardless of your affiliations it's a sad day in football and anyone CHEERING about this injury is petty, classless, and clearly doesn't appreciate true sportsmanship. You should want to beat the Pats at their BEST, not in dire straights with backup QBs. If Peyton went down, I wouldn't be cheering even though I can't stand the Colts or him (as a PLAYER). Never wish harm to other team's players, or be happy when it comes. It's sick and disturbing, and shameful. Be a real fan and sport lover. Not a petty loser.
And none of us can forget that Brady was a backup, and everyone thought the 2001 season was over too... but we all know what happened then, don't we...
Get well Brady. Rally up and Go Pats.

Some of you should remember that he is an athlete who possibly tore an ACL. If you like the Pats or not its sad that you care more about the standings and stats and less about a man's well-being and career.

Anyone that has played football knows that a lineman gets to the QB as fast as possible...running, crawling, jumping, scraping etc. Do something at NFL speed and you can't distinguish a knee from an elbow from a waist. This guy did his and job and that's football. I've grown up 40 mins outside of Boston and been a Pats fan since birth...it's just football.

I was one of the guys suggesting that Cassel got cut last week but now he's the guy and the team is better for knowing that he is capable of "managing" the game. Yesterday was his win, no doubt about it. This is still a Superbowl team. The Giants showed that you don't have to win by 35 points to get a ring. This will make for a 2001 type season if Pats can keep winning...doesn't matter if it's ugly.

If your a fan and you like the ups and downs of a season....we got it!! We were lulled into a sense of entitlement last year with Brady throwing bombs all day....I'm looking forward to the challenge in front of this group - it may be fun to watch.

Defense wins games....it helps to have moss and welker on the otherside (those guys are still there).

Look on the bright side. Now the Pats can finally develop a second QB, granted, the hard way ... but "it is what it is ...." Ouch! BTW ... haven't heard much about this but didn't the Chiefs get 5 DOWNS on that last series at the 5 yard line? What's with that? No one has said a thing or am I hallucinating? Go to the tape.

ya know...i am a us submariner based out of hawaii and born and raised in grafton mass who came home to take a chance and see the patriots for the 1st time since the opening night pats colts game 4 ys ago....when i got home two weeks ago....i told every one i am getting tickets to see my patriots and tom brady dominate the chiefs...at the back of my mind was the thought of tom getting hurt...where i sat in section 317..........i could see everything unfold...as soon as tom fell down....i heard no body say a word...i went to the bathroom...and no less than 75 people were already calling loved ones to figure out what the hell had happened..girls were crying/collapsing from the fact that our qb went down......although no official report was made...at half time my girlfriend had called and said nfl/espn/yahoo/and cbs reported tom was done for 8-10 weeks..i know this is not good regardless of rumors but.....we need to pull through its going to be a tough road..but we are going to be able to pull through...all i an say is....in 2009..the nfl is in deep trouble! we need to reintroduce the running game with maroney and jordan...and see what happens.....

SORRY DARYL,BU HE STEELERS LOOKED LIKE THE TEAM YESTERDAY,I WAS WORRIED DURING THE PRESEASON ABOUT THEM,I DIDNT WANT TO PLAY THEM BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID I WOULD GET HURT.WELL IT LOOKS LIKE KC GOT TO ME FIRST.THE STEELERS WILL WIN IT ALL THIS YEAR AND I WILL PRAY THAT I CAN COME BACK NEXT YEAR.OH I TOLD MANAGEMENT ABOUT BILL'S CHEATING WAYS AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS PAID TO QB ONLY NOT TO RUN THE TEAM. AND I THINK VINCE AND RODNEY ARE SCUMBAGS ALSO ,HOPE THEY DONT READ THIS................................................

any clue when they will get the sports forum back up and running?this is the time to post,and talk to one another.i wish they would get it right.

Lets bring back Doug Flutie.....or how about Steve Grogan.......

Let Cassel play, and if he stinks bring in the next guy just like any other team would. NE fans, we have been at the top of the football world for years now......and we've gotten use to it, no dynasty last forever and i guess it's time to suck it up and go with what we got. Who knows maybe Tom will return by the end of the year, at best they can still win the division if they put their colective mind to it. Hell i could throw for the Pats and win the Division and i'm 44!

I'm a life-long Eagles fan and I can openly say that this is a shame. After the number of times we've been through it, I would never wish it upon another team/QB. Sorry NE fans, this stinks for you- welcome to the life of an Eagles fan.

Speaking of which- should they beat Dallas next week- perhaps people will take the Birds seriously this year...

#22 shush up!!!
The season is over, there is nothing to rush home to watch on Sunday this fall!

how can anyone rule this team out, look at everything other than quaterback, 2 great recievers in moss and welker, a good te in ben watson and his backup showed he is more than capable in the game yesterday, a good mix of running backs, and what everyone seems to be forgetting.... THE BEST OFFENSIVE LINE IN THE NFL! 3 returning pro bowlers. The defense also showed they could make the big plays and holds, yes they are weak in the cb position, yet they have had one of the best linebacking cores around for a long time now, as well as a defensive line with seymour, warren, wilfork, and occasionally green. There is no need to throw in the towel, yes tom brady is irreplaceable (if he is gone for the entire season) but look at the offense matt cassell is going to inherit if he is, one way or another you will see this team in the playoffs, they may not go 16-0 again, but there is no way this team will not make it to the playoffs.

NO, NO, NO the Patriots are not finished!!!

I am amazed that this many fools survived to write these idiotic posts about the Patriots being finished so quickly. I though they all would have perished when they jumped off the cliff when Bledsoe went down. Remember that unknown back up who stepped up.

So Cassel didn't light up the preseason. I can't say I remember Brady lighting it up back then and we were stuck with Bledsoe.

Trust in Bill. We still have the rest of our all star team!! Support Cassel. Believe in your team. GO PATRIOTS!!

If Brady goes out for the season or some big part of it, are the Patriots any worse off in your mind than when Bledsoe went down? OK Cassel never gave us much hope in pre-season or any time really compared to when Brady ran the team in pre-season when he was in his 2nd year. But if they bring Simms, Rattay or someone like that or even go to O'Connoll, do you think they are that much worse off than the day after Bledsoe went down? Whoever takes Brady's place doesn't have to be another Tom Brady,

We probably will not see the 42-10 games but it isn't the end of the world. Besides can you imagine how awful the people like baymen07 will feel when the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl with Chris Simms or Matt Cassel???? Oh JOY!!! Can you imagine how great that would be throughout the season???

Tom who??

JUST KIDDING.

People have short memories. Does anyone remember how the Pats won a lot of games prior to Randy Moss/Welker???

Boring, ball control, great defense, runs, screens, short, safe passes, CONTROLLING THE CLOCK, low scoring games with a lot of close wins.

Belichick will serve up a more conservative game plan that works for Cassell. Lots of Faulk, Maroney and short passes. An occasional shot deep will keep the running game going. It won't be glamorous but this is still a great football team and will make the playoffs.

I hope Gostowski is ready to become a big part of this offense!!

Just put the ball up in the air and Moss will come down with it.

Is the Patriots season lost? The honest answer is; probably. However, we have seen this before in 2000 (see Bledsoe, Drew) and some no name, unkown kid take them to the promised land. Will the Pats catch lightning in a bottle twice? Who knows, but as the dedicated fans we are, don't we HAVE to believe that they will? What does it say about us as fans, if at the next Pats home game, the Razor is half full? We have to continue to support this team and rally behind them, as they will rally behind Casell. I would argue that it is even more important now to be at the game and screaming your heads off from Kickoff til the clock ticks 0:00. Are the Pats done? The guy in me who has watched football for 25 years says, "Yes, they are." The Pats fan in me however, says; "Go Pats!!!, Tampa Bay in January here we come!"

jaygee

I agree with the 5 downs, I was thinking I was crazy during the game. What happened with that ?.

First, there has not been final determination of the extent of Brady's injury. Let's not put an RIP sign over his career. (He was never a rusher anyway) Cassel made some great throws and lets not forget we have three running backs capable of starting in the NFL. So we have to grind out wins, big deal. I see it as a rallying cry. How do you think Moss and Seymour feel that everyone now says the season is over because one man is down. I think the pats play inspired football with a big middle finger out to everyone who said they were done with Brady down. Like him or not, Belichick is the master of gaining a psycological edge.

Let's not forget, or stop supporting, the other 21 guys on the field who slug it out every week, many among the best in their positions. We don't want to, but we can win without Tom. We just proved it. Come back soon Mr. Brady! But in the meantime, we're still in the game, players and fans alike.

Just out of interest does anybody know the usual recovery period for a torn ACL?

people who think the season is over for the pats remember this we only beat the worst team in the leauge by about 5 yards or so It's not going to be good for us unless peyton and LT go down then that would even it up pretty good. Although I do think we can make the playoffs without tom because of the schedule but from there I think we depend on miracles to go forward. let's just hope that by week 8 we have him back and don't lose anyone else like randy or something. And personally who is bernard pollard he only has a name for playing dirty I do think he should be suspended for the season and have to pay Tom Brady not the leauge the rest of his salary for this year which would be around 10 million.

what a shame - nobody wantsw to see the great ones hurt no matter where youn live or who you route for

God, I feel so bad for Brady more than anyone. He tried to lay low after last year's heartbreak, and I'm sure he was ready to come back for some redemption. I hope Matt or whomever they decide to fill this HUGE void can do their best. The Pats, as a whole, are a team... they pride themselves on that; let's not lose hope yet.

Can anyone spell J----E----T----S JETS, JETS, JETS

Last season the Patriots teach us the "rules-are-optional-if-you-can-win" fashion. Belichik also show us the “why to defeat them if you can crush them?” spirit.
Now, why, InjuryLoversRDisgustingHumanBeings and many other are so upset? Belicheat started it.
Now every AFC-East defensive coordinator will have a huge Brady-hurt bonus for his players (more than enough to pay the league’s fine). Can you really blame them?

Wow!!! It’s amazing the amount of ignorance out there. For you non-pats fan educate yourself because apparently your hatred for the pats clogs your judgment. Just shut your mouth and let’s chat half way through the year. If you're a jets fan, ohh please, you should keep the paper bag over your head until you do something; then again stupidity has always been your trait. Dolphin fans, you finally got something good happening but you're 2 years out before you say a word. Mannn, what a bunch of crap and I'd be careful about the talk on Karma and being happy Brady got hurt; another example of how classy you are; Injuries happens to everyone, yes your team too. BTW, get the f... off this site because it shows how much you’re infatuated with us. Do something with your time, go play in front of the A train, dumbass

LOL at all the doom and gloomers. Jesus people step away from the ledge before you hurt yourself.

Yes, this a devastating injury and would likely signal that the team is in for some difficulty this year. If so, big deal. Guess what? Sun will still be up tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how the players react.

To the opposing teams fans coming in here to post garbage....when's the last time you're teams won a Super Bowl?

OK look I am a GREENBAY PACKER fan when Brett left and went to the jets I was sick, this could have been our year. I then realized that it had to end someday and I have to be there for RODGERS like i was for BRETT, what does this have to do with it you lost BRADY ok but give MATT a chance so what you wont go to the superbowl there will be other days. I now and forever will be a packer fan not just a players fan so all the pats fans who jump aboard the we are going to the superbowl train just get off at the next stop and make room for there real fans. The pats need the real fans now as the packers need thier real fans now so go Packers and a speedy recovery to Brady. P.S I always hated the Pats even when the stuck and i'm a Rhode Islander but I learned to stick with your team no matter what.

The play was certainly dirty. Pollard was blocked to the ground and lunged at Brady's knees. The NFL needs to do something about this. That being said, the Patriots must soldier on. There is a lot of talent and pride on this team, and excellent coaching. Without Brady the games will be more competitive, but the Patriots still have a good chance to win the division, get into the playoffs, and see what happens there - everyone else needs to step up.

Question for Mike: What did Brady do to replace the conditioning regimen of the past off seasons? He was a no-show at the Patriots off season program. He was always noted for being in excellent physical and mental shape every fall. Did the (obvious) distractions of his jet set lifestyle impact his conditioning? If he was not conditioned to the level that he had started prior seasons at, would that make him more likely to sustain this type of injury?
I've been a Pats fan since they played at Fenway Park... and I'll be a Pats fan when they play in Gillette #2.
In Bill We Trust.

I could not agree more with Justin's comment about the controversy surrounding the play that caused the injury, and I think he's absolutely right in suggesting that a column be written as a way to expose the unethical and illegal behavior shown by Pollard. Tom Brady has become the quarterback everyone, except for Patriots fans, likes to hate, and it's sickening to hear people say that Pollard was perfectly justified in ruining the season for Brady, and possibly the Patriots, just so the playing field will now be more leveled, so to speak. Pollard jumped up and pumped his fist when he saw the pain Brady was in, as if things had turned out exactly as he'd planned. Moss was right. That was a dirty play, and this guy needs to be made an example of.

I really dont see why there is so much criticism of Matt Cassell. He's not Tom Brady, but I think he is going to surprise a lot of people. Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick and Scott Pioli all have faith in him, yet the fans dont? What gives? Im looking forward to Cassell's season. Go Matt!

also ran bills? hahaha. did you see the seattle game yesterday or were you too busy crying over your poster boy?

Can Daunte Culpepper even co-exist with Bill Belichick?

9-7 won't be good enough to sneak into the 6th spot (wild-card), when you have Jacksonville, Denver, Tennesse, Buffalo and New York Jets to contend with!

Even if so, I wouldn't count them being the first 9-7 team to get into the Super Bowl!

As much as i love the patriots and Tom brady, i do defend the hit that may have ruined my football season. Sammy Morris was enguaged in a block and therefore pollard had every right to lunge towards Brady. It was not a cheap shot. With that said, its amazing to me how one hit can cost an nfl team 5 or more wins in a season....

Dirty hit.
You cant complain when you have Richard Seymore on your team.

This season will be a test of character. It hurts any team when a starter is lost but the loss of a future Hall of Fame Quarterback is potentially disasterous unless everyone on the team turns up intensity level. We still have a excellent defense, excellent receivers, Pro Bowl linemen and better than average running backs. The Patriots have always inbraced the "team" concept. They need the whole team more than ever. The offense has a lot of tools to work with. The offensive coordinator and his staff must develop a system and weekly game plans so Cassell's abilities make the best use of the weapons he has. If you think you are beaten you are. Victory only goes to thoses who think they can. For all you losers who wrote that the season is over you have shown your true colors. Go home and sit on the couch for the next 6 months and cry. I have been behind the Pats since the early 70'S. Have seen many a lean year and had may disappointments but I never quit supporting them.

Woe is me, I'm devistated.

If only I had a team in the baseball playoffs or an NBA team preparing to raise a banner to make me feel better. Oh, I live in Boston, never mind.

Woe is me, I'm devastated.

If only I had a team in the baseball playoffs or an NBA team preparing to raise a banner to make me feel better. Oh, I live in Boston, never mind.

Brady is a class act, anyone who is happy that he is injured is just ignorant....be mad at the management of the patriots for what happened last year, be mad at the nfl for letting it happen the way it did, but to cheer for someone to get hurt who plays the game the way its supposed to be played is just plain dumb...dont watch sports, because thats not what its about. I feel bad for brady, because all that guy wants to do is play football and compete. He's a class act person

Done? Hell no. They have a very talented team—a damn good defense, a rock solid offensive line and many offensive weapons. But this does mean everybody is going to have to step up and make plays. And with the Bills looking good, the Dolphins looking much improved and Brett Favre on the Jets, you can forget about another 16-0 season.

Anybody who thinks they're done is not a true Patriots fan who has suffered with this team long before they became great. You can get your whiny, fair-weather butts off the bandwagon now and good riddance.

Ha-Ha, the world will now see that Bill Bellicheat is just an average (at best) coach (remember Cleveland). All Hatriots Rejoice

Is this any different from the WIlfork hit on losman last year? It wasn't dirty. Get over it Pats Fan

SORRY DARYL,BU HE STEELERS LOOKED LIKE THE TEAM YESTERDAY,I WAS WORRIED DURING THE PRESEASON ABOUT THEM,I DIDNT WANT TO PLAY THEM BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID I WOULD GET HURT.WELL IT LOOKS LIKE KC GOT TO ME FIRST.THE STEELERS WILL WIN IT ALL THIS YEAR AND I WILL PRAY THAT I CAN COME BACK NEXT YEAR.OH I TOLD MANAGEMENT ABOUT BILL'S CHEATING WAYS AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS PAID TO QB ONLY NOT TO RUN THE TEAM. AND I THINK VINCE AND RODNEY ARE SCUMBAGS ALSO ,HOPE THEY DONT READ THIS................................................

Reality check................
Do most of you trolls even watch football? Do you understand what the so called "Patriot Way" even is? Simply, it's that no one is irreplaceable. The UNIT has lost a very, very strong player. The UNIT will adapt, evolve, overcome. JUST LIKE ALWAYS. Oh, wah, we havent won a Super Bowl since 2004. We have been in or around the top of the league non stop all decade. Also lost in this mess is that Cassel scored when Brady couldn't! I really like TB, but he is not god, and is the FIRST person who will tell you that. I'm looking for Matt C to help us win 10 or 12 games, take the division, and into the playoffs we go! Because we have a good TEAM. Go Pats! I will be here in Pennsylvania with the DirecTV on!

What ignorant football fans we have.

1. To all those laughing and reveling in the injury...remember this when your dog finds a truck tire, your brother gets cancer, or your daughter gets raped. What goes around comes around, and gleefully trumpeting up the injury with bring that bitch karma down on you hard, so don't go whining when you suffer.

2. Defense is old??? Ty Warren - 27. Richard Seymour - 28 (29 on 10/6). Vince Wilfork - 27. Jerod Mayo - 22. Tedy Bruschi - 35 (there's 1). Mike Vrabel - 33 (numero 2). Adalius Thomas - 31 (borderline, we'll say 3). Ellis Hobbs - 25. Terrence Wheatley - 23. Rodney Harrison - 35 (36 on 12/16, that'd be 4). James Sanders - 24 (25 on 11/11). So of the 11 starters, 4 are over 30...where's all the wheelchairs...my god, get the depends ready!!!! Deltha O'Neal is the oldest immediate backup at 31, and the rest are littered with 20-somethings. At most, you can say the LINEBACKERS are old, and Mayo and Crable are the start of the change on that front. Old defense...ignorance aboud and making my skull pound.

Hello folks... This is a TEAM. A GREAT TEAM. For the last 10 seasons, they've proven the sum is greater than the parts. While Brady is the centerpoint of all that... all is not lost. It's time to pull up the boot straps and others to step up. Faith will be rewarded. This team picks each other up. Go get'em boys!

I wonder where the "fans" of all these other teams were when the Pats where kicking their @$$'s? Now they post to rub it in. I also love how people still view this team as "cheaters". After they were "caught" cheating to start last season, what did they do? They went on to go undefeated and kicked everyones tail in the process. Clearly the "cheating" wasnt helping them that much, otherwise why would they have posted the best offensive numbers in history?
Now wont it be sweet when the Pats win the ALC East this year without the best QB in history? Then what will you jealous haters say? Cassel was on steroids?
A SB win this year will taste even sweeter than ever....especially when Favre throws 3 picks next week, like that heave and a prayer he threw up yesterday.

Every year, coach Bill seems to create a different team. Last year, it was offense minded. Not too long ago, it was running back oriented, and another year it was defence oriented. He wins with different approaches. You should see more of an emphasis on defense and the running game moving forward. While the Patriots will not go undefeated, I think it will be good enough to make a strong run in the playoff's.

Wow. I don't even know where to begin. What a bunch of spiteful, ignorant LOSERS! Aren't there 53 men on the roster?
Rejoice? At anothers injury? Go back to your pathetic cubical job.

ahhh yessss!!!!! to all of my boston buddies it sucks what happened to brady but hey when your a team coached by a cheater - karma has it's way of working things out.

sorry guys but looks like the JETS are gonna take the division and the playoffs this year. good luck getting a wild card...better luck next time!

J-E-T-S! JETS, JETS JETS!!!!!!!

They will make playoffs, but that's it!

DREW..

THE GUY STILL HAS IT

CALL HIS AGENT

Cheaters never prosper.....

Wow. such vitriol. People seem to be losing sight of the fact that a great player's career may be in serious jeopardy. I remember a time when fans would cheer for when an injured player when he got up to get off the field or when he was helped off the field, they cheered him, not the injury. Nowadays, if your team benefits from somebody else getting hurt, well yay! Who cares if the guy's career may be over. People sure have become bottom-feeders that watching a class guy like Brady get hurt makes them happy. Hate the Pats? Fine. Hate Belicheck? Fine. But don't cheer for a guy's career to be in jeopardy. Did you cheer when the Kurt Cobain killed himself because you were sick of everybody saying they were better then Pearl Jam and you like Pearl Jam? NONE of you are true sports fans.

That is bad news for Tom and the Pats. Although I am not a fan of the Patriots, it is always a tough situation when a great player gets injured. Hope he has a quick and full recovery...

Go PACK

Packer Fan in NYC

An offense this talented - give the keys to Drew Bledsoe for one year.

Its funny how the Patties, and their Fans laughed at everyone in the NFL last yr 2007, when those "Cheaters" were rolling up scores on everyone. (Redskins game comes to mind, and many others, see people don't forget), ( I bet Gibbs is laughing at Belicheat now). How they mocked at that "Great 17-0 1972 Dolphins team". Wanted to be compared to those Steelers Teams that won 4 Super Bowls in 6 yrs in the 70's. Then last years Super bowl hit(smile), the "Greatest Choke Job" in modern sports history happened, and all these "praises" that fell upon them last yr, and beginning of this yr, is quickly fadeing into a Black Reality. These Patties are no more than a .500 team in the Super Bowl, with them getting "blown out twice". Brady ( I mean Superman) is human afterall, and these "Cheaters" are looking at a long losing season, for the first time in awhile, "yep bend over, this one is gonna hurt". The "Sharks" are in the water and smell blood.

What does "cheaters" (that's getting REALLY old, REALLY, REALLY old) and comparing last year to past teams have to do with reveling in Brady's injury?
I love the "you heard it here first", "mark my words", "I guarantee" etc. All of a sudden these bloggers, in between cold-calls, are now football scholars.

The Patriots are still a very good team with the best coach in the league. Although no quarterback will come close to the talent of Brady, the Patriots still have an excellent chance of finishing 11-6 at the minimum. Expect Randy Moss to make Cassell an above average quarterback and will give Cassell confidence in running the offense. The Patriots will outclass most of their opponents this season even not having Brady at the helm.

Hey FD.........FU

And for all you doom and gloomers, chill. It's not the end of the season, and definitely not the end of the world.

I would put money on it that the Jets lose next week. Favre will lob a few into the air and hope one of his receivers comes down with it.....Jets, you can enjoy Brady's injury but mark my words, your team will LOSE next week. Watch and enjoy Pat's fans.

All those on this blog who think the Patriots have a chance with Brady out are delusional. They remind me of the moronic Packer fans who think the Pack are going all the way this year with Rogers. It's not and never will be about the system in place - its always about the players and guys like Tom Brady, Brett Favre, John Elway, Dan Marino, and other hall of fame quarterbacksd don't come along very often. It would take a miracle such as a dominant defense, which we don't have this year, like the Ravens had when they won it all with Trent Dilfer for the Pats to have a chance. It will still be a fun year though as hopefully Matt will develop.

Hey Dave in NY, and all the rest of you wanna Beeees!
only from NY you hear crap like this. True Jealousy shows. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid on the "cheating thing"
Brett Favra won't help you either. Even without T we still kick the sorry Jets.
Remember you read it here first we win it again this yr with or w/out TB
NY bites again! and again! oh did I mention Yankess choke again?

It keeps getting Better and Better

Is it "the coach or the quaterback"?

How stupid and black&white are you people who need this answer?

A good quarterback is nothing if he doesn't have front line protection, good receivers, and smart play tactics that adapt to the game.

A good coach is nothing if the quarterback can't get the ball to the receiver.

We are lucky that we got the synergy of both. Ain't always so and aint so black and white. Pls lay off this questioning.

The Patriots were not going to winthe Super Bowl this year with or without Brady.

Belichick having a week to alter his game plan as appropriate given the new realities....Cassel taking 1st team snaps all week long as he gets a crash course in managing the team....Cassel running like a juking, dekeing bat out of hell rather than being stationary like TB...the team stepping it up to another level now that TB's gone down....I like our chances! Anyday, anywhere against a Jets team whose "legendary" QB barely won its game against the 1 and 15 Dolphins with a fluttering, spinning "hail Mary" pass that floated its way down to Stuckey in the end zone. Jets fans...be afraid. Be very afraid. Same for the rest of the league.

Without Brady, the Patriots will not repeat last season's record.
However-I would not say that the Patriots are done.

Yesterday's game was won due to the running game and the defense.
Kudos to Cassel for stepping in. I had serious doubts based on his performances in the pre-season. But, I do not think that he can carry the team for the whole season.

If we can get a strong QB (who I DK), and have the team play conservatively (like 2001), the Patriots have a chance to get to the playoffs.

Forget about Matt Cassell, he'll be number 2 when Kraft has Belicheat suit up for the QB position! The Pats can save even more money, rather than pay for a decent replacement, like they have for the last 4 years!! Did Kraft really think Tom would never have to sit out for any length of time?

"I wouldn't count this team out - just remember 2001 when a young inexperienced quarterback came in for an injured Drew Bledsoe and capped off the best season in franchise history(up 'til then). If Cassle can just play within himself and not turn over the football, this team, with all of its talent, should be able to compete and win in this division and league. Let's hope that Tom can get healthy and come back next year to reclaim his greatness.

Go Pat

People, get a grip! I hated seeing Brady go down, but I hate seeing any player get hurt. It's part of the game and the great coaches plan for it. Cassel will have to step up and pull his weight. The Pats coaches will trim the playbook to the things he does best. Will it be a tough year? Yes. Will the Pats still make the playoffs? I think yes because this team, and it is a team sport, has quality players and coaching. We're paying the running backs a lot of money. Well it's time for them to step up too and take some of the pressure off whoever ends up at QB for the team.
I still remember the 1-15 years. I've been enjoying the past 6 years, and if it's over for now, well that the way it works.
This team is just too good to lay down and quit.
End of the year...11-5. Still the division winner! Thank the football gods for a light schedule.

Favre rocks, you're a complete idiot. Take your head out of your $SS, go order Comcast, watch the replay on OnDemand and try and comprehend that it was a dirty hit. The fact the he d*mn near hit Brady’s knee with this helmet and ALSO went down low against Morris further substantiates this. We're not talking about last year or making comparisons to the Wilfork hit. The fact that you have Favre incorporated into your user name indicates that you're not all there and most likely a jets fan.

And as for you other retarded RAIDERS, JETS & MIAMI fans, we haven't heard anything from you until now. The Jets haven't won since super bowl 3, Miami still won't shut the heck up about the 1972 season, Jack Tatum has yet to apologize for his hit on Stingley and you still can’t get over the fact that you traded the best WR in the game for a 4th round draft pick because Al Davis is a moron. So the fact that you're running your mouths about a serious injury is a testament that you have no shot of winning anything unless the best player and team in the game has endured a serious injury.

Gob forbid if this happened to one of those goofy manning boys, every media outlet in the country would be making it a huge deal. How quickly things change after you’ve won 3 SB’s (should be 5). We’ve waited 41 years for our first SB and noone had a problem with that then.

I believe it was once said by someone name John Lennon: "Instant Karma's gonna get you"

I don't know what was said previously (too many to read) but, it's definitely a serious blow to the Patriots. I've been a fan since I can remember and I'll continue to be a fan and say this: remember what happened to Drew Bledsoe when he went down...

Snoopydog:
The biggest "choke job" in modern sports history was in 2204 when the Yankee's lost to the Sox after leading 3-0...get your facts straight New England sports hater.
Why dont any of these haters ever say who they root for? Why, because chances are the Pats have beat them, or will beat them this year.

Snoopydog sounds like a soccer mom

Pats will go all the way this year.

Look at al of you jumpin on the Pats Bandwagon.. It isn't over.. We still hav moss, welker, maroney, morris, jordan, faulk, n I can keep goin if U want me to.. It aint over.. M.Cassel backed up 2 heisman winning QBs at USC [C.Palmer, M.Leinart] and the Best QB in the Leaque [T.Brady].. Every1 thought it was over for us when Bledsoe got hurt when we threw in some bum named TBrady who split starts at Michigan and look what he turned out to be.. It aint over yet.. And for the record, the Jets struggled against the Miami Dolphins who went 1-15 last year.. We can go 10-6 this year and take the division.. We'll see what the Jets are about next week..

Who was Tom Brady before Bledsoe got injured?

Let's give Cassell a shot.

The season ain't over. Not by a long stretch. Cassell's situation is a whole lot better than many young starting QBs in this league who are being counted on to lead their teams to the playoffs(e.i. Washington, Houston, Oakland, Chicago). The Pats' O-line and running backs are both very solid units. Belichick/McDaniels will rely on the running game to set the tone of the offense, and then they'll pick their spots to go downfield to Moss. The defense will have to improve as the season goes on, but that's to be expected with all the new faces and youth they've added. It doesn't hurt that they play a pretty easy schedule either. They'll beat the Jets on Sunday and then all the 'experts' will be regurging something similar to what I have written here.

Just remember you heard it here first!!

I think Bill needs to put his grey ripped sweatshirt bakc on, yesterday it was some uncomfortable material navy thing and the superbowl the red sweatshirt

BRADY SHOULD SEE A THETA HEALER and ENERGY HEALER.

AFTER SURGERY (IF NECESSARY) HE SHOULD USE CHI & ENERGY WHICH WOULD DRAMATICALLY SPEED UP RECOVERY TIME

Look at al of you jumpin on the Pats Bandwagon.. It isn't over.. We still hav moss, welker, maroney, morris, jordan, faulk, n I can keep goin if U want me to.. It aint over.. M.Cassel backed up 2 heisman winning QBs at USC [C.Palmer, M.Leinart] and the Best QB in the Leaque [T.Brady].. Every1 thought it was over for us when Bledsoe got hurt when we threw in some bum named TBrady who split starts at Michigan and look what he turned out to be.. It aint over yet.. And for the record, the Jets struggled against the Miami Dolphins who went 1-15 last year.. We can go 10-6 this year and take the division.. We'll see what the Jets are about next week..

I can't believe the level of hatred for the Patriots out there. Other people trying to laugh in our faces about this. Trying to say that we deserved it. It's so sad on so many levels.

It's also funny, too, how they hate the Patriots so much yet they make their way over to our website and then spend legitimate time posting about their hatred.

Why? What makes a hater come to boston.com to talk about the team they hate? What is it about a mean spirit that makes a person deliberately take time to spit in our faces? You folks are really that angry about Spygate? Well, we went 18-1 last year without any videotapes. We've already proven that the taping was absolutely insignificant. I don't know how that doesn't put the issue to rest. Or you're just out of your mind sick and jealous of the Patriots continuing success.

The way haters come to this website reminds me of gay republicans who denounce homosexuality in every speech and then spend time to make their way into an airport bathroom to click their heels for a gay encounter.

I think you all secretly like Tom Brady and the Pats. At the very least we've made you feel something.

You know, rarely do the haters announce who their team is after they finish spitting up, but when they do, it's usually the Jets or the Dolphins. So I guess I don't blame them for visiting the website of a real franchise.

I feel bad that Tom Brady could be out for the season, but try to remember Pats fans or should I say lack of fans. A football team is a team, not one individual player. If you are such the dynasty that everyone talks about then this stumbling block should be overcome. I am hoping for Brady to be out for the season, not because I want to see him hurt, but because I want to see if this team can win without the best QB in the league. My prediction is that you can't...GO STEELERS!!!

Dave in NY - Idiot

I agree with Chris from Chicago. Tom Brady has focused too much on his high-fashion modeling career -- which he isn't good at -- instead of his football career. He opted out of off-season workouts with his team, but opted-in to traveling around the world, moving two houses -- his and G's -- into one in Boston as well as another house in the LA area, and has made numerous appearances at events where a supposed foot injury didn't seem apparent at all. For someone who is supposed to be the leader of a team, and supposed to set an example of being ready on Day One, Tom looked unprepared and ragged before the injury. I, too, am sorry that he's hurt. I don't wish pain on anyone. But while he has brought us much joy over the years, and we have supported him along the way, he has turned his back on his multi-million-dollar contract and his fans to pursue high fashion. Now may be a good time for him to think about what really is his career.

I honestly believe in the midst of Brady's injury, and the swirling negative speculation about how the Patriots will be without him will bring out the best in this team. Mark my words, in the end this will turn out to be the finest moment for this franchise. This team, this ownership, and this coach have endured so much negative criticism, brought on only by the fact that they have been successful. While this country is mired in financial chaos, everything and anything that is good has become the target of those who are less fortunate. It's time to look on the bright side everyone. New England sports teams have been the pride and joy of our lives over the last 8 years. Keep it together, be supportive, and this ride will continue for us.

Dave in NY - Idiot

Look the whole thing about Pollard being dirty is dumb. He was trying to make a play, none of you play pro football the game moves fast, the Chiefs are a young time trying to make their mark against the Patriots who have been the class of the League. He wasn't trying to take Brady out of the game. If he had been on his feet with the same chance Pollard would have hit him into next week. Pollard is an all out player not a cheap shot artist, and if you want to talk about cheap shot artists why don't you look at Rodney Harrison one of the dirtiest safeties ever. I wish the Patriots nothing but success but lay off Pollard and accidents happen.

For all those who are outraged over the "dirty hit" on Tom Brady, please review the hit by Wolfork on Bills QB JP Losman during last year's season opener. I guess it's only dirty when it's the other guys...

HOW COULD ANYONE SAY THAT POLLARDS SHOT WAS CHEAP.
NOW THATS THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK.
GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!

I love the sad sacks who enjoy others' misery. Those who think that this is a 'good' thing and that the Pats somehow had this coming are so full of crap. This is a GREAT team and while I admire Brady for all he has done, I have faith that Cassell can step up to the plate. This is a TEAM that works together in ways that nobody has been able to replicate (try as they might) and Tom Brady is but one player on this team. Who knows what greatness lies in Cassell? We wouldn't have known Brady's worth without Bledsoe being hurt back in 2001. I don't believe the run for this team is over but I don't think it's going to be as easy as it could be with Tom in the QB position.

Tom I wish you nothing but a speedy recovery and so want to see you out there this season. Thank you for being such a great player.

Matt, focus and kick some a$$! Don't listen to the BS. I have faith in you.

GO PATRIOTS!!!!!

Brady was too good to practice. Look what he got, just what he deserved. No game timing, no spotting receivers. Brady was all done before the Superbowl. He was more worried about carrying his trollop's groceries than watching game film. He has no heart for the game any more. He's a disgrace to the game. He's a disgrace to families. He thinks he's better than his team mates. I'm certain he's played his last game here. He hates Boston and the fans- wears NY hat all the time.
Cassel is hopeless.

can somebody quit talking about brady and answer my question as to where i can find a used candyland board?

The "I hate Brady" stuff is laughable (like those pickle nibblers wouldn't trade "their" QB for him in a second). I don't understand all the vitriol and hatred though. I'm not a Colts/Chargers fan, but I wouldn't jump around celebrating if Philip Rivers or Peyton Manning got hurt (actually, the opposite it true...who wants to beat the Colts without Manning under center? You want to beat your opponent at full strength). And I wouldn't be making cracks about their personal lives and questioning their conditioning and dedication if they got a knee injury.

I'd rather be the Patriots, with a 31 year old Tom Brady needing surgery (he can STILL miss a season and have several productive ones ahead of him) than 96% of the other NFL teams with their current healthy (for now) QBs. So while I'm really disappointed at Brady's injury, I'm confident he'll be back and worse case be ready for the 2009-2010 season.

I have been a Boston fan since early childhood. I think it is sickening to some fans that find joy in Tom being hurt. SICK. In competition, I believe playing against others at their best will bring out your best...I strongly believe this team will dig very deep to find the voice that will propel them with all of these odds stacked against them. Even with the weapons Brady had last year, I still felt there was something missing..Now, I sense the Team will rally. They will fight, and they will never quit..Manny being Manny last year, said, "it's not the end of the world." when they were down 3 game to 1. What happened after that?? GO PATRIOTS!!

The juxtapositon of the news about Tom Brady being aired on WBZ this morning while the "crawl" was reporting that grief counselors at Holliston High School will be available to help students mourning the loss of one of their football players was striking.
The Patriots will move forward and we'll all still get our money's worth because we are talking about a talented team with a great coach. The Patriots will carry the burden on their shoulders but the young men at Holliston High School will need to move on and carry the burden in their hearts.

Brady deserved it. He is a little girl. JEts are going to win the east easy

I think trying to bring Culpepper in now would be a great investment for the pats, the history between him and moss and could slavage a season for a team that would be lucky to make a wild card slot. Everyone seems to look down on culpepper after his injury. Have the forgoten how good he was. Lets think for a moment of Moss's down fall after he lleft the vikes. People thought he was done, when in fact all he needed was the right coach and a good system. Now lets go to Culpepper who after his injury had a chance to play with what talent? NE talks Culpepper into starting for them this season with a decent O-line and good running attack not to mention moss and welker. Culpepper gets the chance to prove, to all the other teams in the nfl who passed on him, he can still play. NE gets to the AFC title game and Culpeppers stalk increase next year when Chicago or San Fran figures out they should have picked him up this year.

How much have Pats tickets gone up this year? Most expensive in the league. Now the "product" ain't so good any more ...

Hey guys give Cassel a chance don't take him to the woodshed yet.

Yeah Steelers....good point...
Kinda like how your "real team" did last year after Willie Parker went down.....how did the team do after losing that "one player"?...I bet you lost alot of "Steeler fans" or should I say lack of fans.........DOH....dont you hate it when your own trash talk bites you in the behind? GO STEELERS......peak in November like you always do, then fold like a pretender in the playoffs...... as usual. You only won your SB a few years back because you played the Seahawks.....I mean, come on! You barely beat the Seahawks!

Choke against Indy in AFC title game, watch Peyton Manning win the Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP, get caught cheating, lose all your dignity by running up the score on Miami, Washington and others, go 18-0 and then choke in the Super Bowl, watch Brady obliterate his knee......ouch......it's been a tough couple of years...LOL

Is Micheal Vick available ?

bawhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I think that fat SOB! Pete Sheppard from WeeI should be the next QB!

I guess the "Curse of the Super Bowl loser" has found some way to make it true!

It's the smug attitude that Boston fans have that pisses people off!! For years the Sox & Pats were the doormats of their leagues, but putting together some great players gave them success and now mostly everyone has Sox or Pats stickers on their cars, chant "Yankees suck," wear pink ballcaps, etc. This year's Super Bowl won't have the Pats, so no tipping over cars, urinating from rooftops, and not having to pay for police swat teams to keep the peace and put out the fires!!!

SnoopyDog, you must be much dumber than your name sounds clown. The Pats did not "choke" anything. They were the victims of the luckiest pass in SB history and of the two non-called facemasks the refs decided to put away their whistles on the winning TD play. You seem to forget the 2004 Yankmees meltdown blowing a 3 game lead and who you root for.

Keep taking the easy way out and calling the pats cheaters moron. All 18 games they won were won without the video tape. All 32 teams did the same thing but the Pats got caught because Mangina is a rat. Watch him try and find another job in the NFL after his unsuccessful gig with the jets is up.

I am a die hard Pats fan who feels this is worse than we think it is.I wish Tom all the Best......

Suddenly all the funs gone out of my Sunday afternoons....

If ever there were a time for Belichick and the team to embrace the "us against the world" underdog mentality, this is it. I'll admit, it doesn't look hugely promising, but don't count out the Pats just yet. It's a long season and Cassel has a lot of talent around him on offense.

Brady could be the best ever. That is if the best is measured by the number of SB ringd that they have. Even with the injury possably ending this season for Brady, he could still have six rings before the end of his career

It's simply "Karma"! Brady does nothing but whine and people keep forgetting that they were caught CHEATING!!!!!! Insignificant or not ............. it was still dishonest and an embarrassment to both the franchise and league! By all rights the coach and anyone associated with the coaching staff who had any knowledge of Spygate should have been fired immediately and banned from the league! Now Brady really has something to whine about ........ a sore knee! Last year the Pats and their fans tried to accomplish a perfect season ............ this season they will be lucky to go 8-8! If all else fails Pats fans, I hear Bubby Brister is looking to make a come back! Maybe you guys can pick him up cheap? Or just do what your team has been doing for years .............. resort to cheating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what you get for cheating last year...lesson learned!

Can we all wait for the press conference? Right now we all are just basing this off rumors. He could be out the whole year but maybe he's just out 4-6 weeks with another major injury.

O'Connell will get his chance and ignite and excite the team/fans. Nobody mentions him much but, he has the skills to step in and get it done. I watched him this pre-season and he can run too. I love him and just you wait and see:

O'Connell is another Brady in waiting. Don't laugh.

Ok Steelers Fan (post #279),
First you say that there is no I in team, then you say there is no team when I (Brady) isn't there. Can't have it both ways, but thanks for recognizing that Brady is the best.

wow is the person who gloats in the fact that another human being is injured. Tom Brady is a class act and a team leader, a loss who will cheer his team on whatever the circumstance. all teams should be lucky to hava a Brady. some of these gloating comments seem like jealous spite.

E-A-G-L-E-S !!!! Lets go Birds. This Donny Mac's year........

You're all acting like Tom Brady is the only reason the Patriots won all those Super Bowls! He wasn't. Wait. Hang on. OK. He was. Sorry. You're screwed.

Its gonna be great when Cassel Pwns nubs

Looks like the same hit u guys did on Losman. I hope we run the score up on u, like u did last year, oh wait our coach has class.

League ruled Pollard's hit as clean. How is this sitting with Wolfolk after he was fined over the exact same play last year?

Sounds like the league is holding the Patriots to a different standard

To Steven:
Since you brought up Super Bowls lets count how many each team has, New England 3 Pittsburgh 5. And I'm sure you remember the super bowl of the century...18 wins and one GIANT loss...

As far as lack of fans, go into any major city and look around, Steeler Nation every where...When our quarteback went down in a motorcycle accident, you didn't see us throwing in the towel...No you saw all 63,000 of our terrible towels getting behind our back up quarterback...

If you ever want a lesson on how to be a fan, come to pittsburgh on any given sunday and we will take you to school...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

(gasps for air)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

eat it new england, it couldnt have happened any better

Hey everyone! I was upset as much as anyone over this news. But you know what?The Patriots are still a great T-E-A-M! Kraft and co. has built this franchise into one of the premiere in the league! Look, Brady will be back, and he will work harder than ever to prove he's the BEST! Until thin, believe in the PATS. The run is NOT over by any stretch! As long as we have the greatest coach in the league, the best ownership, and BRADY (when he comes back) the run will continue!

Get well soon Brady, you're THE MAN! AND.......GO PATS!

Hmf. I guess the Pats will have to cheat a little harder this year......

Sad day-I hope Tom is ok and gets through the worst of it without too much pain. He need not worry about the Pats--we survived before without him and will do just fine this time--keeping his seat warm for him.
To all you vile humans that are actually taking pleasure in this-SHAME on YOU.

Go Pats!

Anyone on this board who is gloating about Brady being done for the year, calling it karma for cheating or whatever, you are CLASSLESS and a har of a human being. It just simply goes to show, that if you have to hope that players on teams other than yours get hurt so that it might help you team win, you are obviously jealous of the Patriots', or any other teams', success.

The Pats have the easiest schedule and one of, if not the easiest division in the NFL. They could easily go 10-6 and make the playoffs. The reality is they don't look like much of a Super Bowl contender without Brady. But I guess time will tell. The Pats need to run the ball more and Maroney and Morris will need to step it up and have some time consuming scoring drives while keeping the other team's offense off the field.

I sense alot of built up hatred and jealousy from other teams's fan. I don't understand how anyone or human being for that matter could be happy that any person is injure.

If all haters given a chance to be in To mBrady shoe, I think they will kill for it. A super-model girlfriend. Millions contract. Three superbowl ring.

Addressing the haters:
Come on .. be true to yourself, you all know you want to be Tom Brady deep down.

Im sure the Pariots will be okay in the long run. Cassel has learned a lot in the 4 years he has been behind brady. maybe he will step in like brady did in '01 (obviously no ones expecting him to be that good, but maybe he can get them into the playoffs. And we all know that ANYTHING is possible in the playoffs (01 patriots and 07 giants) so you can't count out the Patriots...

I'm not worried. Time to dust off the cyborg Brady that Bill Belichick has built in secret.

So many of you are ridiculous. Now we are just another patriots team without Tom Brady. We'll win a few, lose a few, and go just as far as the maturation of Cassell takes us. If Chris Simms was better, he would have already been on the team. Likewise Culpepper. Give Cassel a chance.

This is going to be the single most satisfying Championship in Boston sports history.

Mark my words - The Patriots will win the Super Bowl.

I am so fired up to watch this team dominate with a running game, grind the clock out, fly around the ball on D, play flawless special teams, and still have Welker, Moss and Gafney stretch the field.

Does Defense, running, game management, special teams and coaching win Super Bowls? you bet it does.

I can't wait for Banner #4.

Quit crying and whining. This team just found it's identity BIG TIME, and they will come together and dominate this league in old school fashion.

God Speed Tom - heal quickly, and enjoy the ride watching your team win it all!!!!!

Shouldn't the question be whether this is the end of Brady's run with the Patriots? Wasn't it an injured Bledsoe that gave Brady his break? Will the Patriot's management be willing to take a risk on Brady next year after he's been out for an entire season? I guess it all depends on whether Cassel can step up like Brady did. I don't have the warm and fuzzies after seeing Cassel play in the preseason.

What does that even mean, would the season be "over"? That they'll lose the Superbowl? They had Brady last year and went to the Superbowl with an amazing record, and they still LOST the Superbowl. I would think that a team with as amazing a record as they had last year would be capable of winning at least SOME games without St. Brady.

So now it is a fact that BRADY is out for the year!!!!
Looking ahead to next year, for argument's sake, how will BRADY perform when he comes back????
THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS PLEASE..........

Congrats to all of you suckers rooting for other teams...you now have a chance. Pathetic lives you guys lead...chearing for an injury. I guarantee the guys on the teams you chear for wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire.

P.S. Pats will make the playoffs and that's where the magic happens

My condolences go out to Tom but this is good news for AFC east teams. I still expect the Pats to take a wild card home

GO J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS

we'll see what happens, let all the idiots post what they want here. The Jets just beat a team that was 1-15 last year and now they are annointed? After next week we can see if all these Jets fans are here making excuses

I am a Pats fan and actually excited. Last year the whole season was about "can we cover this ridiculous point spread"? Games were not that entertaining.

This year we can watch the team without expectation, and hope for the best (just like 2001). We still have a decent shot in this division - the Jets fans excited about Brett throwing up jump balls for touchdowns will be cursing the interceptions when he runs into a real defense!

Go Pats!

18-1*

Brady getting injured only proves what I have been saying for years ......... he's like a boxer with a glass jaw ........ can't take a hit!!!!!! Maybe after surgery and rehab he can use Belichick's dirty torn sweatshirt (that looks like homeless garb) as a brace to protect his knee? Thank God Brady will still be able to do "Stetson" magazine ads! Maybe he could be a ball boy for this seasons real super star Ben Roethlisberger! I guess the Patriots should have videotaped the Chief's blitz packages, then Tom would have been ready for the safety blitz! Wait unitl Nov. 30th when the Patriots meet the Steelers ......... your savior Cassel will be spending a lot of time on his back looking up at the #1 defense in the league! The Patriots era is over ..........quit fooling yourselves!

This IS aweful news, but one of the things that I notice about the PATS is they are very very talented. Top 10 reasons why The Patriots have a chance:

1) Tom Brady was better with Randy Moss and Wes Welker. So although Matt Cassel is not TB, He will be better for having great receivers.

2) We have 5 backs that should be able to contribute as wel in the running game.

3) O-Line although hurt during camp, is very solid in the middle and can provide protection when healthy

4) Defense - They looked pretty darn impressive yesterday. The front 7 were as solid as can be, and except for maybe 2-3 plays, KC didnt really move the ball.

5) Schedule - Pats have the easiest schedule of all the teams from last year. Yes some of the teams got better, but we still get to play Miami twice, Arizona, SF, and OAK.

6) Win one for Tom - The team will rally to win one for Tom.

7) Don Capers - Considering what we lost in our secondary, it looks like DC is helping the defense.

8) Special Teams - Still have a great kicker who looked even better in the pre-season as last year.

9) Intangibles - Somehow the Pats seem to make plays happen by doing the things that need to be done especially on defense.

10) In Bill we Trust - He is still a genious and will figure out a way to get the best out of the offense.

CB in Utah
Thhe

I love all the whining about the Pats running up the score last year. It's professional football you dolts not pop warner league get over it, this is what ALL of the teams.players in the NFL are paid to do, win games. If the other teams can't stand the heat they should not be in the NFL. Geez who's whining now.

The Patriots season just got a lot more interesting. But damn I've been waiting all summer long to watch Tom play and now this. Oh well we'll see what happens. How sad that so many fans have to wish something like this on a player to feel good about their own team. I never like it when a player gets hurt, and I always like to think it's not intentional, but I have been saying for a long time that someone was going to take Brady down.

My condolences go out to Tom but this is good news for AFC east teams. I still expect the Pats to take a wild card home

GO J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS

"Is the Patriot's season over?"--that depends on one's definition. The Patriots will win games and could even contend for the division. But...if you define the Patriot's season as finishing with a super bowl win, then sorry to dissapoint...it is over.

My biggest worry is that he can recover from this down the road--this injury is a lot like Carson Palmer's from a few years ago and he has yet to be the QB he once was.

Im sure the Pariots will be okay in the long run. Cassel has learned a lot in the 4 years he has been behind brady. maybe he will step in like brady did in '01 (obviously no ones expecting him to be that good, but maybe he can get them into the playoffs. And we all know that ANYTHING is possible in the playoffs (01 patriots and 07 giants) so you can't count out the Patriots...

"Squirm Brady Squirm" Oh what a beautiful sight it was, my friends!!!Heavenly. I am actually disappointed Brady is lost for the season. I wanted him to come back so opposing defenses could hit him 10/12 times/game and use him like a pinata.... I guess Belicheat will now tell his defense to decapitate all opposing QBs, as is his style.

I have not stopped celebrating since LY's SB loss. I hear Giselle is going to be dating Casselle now!

Nice to see the Pats fan complaining about a dirty hit to the QB. I had the same feeling when your lineman hit JP Losman below the knee last year and knocked him out for several games.

What goes around, comes around. Boo Hoo.

Payback's a %&(#(%*! Maybe Belicheat will think twice about running up the score from now on. Go Chiefs!!

Can we get real here or what? The Patriots are more than Tom Brady people. They will do just fine. If anything this will motivate them more because they are hearing that without Brady they can't do diddly squat, which is rubbish. History repeats itself, just like Brady went in for Bledsoe, now Cassell goes in for Brady as a player that nobody believes in. This fact will be his motivation. Don't be fooled by all these people who hate the Patriot's success fool you into thinking they're finished. This team is still quite capable of greatness. Keep the faith.

Lets all face the fact that the season will not end with a trip to Tampa for the Patriots. However I would rather see them not make the playoffs and get another top ten pick in the draft to get more youth on defense. I dont see Bruschi playing after this year and the same goes for Harrison.and we all can agree this team is S-L-O-W on defense and that means no pressure up front and more time covering in the back. Lets just hope they are competitive in the games the rest of the way. Hopefully Tom will be okay and can get back to his old ways next year. Well at least the Celtics start in about 8 weeks!!

Brady is out. Let's move on and hope that the TEAM can be successful playing out the easiest schedule in the NFL. If Cassel struggles, BB and SP will need to make the adjustments which they are so well-paid to make.

Brady just hurt his knee. He was not murdered violently or an unfotunate victim of the war in Iraq. Even he would agree with these sentiments as he stated in a recent interview.

It's time to move on to the Jets and then the Fins and so on....

guys.. the JETS barely beat the Dolphins yesterday. The Jets still suck .. the dolphins still suck... we will make the playoffs. Brady is one guy. Without a question a very important piece. Bill B made Brady who he is today. We will be fine

It would be easy to throw in the towel after the final word on Brady's injury. I'm looking forward to how the team reacts to this and hope that everyone steps it up a notch or two. They still have the talent to play with anyone, win their division and get into the playoffs.
I already made arrangements to travel to Foxboro to see the Steelers game on Thanksgiving weekend and I still plan on being there. When the Pats are not on local TV where I live it's off to the Sports Bar to catch the game, and I will also continue to watch each and every game.
"OK" all you Patriot players ratchet it up a notch and show the rest of these doubters who you really are. To Tom Brady best of luck with your surgery and rehab and we look forward to seeing #12 back in 2009 as good as ever.

Stop whining, Pats fans. You were riding high and trying to humiliate other teams last year, and now its payback time.

BTW, you weren't going to the Super Bowl with Brady, even in the weakest division in football.

Suck it up. Maybe the deadsox will sneak into the playoffs.

Donovan is overrated...and speaking of injuries..isn't this the 1st year he's finally healthy!

Hey there Pats fans......yep it is me Bubba and I am back for another guest apperance. What are you all going to do now that football season is over? I guess you will spend your time in counseling with Bill "The Big Cheat" Belichick. SUCK IT ALL FORWARD BABY. Your run is OVER! YEAH BABY.....SUCK IT ALL UP. As a quick note, why don't you have Tommy drop off Vrable, Bruschi, and Harrison at the old folks home on his way to knee surgery. SUCK IT ALL UP BABY. PATS LOSE - AGAIN.....HA HA HA HA HA.......QUICK RECAP......LOSE 2006 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, LOSE 2007 SUPER BOWL.....LOSE THERE STARTING QB IN FIRST GAME OF 2008-09.........SUCK IT UP. YEAH.

Of course the rest of the NFL is happy that Brady is injured. It gives their fans hope that they can cheer their second rate teams on playing the Patriots and beating them playing against a #2 quarterback.

I would think that the fans would have enough dignity to at least have sympathy that a successful professional football player has been seriously injured in the game. I have had 3 ACL terars in my life that I would not wish on anyone. But you lowlifes who make jokes about it probably do not have an idea about the physical pain and rehab that is involved in this injury. You people are just scum.

One thing that kills me is seeing all the fans writing in a Boston.com blog who are jealous fans bashing this team

You all need to get a life and worry about your own team

Brady will be back, we will win the division

Cheaters do win!!

Why all the hateful talking. The guy is the greatest QB of the last decade and deserves all the accolades he gets. That being said, cassel is in for a huge challenge and may not fare well. I have alot more hope that my Steelers will go to the Bowl now.

Actually Steven (post #292), the Steelers were down three starters (Willie Parker, Aaron Smith, and Ryan Clark) for their playoff game, last year, with Jacksonville. These three players missed a combined total of 16 regular season games last year, due to injury. Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes missed 3 games each, Marvell Smith (starting LT) missed 4 games, Troy Polamalu missed 5 games. Of course, only Steeler fans remember these injuries, and the missed holding call on Gerard's end-of-the-game scramble that cost us the Jacksonville playoff game.

Fans of the teams that beat us last year couldn't care less about our being shorthanded; kind of like the fans of the teams that will now enjoy beating the Patriots during 2008. Don't bother looking around the league for sympathy, because you sure ain't gonna find it.

Maybe the days of Culpepper to Moss touchdowns isn't over!!!!!!!

It's Cassel's team now, all this talk about Culpepper, etc. is nonsense, it would take till the end of October for a new QB to learn the offense. Back to the 2001 dink and dunk offense, and a stifling D. McDaniel can't call a crappy game though, like those first two plays he called when Cassel came in (two negative runs).

Go Pats, Matt will do great, 10-6 and host a wildcard game.

I find it interesting that all the fans of the losing teams in the AFC (that means you, Steelers, Jets, Bills, Chargers, Colts) fans. Until you PROVE you can win the AFC, shut up and worry about your own team. Like I said before the Steelers will look great until late November, then the wheels come off like they always do. They lost Willie Parker last year and fell apart....WILLIE PARKER....clearly no Tom Brady...
Lets wait and see if the Jets are the team to beat....I suspect Favre will chuck up a few like he did against Miami, and the Patriots dont miss opportunities like that.
Patriots 24---Jets 13..........you saw it here first.

THE CURSE OF ADAM YEAR 3. only 97 and a wake up more to go. cheap sobs. stuff like this happens when you nickel and dime good people. The kid hasn't even missed THE field goal yet....its going to be a long century.

I can see the headlines now when the Pats win it all --- "MATT 'KING OF THE' CASSEL & PATS CROWNED AS CHAMPS!"

Everyone is jumping off the bandwagon like it's the Titanic. As long as he limits the mistakes, the talent around him will carry them.

Everybody say it together now -- defense and running game wins championships!

To Tom Brady, a speedy recovery. To Patriot fans, we have always been of the mentality that there is no "I" in team. Well, now is the time to put it to a real test. Yes, the loss of our QB is devastating, but there is a whole team out there who are still capable of doing what they do best. Remember, too, that when Drew Bledsoe got injured, Tom Brady had to step in and step up. Can we not give our back-up the same support now? He knows he has big shoes to fill and it would be ever so helpful to know that the fans are behind him and not ready to throw him under a bus. We are better than that. To Matt Cassel I say, be who you are. You have been watching and learning for some years now. Go out there and do the best you can with a great supporting cast. We are rooting for you. The season has just begun. To all of you who derive such great pleasure in seeing an athlete go down, you are a disgrace to sportsmanship and should be ashamed of yourselves. GO PAT'S. As they say...."it ain't over ......."

In '72 Bob Griese was out the entire season with a broken leg while the 40-something Earl Morrell lead the Dophins to their STILL UNPARALLELED UNDEFEATED SEASON!

So, no, I wouldn't count the Pats out -- not by any means. Too much talent there. If anything the absence of the media frenzy constantly surrounding Tommy Tooth Paste Grin will allow other team members to shine.

Quaterback is perhaps the most overrated position in sports. The best quarterbacks of our era (Farvre, Peyton Manning) are also their teams' de-facto offensive coordinators, so the real test for the Pats will be next week when they come up against the re-fueled Jets.

no one in boston expects sympathy from the rest of the country trust me. we've had an unprecedented run of success in the 2000's (sox, patriots, celtics, hell even our college football team was #2 in the nation last year!) that no city can even try and claim to match. sorry no city. many of the posts i've seen in here show just how uneducated some of you "football" fans are. before you crucify cassel lets realize he knows this offense back and forth, unlike some gunslinger in nyc. similar to brady in 2001, cassel has to manage the game, but unlike 2001 he has much better weapons (moss, welker, maroney, watson) at his disposal. belichick is still the best coach in the league and last i checked the pats were still 1-0 compared to the 0-1 chargers and colts. btw nice game for the colts last night. they got dominated by a team with kyle orton at the helm. nice work fellas. obviously the 2008 pats won't go undeafeated but they still play in a weak division and have the luxury of playing the easiest schedule. my prediction is 10-6, with 9-7 being the worst. we have faith in you matt and can't wait to watch you prove the rest of country's many "football" fans wrong. get better tom.

Come on guys.....where is the optimism and support!!
This team has by far overcome worse obstacles. We have lost a great player for the season, however this player does not, will not and will never make up the entire team!! SUPPORT CASSELL!!!! SUPPORT THE TEAM! What they need now more than anything is supporting fans!!

for commentor # 267 to even bring John Lennon into this discussion is just a total shame and shows your total lack of class and furthermore St. John loves a working class attitude and his team IMHO wud be the Patriots!.....

As far as the haters in here.....well they havent a clue or a real team to root for and for that matter any semblence of what a real fan is all about...sorry suckers Favra aint gonna win you a championship...Miami still stinks...Pittsburgh will be lucky to get out of Jan....SD and Indy both look bad......

I have been a loyal Pats fan since I was 7.....been there thru tuff times with my team before and in '01 we all shared a collective holding of ones breath when Drew went down and an unheralded 6th rd draft choice took over and look what transpired....I will back Matt Cassel and this team...thats right T E A M....we still have a great coach, a fantastic D which btw will shine thru this and lead this team to the SB, and plenty of players on this team who have heart, soul and guts to lead the Pats, which is great for all you pundits and know-it-alls to declare our season over and dead bring it on THE PATS LOVE THE UNDERDOG ROLL!!!! WHOHOOOO we are gonna show the NFL what a true TEAM is made of..watch out THE PATRIOTS ARE COMING THE PATRIOTS ARE COMING and they're pissed!! pity the fools who count us out.. yall gonna get squashed!!!

This sucks. There is no sugar-coating this one. Matt Cassel is nothing like Tom Brady and there is no way he could pull off what Brady did in 2001 when Bledsoe went down. And bringing in a veteran that can't even be a back-up on the crappiest teams in the league (like Simms or Culpepper) is a waste of money.

The Pats will be lucky if they go .500.

I think 10 wins is reasonable for htis team. Super Bowl might be a stretch, but I don't think the season is lost. Get a grip people!

I see alot of fair weather fans here. Yes I love Tom Brady and im a huge fan. But come on guys he is not the whole team. Im saying Cassel is going to take us back to the superbowl!!! and get the win for Brady!!! Its going to be along season without seeing him though

It is sad to hear about Tom...but REMEMBER it takes a team to win!! not just one player! Tom is great...but couldn't someone if given the chance be greater?

It is sad to hear that Brady will out for the season...
but
it was a sad day when Bledsoe went out too

and look how things turned out

Don't give up the ship yet...patriots fans!

now we find out if the pats can win without the best Patriot ever,sooner rather then later and maybe its a good thing.Tom will come back raring to go next year . I for one am looking forward to being the under dog for a few weeks, unless they keep winning, which i think they will. I enjoyed watching the pats run the ball and play good hard nosed defense yesterday, the greatest show on turf stuff wasn't my kind of football; or Pats football. If cassell doesn't turn the ball over to much don't count them out with their easiest schedule in a decade. I like cassel's mobillity and he's got more weapons then 95% of the qb's in the league. The best thing the pats can do is sign ty law to shore up corner, hobbs is a great punt returner and nickel guy but he can't cover number 1 wideouts, they need to be better defensivelly as they are probaly going to score alot less with SC guy running the offense. Every one is going to say the pats are done, this will help motivate the coaches and the players which i think might be a god send as they have looked kind of bored so far this ye

While my gut reaction is "Season Over...Go Celts", logic tells me :
1. the Pats have a very easy schedule this year which could bail us out, and
2. defense wins championships not offense.

That said, why don't the Pats try to acquire Kurt Warner from Arizona for a 1-year contract? Three reason why:
1. Warner is a proven success (even at his advanced age) especially when he has a strong receiving corp (like the Pats have) to which he can throw.
2. Some of the Arizona coaches prefer Leinert to Warner and would support the trade.
3. Arizona ownership already paid up to get Leinert and view him as the team's future.
4. Warner would love to play for the Kraft family in particular.

I think we should trade Matt Casell and possibly one other player for Warner NOW!

It all comes down to the play of the o-line the rest of the way. They'll need to be way better than yesterday or 8 - 8 will be a miracle season. The Cassell supporters know in their hearts they're wrong but if the o-line plays great, good protection and a running game can go a long way paired with a good defense.

The season is no over by a long shot. Pittsburgh will probably go 12-4, Colts 10-6, San Diego 10-6, maybe a Jets or Bills team in the 9-7/10-6 mark as well. The Patriots will in at least 9, if not 10, so the playoffs are not out of reach. With the weapons they have, and the depth at every other position, this is just going to be a season without Brady, not a losing season without Brady. Yeah, so he is the leader on the field and off, an his arm is as accurate as any Montana, Marino, Favre, or other HOF QB, but you can get over that hurdle by chaning your routes and running lots of practice reps to change how the deed gets done. Nothing to worry about, Belichic will make it happen.

What is truly sad is the number of people posting to this site who somehow feel "vindicated" over an incindent that they had nothing to do with. Worse still, that somehow another persons pain and suffering brings joy to their lives. What miserable lives those must be. No matter who the person is, when they suffer, we should have some sympathy for their problems. What kind of people have we become that find pleasure in the fact that another suffers? Whatever happens, Tom Brady will recover. This incident will be a footnote in history. But to those who are enjoying it, there will sadly be a scar upon your soul. The true measure of a person is not in how he is treated, but in how he treats others.

"Brady deserved it. He is a little girl. JEts are going to win the east easy

Posted by chris"

Deserved it? Ok, I hope you get what you deserve 10x over

These posts amaze me. I at least hope you are a teenager, that would help explain it

the patriots are a great team that has obviously upset many fans of other teams.
you vent because you know that the patriots will still be a good team and that next season they will win another superbowl.

the patriots are the greatest team in all of sports.

It's interesting how many non-patriot fans are hear to rub it in. Guess the maturity of most other teams fans is lower than I estimated.
A lot of cheater calls wonder why we areen't hearing it from the NFL and the other coaches I know mybe because it's systematic through out the league and you don't point fingers if you actions can be called into question too. Go ahead and keep on sucking those sour grapes.
Is the season over heck no! Seven years ago we lost our other Fair-haird boy (Drew Bledsoe) and how did that turn out ? 3 Super Bowl Championships. I'm not promising anything, but lets the season play its self out before we start preaching doom and gloom.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA

Look at all these losers crying as if their son had just been burned in a fire!!! BWAHAHAHAHAAAAA

How pathetic to have your life revolve so much around over paid athletes that it ruins your day when one of they get injured!! HAHAHAHAHAAAA

Note: I'm not laughing at Brady. I hope he recovers fully and I feel sorry for his injury. I'm laughing at all the loser fans that are sad/crying and bitching over this!!! PATHETIC!!!!! HAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stick a Fork in the pats they are done.

The "tuck" rule has come back to haunt all of you Pats fans. Too bad for Brady, cause he's a Michigan man, not because your season is how we say on the West Coast, It's over Beatch!!!!

I hope all you anti-patriots fans don't lose anyone one your teams. To take joy in someone getting hurt is pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To all you Jet, Steeler, Charger, etc fans who say the "Pats season is done", "put a fork in the pats", its over "beatch"....YOU'RE RIGHT...Pats are so done...HOWEVER, what does that say about YOUR TEAM if you don't beat the Pats this year?????? Come back to the board and we will let you know.

When the Pats grind out lets say a 10-6 record and BB shows his leadership - I don't care about the pathetic NY or Raiders fans still moaning about the Tuck rule (that was when Clinton was still in office!)

What I won't tolerate is people like ESPN's Tom Jackson "The players hate BB" or Bob Ryan "BB is like Nixon" or the Boston Herald too "video in SB walk thru against Rams" - jumping back on the BB bandwagon. You guys sealed your fate in the past. When BB leads the team with guts and glory to the playoffs - don't try and jump on - just shut up or talk to Matt Walsh & Arlen Spector.

People remember we have won superbowls without super performances from Tom. Go back and watch the 3 DVD's "three games to glory" and see that Tom simply managed the games in the ployofffs and was bailed out by Troy Brown twice (SD and Indy or Tenn) with strips of interceptions. He did have great superbowls wins! If Cassel can simply manage the game and the defense can develop and then dominate, we have a chance. That was the past formula.

Season ain't over for The Pats. They are 1-0 and Matt Cassel did what was necessary to win the game.

Season wasn't over when Bledsoe was crunched in 2001....back-up QB took over and drove The Pats to their first Superbowl victory.

This team has got one of the best winning attitudes in the league and that counts alot. They know how to win when they are on the ropes.

369 posts ....scrolled thru fast saw two things I want to comment on.

First:"Old Pats Defense". I agree with the poster who disputed this.....couple guys are old...but if they couldn't play they'd be sitting on John Lynch's couch sharing the popcorn. Point made. (Now you want old .....look at the '68 Green Bay Packers).

Second: Matt Cassell this and that....well they didn't keep him around because he looks good in the team picture. He obviously (in their evaluation) has value and can play. Now Brady isn't replaceable. But we need to give this guy a chance. If we all were coaching the team (based on our observations) Cassell would have been cut and Gutierrez would have made it. Now maybe they actually think Cassell sucks....but he's got 4 years in......and we couldn't realistically go with two (almost) rookies as backups. Guttierrez was probably cut because no one could realistically pick him up at this point and waste a roster spot. Whereas one might do that if Cassell was cut.

LMAOOOO, i love to see all the boston haters out there, every 1 who is hating on boston teams, there just upset that there team cant win at all, and boston teams has taking over sports in this decade, but of course everything cums to a end, but i can promise you this, who ever is your losing team lmaoo, you will never do what boston teams has done in this decade, just a lil reminder, 3 superbowls, 2 world series, and yes 1 nba tiltle to ad to the other 16 we won lmfaooooooooooooo, so keep on hating, cuz boston rules and you guys cant even win a free lunch lmaooooo

Brady is a class act...........................................................................................................................................................................................even on the bench, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

PATS ARE DONE!!!!!

It's like having a 100,000 dollar motor on a Ford Pinto!!!!!

Cassell has 1 more game exp. then me!!!!!

It is pathetic that there are people on here rooting for teams beside the Pats... Sounds like it took a major injury to the greatest QB of all time just for your team to have a chance of going to the Super Bowl....

The Patriots are still a damn good football team. Cassel still has 3 ProBowlers on the OLine, he still has Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throw to, and he still has Maroney/Morris/Jordan/and Faulk in the backfield.

Listen the guy has to be good enough to be able to stick in Belichick's system for the past four years. If Trent Dilfer could lead the Ravens and Rex Grossman can lead the Bears, I have faith the Matt Cassel can lead the Patriots. Who better to take over than a guy who has shadowed the best in the game for the past four years?

For all of you Facebook users, I've created a group called "I will support Matt Cassel". If you share the same sentiment, please join and show your support

I laugh at all the bitter losers who finally have a chance to be heard. WOW, tough guys! Pleazzzzz.....we all know injuries are a part of the game - even when they happen to dynamite players. If ever all your hopes are dependant on the efforts of one man you deserve to lose. I don't think true Pats fans think that way.

We are from Boston, we've felt what it is like to lose AND breathed in the sweetest smells of victory- we'll get through this like we get through all the other tough times. I am not giving up hope. Didn't when Bledsoe went down...won't now.

Keep 'em coming losers...it just makes being a Boston fan that much sweeter!

HISTORY DOES REALLY REPEAT ITSELF. I DO THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE MATT CASSEL A CHANCE. BILL DID NOT LET HIM GO THIS SEASON FOR A REASON!
HE HAS NOT YET HAD A CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF. I THOUGHT HE DID PRETTY WELL AT THE KANSAS CITY GAME UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
GIVE THE KID A BREAK AND LET HIM PROVE HIMSELF. I HAVE FAITH IN HIM ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE TEAM STEPPING IT UP. WE WILL MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS. GO PATRIOTS!!!!

MY BEST TO TOM BRADY AND HIS RECOVERY.

WHO THE HELL NEEDS BRADY. IT IS ALL ABOUT TEAMMATE.. FUCK BRADY. PATRIOTS COULD DO WITHOUT BRADY.

I tore my ACL in combat training. I had two MRI's to confirm it. There was no cart for me. I rested that night but I couldn't bent it fully for 4 months. I got involved with physical therapy right away. I opted not to do the surgery because I swim more than I run.

I tore my ACL in combat training. I had two MRI's to confirm it. There was no cart for me. I rested that night but I couldn't bend it fully for 4 months. I got involved with physical therapy right away. I opted not to do the surgery because I swim more than I run.

Talk to me when your team wins 18 games in a row!! How many NFL records did your team break last year..NONE...Just what I thought. Cheating has been going on in the NFL for decades. What happen last year with the Jet's give me a break.. IThe Patriot's should of been watching a REAL team. LMAO. To all you jealous fools out there...DEAL WITH THE FACTS. THe Patriot's are the best team in the NFL. If Belichick was leaving Boston for your team you all would be rolling out the red carpet. Get REAL people

I have been a fan since the late 70's so I have seen the down times and I for one an grateful to have gotten to cheer for them the last 7, it has been wonderful.

That said, people get over yourselves. They are our team and good or bad, they deserve our support.

So to all the people jumping off the bandwagon - we will recognize you by your limp -- best wishes.

To Tom, I hope you have a full recovery and are back soon and thanks for playing here in Boston. It has been a joy to watch you and the team you lead. It has taught my 3 sons a great deal about what a real team is. To Matt, best of luck and know you have my support. Give it 100% and you will be fine.

I feel bad for Brady. Even though the Jets have only beaten Brady twice since he arrived, it was always fun to watch the Jets take on him and the Patriots.

I agree with #391. Cassell has been in the system for three years and hasn't been cut. There is no question he knows the plays and the system. Hopefully he can execute but I'd rather give him a shot than start from scratch with someone else. Plus, QB is one position. The Patriots still have great coaches, strong talent, veteran leadership, and they believe that the team is stronger than the sum of its parts. Losing Brady is bad but I'm not calling the season just yet.

At least this season is over.

Brady was due for a career-ending injury. The whole series was climatic. Mighty Tom Brady stepping into a long pass to Moss, the Chief at his ankles making the most important hit this season....then Moss bumbling and fumbling...

Boston your days of victory are over. Enjoy the memories.

Frankly, none of you know what you are talking about. Players get hurt in every NFL game. Its physical and Bernard Pollard did not mean to hurt him. People get tackled below the knees on every play. Their is actually a name for it. Shoe string tackles. Obviously most of you writing have never played the sport of football.

To all the haters,

We Patriots fans have re-lived this day over and over every time Tom's gotten hit. We've died a thousand little deaths, so your little sarcastic comments don't mean a whole hell of a lot. The Patriots are a Boston team and we knew this was going to happen eventually, but the Patriots are strong at other positions and they will adapt like they always do. They're going to lose some, but to sit there and think that we are crying in our beer and all over our six rings, is pretty lame.

Lastly, Tom Brady makes the NFL better as a whole. Anyone who is happy that he could be out for the year is sadistic and no fan of football. I wouldn't wish this injury on any player...even Eli...well maybe Eli.

Any Pats fan who cries about this being a 'dirty hit' should be shot in the head. The pats pull more dirty antics and hits on the field than any other team. Tommy boy had this coming. It was well known throughout the league amongst any of us on any team's defense that had the score run up on us, that he was going to be punished this year. Your o line isnt able to protect him as they once were, so everyone knew there would be more opportunities this year than ever. I wish Tom could have seen all of the poorly suppressed half smiles when the news was broke to us. It was going to happen, it's just amazing that it happened so quickly. A torn ACL is much better than what most players had in mind for him. Now all we need is an option play to the sidelines right about where Bill is standing.

Any Pats fan who cries about this being a 'dirty hit' should be shot in the head. The pats pull more dirty antics and hits on the field than any other team. Tommy boy had this coming. It was well known throughout the league amongst any of us on any team's defense that had the score run up on us, that he was going to be punished this year. Your o line isnt able to protect him as they once were, so everyone knew there would be more opportunities this year than ever. I wish Tom could have seen all of the poorly suppressed half smiles when the news was broke to us. It was going to happen, it's just amazing that it happened so quickly. A torn ACL is much better than what most players had in mind for him. Now all we need is an option play to the sidelines right about where Bill is standing.

Ah so what. Let another team win this year. Victory is sweetest when defeat is the usual.
Karma strikes back. Leaving the baby mama while preggo for the Brazilian stuck up model just wasnt cool. Let jhim sit and chill with his son for a season.

Patriots are completely done this year. No false optimism. They might even play the role of gutsy underdogs and sneak into the playoffs but they are NOT making the Super Bowl this year and when you're a Patriots fan anything less than WINNING the Super Bowl is a wasted year. No moral victories. No silver linings. They had a very real chance of winning the Super Bowl this year. Old School Patriots Fans know that you can sometimes wait DECADES to even have a CHANCE to win the Super Bowl.

Ok, that's the negative. NOTHING good comes of this injury this year. However, if Cassell can perform reasonably well then we could trade him this off-season for a decent draft pick. Because we are going to be lucky to win 7-9 games now we will have better draft picks and we can start drafting more young linebackers and DB's. Finally, and this may be the most ironic part, Brady can completely rest his shoulder which has apparently never been quite right for a few years.

Scrambling was never a strength of Brady's game. It was his brain, his arm, his heart, his leadership and most importantly, his ability to pull Brazilian Super Models. Those will all still be there.

Super Bowl 2009 Favorites STILL New England Patriots. Super Bowl 2008 Champs about as "legitimate" as Paddy Harrington is as the PGA Champ without Tiger winning.

Patriots are completely done this year. No false optimism. They might even play the role of gutsy underdogs and sneak into the playoffs but they are NOT making the Super Bowl this year and when you're a Patriots fan anything less than WINNING the Super Bowl is a wasted year. No moral victories. No silver linings. They had a very real chance of winning the Super Bowl this year. Old School Patriots Fans know that you can sometimes wait DECADES to even have a CHANCE to win the Super Bowl.

Ok, that's the negative. NOTHING good comes of this injury this year. However, if Cassell can perform reasonably well then we could trade him this off-season for a decent draft pick. Because we are going to be lucky to win 7-9 games now we will have better draft picks and we can start drafting more young linebackers and DB's. Finally, and this may be the most ironic part, Brady can completely rest his shoulder which has apparently never been quite right for a few years.

Scrambling was never a strength of Brady's game. It was his brain, his arm, his heart, his leadership and most importantly, his ability to pull Brazilian Super Models. Those will all still be there.

Super Bowl 2009 Favorites STILL New England Patriots. Super Bowl 2008 Champs about as "legitimate" as Paddy Harrington is as the PGA Champ without Tiger winning.

That´s bad news for Patriots, for me as an Fantasy owner and for the NFL in general. The NFL lost their most important player. I doubt that we will see any hunt for records this year and this make´s watching football less interesting. I´m also sorry for the fans who hate the pats and call them cheaters, cause now they have no excuses left if they loose.
For the pats fans I have two words: Don´t panic!!!! The next three games will show how this´season develops: Jets, Fins, 49ers. These are all teams to beat and cances are good to come up with 3 W.
The target now is to reach the playoffs and then is everything possible. We all know that.
Best wishes to Tom.
Go Pats!!!

The real question is: Who will the Patriots miss more, Brady or the video tape crew?

I, like everyone else (Patriot haters not withstanding), am sick about the injury to Brady. I'm not naive enough to believe the Patriots will even be in the Super Bowl much less win it. I do, however, have a different take on how this season will actually play out.

I think they will finish 11-5, probably as a number 2 or 3 seed. People seem to forget that Moss and Welker are still healthy and the fact BB kept 5 RB's infers to me that the Pats may have been leaning toward a more run/screen option that would eventually lead to the deep chances downfield. Remember, defenses had slowed the offense down somewhat even last year toward the end of the season. Adjustments needed to be made. Who better to make those adjustments than that coaching staff?

We still have a pretty darned good defense in spite of the inexperience of some of the DB's. No better motivation for that unit than to suggest they can't do it. The entire team has played with a chip on their shoulder for years and that chip just got a little bigger.

Gone are the one-sided games of 52-10 and 49-28 but scores more in line with the 17-10 we saw last week will be the norm this year.

Let others sound the death knell for this team. They'll be far better and more competitive than a lot of naysayers believe.

Look....everyone needs to stop being so down and out about this. yes, I am bummed, but... we have the BEST coach in the NFL. we have many of the most talented players in the NFL and we're in the worst division in the NFL, and we have the easiest schedule in the NFL...so I think we really have a great chance of doing well this season. I think that the running backs have to step up big time, and Cassel has to work hard, but I think we'll do ok....We'll miss you Tommy, but we'll move on without you. Remember Belicheck's motto: No man is bigger than the team...yes, even Tom Brady.

Wow! The season is over? Does anyone remember 2001 and a no-name quarterback coming in for Bledsoe and leading his team to a Superbowl title. Would you rather have him out there...yes, but putting the success of the season on one guys shoulders on this team is absurd. I'm sure the other 52 guys in that locker room will use this as motivation, they'll be fine.

Look....everyone needs to stop being so down and out about this. yes, I am bummed, but... we have the BEST coach in the NFL. we have many of the most talented players in the NFL and we're in the worst division in the NFL, and we have the easiest schedule in the NFL...so I think we really have a great chance of doing well this season. I think that the running backs have to step up big time, and Cassel has to work hard, but I think we'll do ok....We'll miss you Tommy, but we'll move on without you. Remember Belicheck's motto: No man is bigger than the team...yes, even Tom Brady.

Tom Brady's season-ending knee injury is directly due to Eric Mangini. If Mr. Mangini had just kept his mouth shut the Patriots would have had videotape showing where Bernard Pollard was going to be on that play. Plain and simple, this should not have happened. Do Tom Brady and the effervescent Bill Belichick not deserve to have this kind of information. Dammit, can't we just rewind the tape and prevent this from happening?

Kevin in Honolulu, smiling all the way to the beach.

Anyone who believes that this season is over is not a True Patriots Fan.

I will be out there rooting for the Pats, no matter who's under center.

It's not about a QB, it's about a team. During last year's dominance, the
rest of this team carried Tom Brady and won despite some lackluster
performances.

Yes, Brady was God in many categories. But we don't need to win every game
by 21 points. GO PATS, Kick Jet *ss

Growing up in the Burgh and being a steeler fan all my life I still had alot of respect for the Pats. They always seem to put a hurting on us. I wish you all the best and good luck.

Hey Charlie, why don't you take your LOSING attitude and go root for some other team? This is where you separate the real Pats fans from the ones who only hang around when times are good. We don't need you fair weather pansies weighing down the bandwagon. Buh bye.

There are still 15 games left in the regular season. We should give the team and Cassell a chance. Everyone should stop crying and play the hand that we have been dealt. The Pats have given us great football for 7 straight years. We should support them through a tough time and stop whining.

does anyone out there have any confidence at all in the pats? give me a break with all of your pesamistic views. Yes, brady was the best QB, on the best offense ever. but without the sound blocking, precise routes, and a timely mixing of running he would not have been able to reach such a high level last year. Also, many of the balls Moss caught were not so much the throw, but rather the catch that had everyone tripping over their toungue. and let us not forget, that for the longest time, Mr. brady never broke 30 TD's in one season. When a QB is sourrounded by such an outstanding group of players, he doesn't have to be superman. He just cannot be superdud. Cassell proved that given time he can make decent decisions and put the ball where it needs to be. The NFL is a league based on parody and now, the Pats are level with everyone. If the denfense steps up, and Sammy and maroney run hard, cassell can throw 1-2 TD'S per week we have a shot. also, if i were going to pick a time of year for this to happen this is the best possible. Imagine if brady led them to 16-0 then got hurt in the first game of the playoffs. you want cassell getting his feet wet then? he knows the offense, he now has the best QB in the league coaching him. he has a whole season to get ready for the ultimate goal, the playoffs. GO PATS

To say the season is over is so far from the truth. The Pats still have the best coach, the best receiver and a slew of other great players. I believe the Patriots still have a great shot at making the playoffs and I'm sure the coaching staff is going to do everything they can to play to Cassell's strengths.

Come on New England fans, If your a real fan you will stand behind the team and Matt Cassel If you bow out you were never a TRUE NEW ENGLAND FAN

I don't give up the 08 season. I think the Pats have a strong team together and Cassell will make a huge step forward and win games and make big plays!

Other question? IR means out for the reagular season right? If the Pats reach the playoffs brady could come back and play in january, right? An torn ACL means about 3 month of rehab. 3 month from now is mid december...

To all you pessimist's out there, I hope the long fall off the Tobin Bridge kills you before you hit the water.

Why don't you wait to see how things go with Cassel before you write the whole season off. He knows the play book better than anyone else they could bring in, and the last time I checked, Bill Belichick was still the head coach. Pats will still go 12-4 and win the AFC East...and Cassel will prove all the critics (and idiot fans) wrong.

We all new at some point that Brady would not be there, now is the time to get behind the new Quarter Back and the Team and give them the same support. If Belichic is the coach everyone says he is then there is no reason they should not have a winning season, maybe not the Super Bowl, but they can build on it and they have no choice. Would be a good show of confidence for Matt Cassel if all the fans stood up and cheered when he comes out at the next home game.

Here's my $.02
I can't believe the hypocritical media (you know, the guys that do the pre/post game shows - including the most useless of commentators, i.e. Bettis, Sharpe, Simms, etc.) who, last year were all chastising Brady & the Pats for "running" up the scores, or what the Patriots called playing 60min; are now rallying around Brady singing the most wonderful of praises for him - what a bunch of crap.

PS - Thank God for Gil & Gino for calling the game the way I like to hear it as a Pats fan and not the networks biased commentators who I put on mute.

ANYONE WHO IS GIVING UP ON THE PATS RIGHT NOW IS A LOSER....NOT A FAN!!

No reason to think this season is a wash. Same players, same D. Get Moss and Welker the ball and keep the wins coming. Looks like we found a way to become underdogs again.

No reason to think this season is a wash. Same players, same D. Get Moss and Welker the ball and keep the wins coming. Looks like we found a way to become underdogs again.

WE ARE THE PATRIOTS , WE WONT GIVE IN , WE WILL WIN THE DIVISION INSPITE OF ALL YOU DOOM AND GLOOMERS. JUST REMEMBER TO VOTE OUT THE STATE PAYROLL TAX ON NOV. 4TH WE HAVE ELECTRIC REGULATORS MAKING 700,000 A YEAR THE DEMOCRATS ARE OUT OF CONTROL ON SPENDING AND THEYARE STEALING.

Couldn't have happened to a better team. No more smug, classless Pats fans, and no more Belichick running up the score in the fourth quarter to stroke his ego and pad the record books. No more floating through the easiest schedule in the NFL for the past two seasons. I hope they go 1-15.

If you're giving up on them now You are a Bandwagon fan, You are a Pink Hat, You are the people that the rest of us make fun of and the rest of the country despises. You have no heart, you have no faith, you only started being a fan after it became "cool". Well good, go away, go cheer on the Sox and get ready for the Celtics since they're still hot commodities. The rest of us will gladly close the ranks and fill in the gaps left by the non-believers and trend setters. Cassell doesn't need to be superman for this team to be successful. And when they're playing in January, don't expect to be able to come crawling back to the bandwagon without being mocked and ridiculed. Good Riddance. GO PATS!

Depending on Moss and Welker and Maroney? Are you kidding me? Moss is a great player but he's never won the big one. He can't carry this team.

To All Pats Fans:

I hope you got to see a little bit of the second Monday night game last night. The way the Raiders look will be what you see from your beloved Patriots the rest of the season. I hope you go below 500 this season!!

it was awsome watching him squirm on the field. hope you choke on your scrod while watching from Giselle's house

To all the Steeler fans:
I think I jsut saw someone blame a phantom holding call as the reason they lost to Jacksonville last year.....HAHAHA and you want Patriot fans to stop crying?
The simple fact is, you all say the Patriots should suck it up, its only one player. Your team was doing fine last year until Willie Parker got hurt. Then you went into the tank. How many playoff games did the Steelers win last year? We all know the answer to that.
Now you talk about Steeler fans being "real" fans. Where were all of you in the 80's and early 90's? Did you all stand behind Kordell Stewart when he/the Steelers sucked? Nope....so if you want to talk fair weather fans....lets talk about those lame @$$ "terrible towels"...come on now? And since Pitt is such a great sports town.....whats the deal with the Pirates? Its funny, when Jason Bay came here, all he could talk about was the fans all over the country who followed the Sox, and how quiet it was when he played for the Pirates....hmmmm.....are Steeler fans as dedicated when their team sucks? Doubt it.

NOW THE REAL QUESTION IS?????
WHERE WERE ALL YOU TRASH TALKING STEELER AND JETS FANS WHEN THE PATS WERE BEATING YOU UP AND TAKING YOUR LUNCH MONEY??

Nowhere.......you are like that kid at school who gets picked on by the big bully every day, then when the bully moves on to high school, you go kick sand in the face of the first graders.......WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN THE PATRIOTS BEAT YOU WITHOUT TOM BRADY? My guess is you wont have the guts to come on here and comment.....just like all the haters last year who said the Patriots would suck now that they were exposed as "cheaters"...WHAT HAPPENED THEN??
then went on to go 18-1.....WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THE STEELERS OR THE JETS WENT 18-1??? Try never.
You guys have nothing.......I would be pissed too if I had to live in Pittsburg....what an ugly @$$ place to live.....go to a Pirates game people!

Well, well, well Belichick ain't karma a b..... All the FU TD's, running up scores, showing up other teams, f-ing with the injury report... which is the ultimate irony, the only week Belichick doesn't put Brady on the injury report , this happens. I feel bad for the real Patriots fans not you bandwagon jumping arse bags and of course I feel bad for is Brady. I hope the surgery goes well and he back to being the best QB in the NFL soon.

Where are all the Wilfork defenders, now? Punks, you're in the front of the suspend Pollard line.

As for that dooooosche Belichick, let's see how great the coaching genius is without Brady, lets see how much of a team player Moss is without Brady. When you sleep with dogs you wake up with fleas.

The Patriots won't make it to the Superbowl but they might get to the playoffs. Patriots will the spoilers for a change. Patriots will give teams nightmares in the playoffs. Patriots are still a talented team with Moss and Welker, great running backs, and a great defense. The Patriots will have to become a running team this year. 2008 is a wasted year. It's too bad since the Patriots are favored to win the Superbowl this year. They will not have the talented roster in 2009. All from a dirty play.

The Patriots won't make it to the Superbowl but they might get to the playoffs. Patriots will the spoilers for a change. Patriots will give teams nightmares in the playoffs. Patriots are still a talented team with Moss and Welker, great running backs, and a great defense. The Patriots will have to become a running team this year. 2008 is a wasted year. It's too bad since the Patriots are favored to win the Superbowl this year. They will not have the talented roster in 2009. All from a dirty play.
Visit this website: www.sports--today.blogspot.com

One man does not make a team. When Bledsoe went down, Brady stepped in to fill his shoes. Cassel or someone else will be filling Brady's shoes. But quarterback is just one position on the team, and a team has everyone doing his job. Maybe it's Brady alone that makes this a great team, and without him it could still be a very good team. Time will tell. I've been a fan for over 40 years, and I'm not jumping off the bandwagon yet.

One man does not make a team. When Bledsoe went down, Brady stepped in to fill his shoes. Cassel or someone else will be filling Brady's shoes. But quarterback is just one position on the team, and a team has everyone doing his job. Maybe it's Brady alone that makes this a great team, and without him it could still be a very good team. Time will tell. I've been a fan for over 40 years, and I'm not jumping off the bandwagon yet.

How 'bout them Red Sox???

How 'bout them Red Sox???

How will the Pats do without Brady this year? Who knows. Guarded optimism goes against complete pessimism. Whatever, the Pats will play out their fate. As for their fans? Real fans? Support the team. That's what being a real fan is all about.

Cheaters never win, Winners never cheat.
Karma is catching up?

don't mind the haters, people. we all know what it's like to be jealous of another team's success (i.e. the Yankees pre-2001), and we'd probably be swarming the Colts message boards if this happened to Peyton anytime in the past few years. but hey, i'll take three rings (practically 4) in the past 7 years with Brady at the helm. we all know how dominant this team has been, so now he's out for the year and they won't be as dominant. big deal. injuries happen in this game. i'll expect a strong playoff team this year and who knows what Cassell will do.

keep on hating, haters! we all know the score!

Is Jake Plummer available?

I just love how other teams are NOW AS good as the Patriots. That is how good the Pats are. I still think 10-11 wins out of this team is reasonable. A play off berth will be a great season.

Sorry Guys, Brady was hurt, even before preseason. A non football related injury maybe? Horsing around in the weight or locker room, surfing maybe?
If you buy this one, You're dumber then than the idiots who are the perpatraitors.
Have a nice season!

To Steven:

Willie Parker, Willie Parker, Willie Parker....We get it to dude...He got hurt!! Do you have any other points...The Pirates...Good One!! Haven't heard about that for the last 16 years...Where were you when your teams sucked ass for like a 100 years...You get a couple of Championships and all of a sudden New England fans get all high and mighty...Remember who the first and only City of Champions are...

I sit hear and smile...you know why? Because deep down inside you are nervous that your squad will have one of the worst records in history after a super bowl appearance...I actually think I heard the whole New England area weeping on Sunday afternoon...

All these fans saying you will win 9 games, we will be 10-6, we will win our division. You beat the Chiefs 17-10...17-10...17-10!!! You are not a contender without Brady!!! Your D Fense is a group of guys who just filed for Medicare...Moss will be back to bitching about his QB around week 4...Your season is done!!

Let me know your address and I will send you a terrible towel for the game in Foxboro...

Only a fool would think that Cassel will lead the Pats to the "promised land." One moment Brady is being hailed as possibly the greatest QB of all time, the next he is out of action, and a sub that stinks up the field during the last 4 years of preseason will pick up where Brady left off!! With a decent back-up maybe the Pats would get by with some wins, but the Pats will not be playing KC every week!
KC is horrible!! And what happens if Cassel gets knocked out?

Attended the Pat's game on Sunday and saw TB get hurt. Afterwards, with only two exceptions, Cassell made all the throws that he needed to make. I wasn't thrilled with his ball-handling/handoffs and there were times this may have put the run game off-sync. Cassell will not have the same field processing skill/speed that TB possess. Who does? Its a short list that begins and ends with Peyton. That being said, we will see how long Cassell can stay on a positive growth curve. It is possible he will continue to improve as the season goes on.

I am expecting the Pat's to run the ball down people's throats with Maroney, Morris and Lamont Jordan, throw off of play action, take advantage of Cassell's mobility to move the pocket and give him a bit more read time. Sammy Morris/Kevin Faulk will rip up the Jets on blitzs where Cassell has a relief outlets setup with blocks. Keep underestimating us folks and come in hyper aggressive. LaMont/Maroney will break at least one play each on a delay draw on longish yardage.

Jets looked fairly lame against Miami, barely beating them despite 5 countem 5 'Fins turnovers. Somehow I don't think Hobbs and O'Neil will let the Jets have a TD at the goalline on a total Favre flutterball. Pennington put 251 on the Jets throwing to who???

Pats 24 Jets 14

I have not seen mention of this point that struck me today. Yes Brady is unable to play any game time but what about having him on the sideline? Brady is obviously one of the main leaders of this team, and to have him on the sideline during gametime, would give a boost to other players, he could help Cassel make better decisions during the game, heck even help Belicheck with play calling. Brady is one of the best in the NFL at reading defences and although he would not be able to do it from behind centre, I'm sure having Brady on the sideline would help. I bet it would even make the opposition think when they see him standing next to Belicheck on the sidleine calling plays.

Is this possible or because he is on IR is he banned from the sidelines.
Would Brady want to do this?

Mike can you please advise

My apologies to the entire Patriots team on behalf of the fools who seem to think the Pat"s team consist of no one else other than Tom Brady. While I sympathize with Tom's injury, there is a good, solid team behind him and they deserve some recognition in the news and some attention for their efforts and hard work. Not only is there no "I" in team, there is no way a "star" team member gets there all by themselves. Thank you and best of luck to the Patriots, we know you'll do a great job this season and I look forward to watching!

What do any of us know? I checked thebetting line this AM, and what do you see? The Pats are a 3 point favorite over the Jets (in NY) next week! Go figure!

i love the people that argue that it was illegal purely based on because it was below the knees. so tackling by the ankles isnt legal anymore? defenders aren't trained to fully get up and then resume playing football. if you can't tackle on the ankles/back of the legs, how are you supposed to track down a ball carrier from behind? i know that this was a db on qb tackle so pollard could outrun brady, but you can't make situational rules..i.e. only a slow defensive line player can make ankle tackles on a wide receiver, etc.
i also read somewhere that pollard "intentionally chop blocked sammy morris," then blatantly injured brady. according to that person, i;m sure pollard knew that he would have enough time to go through morris and do so before brady released the ball. that's one of the dumbest conspiracy theories i have ever heard.

It's just heartbreaking.

All good things come to an end. I hope Tom heals well and is back and strong next year. Whatever happens, the Pats will still be remembered as the team of the decade for 2001-2009. As for QB this season, let's give Cassel a chance; personally I don't think he can take the team to the playoffs, I think we need a better arm back there. The Pats will make a move in that direction by game 5 if they think they need to pull the trigger. Culpepper? Why not? Good luck Pats! (I've been a Pats fan since 1960 so I'm with them if they win 16 or if they win 1).

the injury is a terrible tragedy, but i believe it was accidental. as a defensive line coach for many years, you tell the players to keep playing until the whistle blows. when you see a player with the ball, your instinct is to take them down immediately, not to hit a player in specific area. if only the general public knew what happens on a regular basis between the offensive and defensive lines, then this would not even be considered dirty.

Time for QB/Owner Joe Pendleton in "Heaven Can Wait":

Robert Kraft as Warren Beatty
Gisele as Julie Christie
Dante Scarnecchia as Jack Warden
Gene Upshaw as James Mason
Leo DiCaprio as Charles Grodin
Myra Kraft as Dyan Cannon

Now we'll find out who the real patriots fans are..... Bandwagoners please exit right. Go Pats, Go Cassell, lets prove everybody wrong...

AFC Stadings after the Season
Jets- 12-4
Bills- 9-7
Miami- 6-10
Pats- 3-13

Enjoy you cheating bastards.
J E T S JETS JETS JETS

DEJA VU BLEDSOE WHEN DOWN BRADY TOOK OVER! WHO SAYS LIGHTING CAN'T STRIKE TWICE! AS LONG AS BELICHICK IC IS CALLING THE SHOTS THIS TEAM IS STILL A CONTENDER!

To the haters, may God reward you according to your deeds.

All you Pats homers give me a pain. Clearly it was a play that happens in football, not a dirty play. But I don't recall any of you demanding Vince Woolfork be suspended for his obvious cheap shot on JP Losman last year. I wasn't rooting for him to be hurt, thats wrong, but this and the Giants miracle victory in the SuperBowl are cosmic payback for for the Patriots cheating(YES CHEATING) and the arrogance of their owner and coach. Yeah, run up the score Belichick. Ahead by 30 in the 4th quarter, throw the bomb. Disrespect your opponent.. Don't bother to congratulate the winning coach in the Super Bowl, even tho they do after you've disrespected them. Pats had it coming. Payback's a b****.

When Bledsoe went down after a great run, this kid named Brady got his chance to emerge from behind the clipboard. Bill kept him because he saw something that we didn't. He started by dunking short stuff over the line, the kind of throws that anyone could make. The ability to throw the long ball didn't come for a few years and after 2 Superbowl wins.

The difference was what he learned while helping run the offense; what was in his head. Given Bill's record, I think that there is a very good chance that we are in for a very exciting season.

To the haters, may God reward you according to your deeds.

With a schedule this easy. I could play quarterback and make the playoffs. Lighten up pats fans nothings over yet!!!

Where is the Audio of Brady screaming , I want that as my RingTone

With all the media-biased BS that went down last year, or should I say the 'witch hunt', my passion for the game as a whole is gone. The media et. al. succeeded. They broke me. They ruined it for me. They raked our team and us over the coals relentlessly. And for what? So they could feel better about being losers and underachievers? It makes no sense.

*shoulder shrug* So, I don't care anymore what happens. I hated hearing it happened but must admit that with Brady out for the season, it makes being ambivalent much easier. :( Best wishes on a speedy recovery, nonetheless, Tom.

PS I'm not a 'bandwagon' fan either. I've followed and adored the Patriots since 1990. But I just can't allow myself to 'care' the way I did before. I have to say for the first time in 18 years I don't care if I ever watch a pro football game. :(

Greetings from Perfectville.

To Joe (comment #473). I may be ambivalent now but you are straight up an ***hole.

Great players with alot of heart. Proven great coach and owner. Lost the great quarterback but Cassel will do fine. The challenge wil be bigger without #12 obviously, but the PATS are champions and will play like they are.

It is scary to read how many sick and mean people there are out there.

To Ben MacGowen:

God's reward for being cheaters: GIANTS win superbowl

God's reward for Brady being a lousy boyfriend and Dad: One good knee

God's reward for Belicheat cheating on his wife: A losing season!!!!!!!

Sounds like God does reward according to your deeds!!!

Position by position and with the all-for-all team ethic, the Patriots STILL have an overpowering team with few holes. Given the gaping hole at quaterback, I think Cassell should be given a solid opportunity to lead and to benefit from the other team members pitching in to help make him and the whole team win and look good doing it. Yet, with Cassell as starter, we need a (seasoned) back up quarterback, who can work with the Patriot schemes. For this person, I will dig deep and throw long...let's go to the grey haired guys...Doug Flutie (he's always in-shape and ready), Vinnie T or (guess who?) Drew Bledsoe. Culpepper, etc are too much run-and-gun, me-me-me guys.

Steeler fan:
The whole bandwaggon fan thing wont work on me, try someone else. I can name any starting player on any roster since 1977 (the year I started following sports) for the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics (not really a hockey fan, but I am more than a casual observer). My family owned season tickets to the Red Sox for years until the prices kept going up to the point where we had to give up our rights to them.
Medicare for the defense? I quote "get a clue haters" on this age spread of the Patriots Defense.....
Defense is old??? Ty Warren - 27. Richard Seymour - 28 (29 on 10/6). Vince Wilfork - 27. Jerod Mayo - 22. Tedy Bruschi - 35 (there's 1). Mike Vrabel - 33 (numero 2). Adalius Thomas - 31 (borderline, we'll say 3). Ellis Hobbs - 25. Terrence Wheatley - 23. Rodney Harrison - 35 (36 on 12/16, that'd be 4). James Sanders - 24 (25 on 11/11). So of the 11 starters, 4 are over 30
Lets not forget second year man Merriweather backing up (and playing close to 50% of the snaps).....rookie outside linebacker Crable....rookie corner Wilhite....do I need to go on? GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH!
I know why you guys have those terrible towels too.....so you can whipe your eyes after every loss to the Patriots.....on that same note.....in this decade, what is the Steelers record against the Patriots? How many AFC Championships have they lost to the Pats? That "historic" 15-1 season they had in 2004? LOST THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP to the Pats....in Pittsburg, 41-27....ouch..and the game wasnt even that close...
Need more recent examples of how the Pats OWN the Steelers? Last year.....34-13.....ouch 34-13???
I wish I could say that the Patriots beat the Steelers AGAIN in the AFC Championship game....but alas...the Steelers never got there.
So you can jump up and down all you want about Brady getting hurt, because we all know that was the ONLY way you would get back to the Super Bowl...and even still the Patriots are a more talented team..so dont even count on it then....Lets face it...New England OWNS Pittsburg.......and until you the Squeelers actually beat the Pats....it will remain that way.

I can't understand the many cruel posts here filled with hatred toward Tom Brady. Get a life, LOSERS

well dante culpepper is still up for grabs, he can pull a favre and unretire and play for the pats, granted he isnt the most accurate but who needs accuracy when you have the fastest reciever on the field ahem randy moss

BRING BACK BLEDSOE

Hi Mike,

Please note, when you broke down each position during Training Camp, you'll recall seeing my post that states we are on borrowed time with Brady and how we had better address the backup QB situation right now. Yep, that was me. I've been saying it for years. It is the nature of the position. Now, I can offer something besides I told you so, by the way, I did tell you all.

Now, to fix things as best we can. Who is available that is better than Cassell? The answer. Bledsoe. Believe it or not, he is better, therefore sign him. This would be a one year deal. He can ride off into the sunset a hero again. Trust me. I was right about Brady getting hurt. All of you who posted just kept blowing sunshine about the backups. So foolish.

Jets "fans" are so classy aren't they? Can't wait til the Pats crush them Sunday.

I used to live in New Jersey. Now I live in Vermont. I love the Patriots. Totally. They will rise above this set back. As much as I love Brady, I am confident that Belichick will "find a way" to get through the season. All I pray for is that Brady will recover and return next year and somehow we will survive and players will rise to meet the challenge of a season without their leader QB. I was never a fan a the Giants or the Jets. let me make one thing clear: The Jets fans have a bad reputation for being disruptive, obnoxious and well, just plain intoxicated A-holes. I hope we kick their butts! Mangini is a traitor and a rat!

Can any of you bitter, loser team fans on the "cheaters" bandwagon explain HOW the Patriots supposedly cheated? None of the so-called "experts" on ESPN or other sports networks could. Have any of you losers even considered the logistics of how supposedly filming defensive signals could be turned into an in-game advantage? How long would it take to study and analyze film and/or pictures of a team's defensive signals, and then brief the offensive play callers? Hmmm? And what happens if a team changes their defensive signals at the half? Or from quarter to quarter? Or from game to game? Or employs one or more decoy signal callers? What good is your supposed film of their signals then? Anybody? Anybody? Hmmm? You say they cheated but NONE of you retards can explain how!!! You people are just bitter because the Patriots have been the most successful franchise in the NFL for the last 10 years while your loser team has SUCKED. Success breeds contempt.

Newsflash!!!

Pats trade 09 1st round pick to Cleveland for Brady Quinn!

To Steven:

Steeler fan that has been jumping up and down since 1:20pm Sunday...

Tom Brady: jumping up and down until roughly 1:18pm Sunday, after that not as much jumping, as just being down.

Also I'm so impressed that you can look up the DOBs of your starting D Fense, maybe you should try looking up how to spell PITTSBURGH.

I looked up how to spell New England: CHEATERS!!!!

Who cares what a Jets fan says? In fact, I put no credence into what any NY sports fan says. With the Yankees, Mets, Jets, Giants, Bills, Nets, and Knicks...they don't know what loyalty is. One falls they root for the other, yeah for them.

As for Bledsoe talk, give me a break. He's done. He couldn't move around in the pocket four years ago and being out of football has remedied that? And to tremendous_upside; if you say anything "for years" it's bound to come true. So, congrats, you've been a withering, spineless fan for years. Here's your sign.

All of a sudden all you people know better than Belichick and Pioli who can play under center for this team??? Were you all the same people saying Bledsoe should've gotten his job back in '01? Let the PAID PROFESSIONALS do their job. As a fan, it's somewhat expected to second guess, but these guys have proven time and time again they know better than us. Nobody wanted to see Law go...or Lawyer...or Drew...or the countless other players they let drift and proved them right every...single...time.

For one, I'm glad the media is who they are. Trust me, I loathe most media, but people seem to be forgetting how close Brady and the Coach are. Brady can sit back, have Gisele spoon feed him, get his knee, fot, ankle, shoulder healthy, and get his head back on straight. And listen while all of these pundits question the Coach. Question the talent of this team. If anyone thought he'd lost that chip on his shoulder...well, it'll be back next year, on route to a possible 60 TDs just to shove it in everyone's face, and be the only one to really say "I Told You So...FUCKERS!!!"

Stop your whining. The defense let up 10 points. Pats can win enough for playoffs. Then anything is possible. It's freaking football. Harrison may have lost a step but he still had 14 tackles. Cassell doesn't need to be Brady. Just hit the stuff he is supposed to hit and occasionally throw downfield. It's up to the o-line and the defense.

I cant believe the media counting the team out of the picture because injury to one player. There are 53 roster spots not 1. Brady is a great QB but if you look at the past years berfore Brady was Elite we still won games, playoffs and Superbowls. Toms season last year was the best becasue of the tools around him. Dont forget we have one of the top ranked Defences, Special teams , OLines and tthe best recieving core in the league. The Pats have very good RB corps w/ Depth. I think that if you put any decent QB with the tools that the Pats have they will have a good season. Its not like Cassel is throwing to the 2006 Recievers. Bradys success last year was only because of those recievers. Matt Cassel Knows the Pats System and has had tom as his mentor for 4 years. He did really well on short notice agianst K.C. after the gameplan was made for Brady. This week the team can prepare t6o have Matt as the QB at make the offence work for his strengths. He will also get 95 % of the snaps in practice instead of 5%. Im also sick of hearing that the Patriots hurt themselves by not having a good backup QB. There arnt that many good starters in the league let alone good Backups at dispossel. The PAtriots have always been counted out everytime somthing happens or someone gets hurt. We always Surprice and use that as motivation.We still have one of the best all around teams in the NFL and one of the most Balanced. Cassel is the Backup for a reason and I trust Bill and Piollie and they are the best in the league in finding talent that other teams overlook . They are the best Scouts in the NFL for finding Players. I have faith in the Pats and we still are contenders. We have been the team that we are this decade because of the Pats System. I really think we will win 10-12 games this season and make a good playoff run. I hope the media still talks crap because they will be giving the team so much motivation.

bill belichick deserves this

So this is what the Obamanians are going to feel like after their messiah fails to get elected.

I don't think it was an intentional cheap shot, but I do think it could have deserved a fine.

This season's not over people; the level of difficulty surely went up, but if any team can over come the loss of a league MVP, it's the Pats. So wipe off the tears, get your chins up, and rally around Matt and the rest of the team.

All i hear is WAAAA!!!!!
I am a proud Yankee Fan and will Never root for the mets, only if god fordib they play the SUX on the WS, which thats not happening.
I am a true Jets fan and rooted for the Giants to beat the pats in the SB to make that team 18 and 1 Giant Loss.
You might have your stupid " REDSOX NATION, We Have the Yankee Universe

To No. 491: Great sig, except there ain't no God. Closest thing, though, is Belichick.

Take it easy Patriot nation, things are not as bleak as they might appear. The management team of the Pats have proven quite capable of putting together a roster of players capable of winning football games in the NFL. Granted, the Pats are not as good without Brady, but they drafted Cassel for a reason, and made him the backup for a reason. I trust in Bill and Scott! Even though the Patriots will no longer be 2 touchdown favorites each week, this team will respond and rally together to make a serious run. Make the tournament and then take your chances because in the tournament, anything can happen. Don't jump off the Tobin Bridge just yet. Let's get behind these guys and see what they can accomplish. How sweet would it be to keep on winning and shove that down the throats of all the Patriot haters out there? GO PATS!!!

To No. 494- Haha
Count up the championships since the millenium there buddy. Yankees are on the brink of fallin behind the Blue Jays. Not to mention, you're here bashing Boston when last weekend, your Jets had a sub-par performance against the 1-15 Dolphins. Think before you speak. Win a super bowl soon and then you can talk. Patriots will beat the Jets easily this weekend and the Patriots will be just fine with still the most talented team in the NFL.

To No. 494- Haha
Count up the championships since the millenium there buddy. Yankees are on the brink of fallin behind the Blue Jays. Not to mention, you're here bashing Boston when last weekend, your Jets had a sub-par performance against the 1-15 Dolphins. Think before you speak. Win a super bowl soon and then you can talk. Patriots will beat the Jets easily this weekend and the Patriots will be just fine with still the most talented team in the NFL.

I love this shit. Being the underdog again is awesome. Granted, Tom Brady is the best player in the Nfl, I believe the Patriots are going to do fine. To all you Jets fans, get over yourselves, Im more worried about Buffalo than i am about the Jets the patriots will go 12-4 (at worst) and slide right into the playoffs as AFC East champs(yet again). with a super bowl hungry WR in Moss, theres no tellin where the pats can go. this may sound optimistic, but at 20-1 odds, I still think the pats are super bowl contenders. they have the best offensive and defensive lines in the league. Top 5 wideouts, depth at RB and most importantly EXPERIENCE IN THE BIG GAME...i cant wait to watch the jets go 6-10 and the pats hoist up their 4th Super Bowl Title. How sweet it will be....

To No. 491: Great sig, except there ain't no God. Closest thing, though, is Belichick.

So many Hatriots are loving the fact that Tom is down, the sad reality is that none of them know what is like to be a true Patriot. We don't turn our backs on our boys. We are all in this together, Boston fans never give up. Hang in there Tom, most of us want a speedy recovery. And for those angry Fins fans well they lost again didn't they?

"Boo hoo hoo.... What goes around comes around... Not only are you guys known as cheaters....do you not have a dirty player on your team named Wilfork who has been fined for similar incidents??? I seem to remember him taking out Losman's knee against us and getting fined for it. Seems like poetic justice to me for the horseshoe you guys have had up your ass for the past years! Welcome to mediocrity you losers....
Posted by Buffalo Gal September 8, 08 09:45 AM"

Huh? What? Losers? Last time I checked, the Patriots had just recorded their 20th regular season win! We're not finished yet! Patriots just got started. SO... now instead of going 16-0, we MIGHT lose 2 games and go 14-2. Buffalo seems to have improved dramatically, but, you're still not even in the same league as New England. Bend over Buffalo Gal, we've got something especially for you...

In response to Post # 491:

"bill belichick deserves this"
"Posted by God September 9, 08 04:15 PM"

Thank you God !!
.... For the opportunity to prove to the rest of the NFL how truly resilient, amazing and powerful you have allowed the Patriots to become. We will move forward with what you have given us. Matt Cassel is more ready than ever. The team is more ready than ever.
Thanks again God!
I do deserve this,
Bill Belichick

How sad poor golden boy and poor boston. Now you can wipe your tears with your little blanky that you use when it's cold. You guys haven't won anything in 4 years and now your going with matt cassel. What a joke! News flash you were the best team, now your not. This isn't 01 and the tapes are gone. Some how I don't feel bad.

# 427 I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt this time. Just because I'm stating the obvious that the Patriots chance of wining or even making the Super Bowl this year does NOT mean I am a bandwagon fan. Give me a break I remember rooting for the Patriots back to the infamous Snow Plow game. I remember wondering if Hugh Millen could get us a few wins, so disagree with my belief that the Patriots can win it all this year but that does NOT mean I am a fairweather fan. I love 3 Boston sports teams win or lose: Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox. Unlike many Boston fans, I lived and died with the Celtics during the Sherman Douglas Acie Earl days and I remember suffering through the Rod Rust and Dick MacPherson days with the Patriots.

I never stop ROOTING for my team but for me to pretend like the Celtics had a chance of winning the title a couple of years ago or for me to pretend the Patriots will win it all with Matt Casell leading the way this year basically gives my opinions about what I THINK will happen NOT what I WANT to happen absolutely no credibility. I'm just another loud-mouthed blogger who thinks by screaming the loudest he "won" the argument. I am definitely rooting for the Patriots to go as far as they can but I'm also going to call it as I see it. Believe I want to be wrong!

Here's a question. What has happened to the education system in this country? Some people here are making sense, but so many other people here cannot spell, write a complete sentence, or even complete a cogent thought. Forget the future of the Patriots and worrying about whether Matt Cassel can read defenses, it looks like we've got some Cro-Magnons here that can't even read basic English.

Nice to see this injury has brought out all of the IDIOT New Yorkers...

Let's see what happens in the Jets game! Belichick has a losing record without Brady as QB. Same with Francoma, he comes to a team with 7 all-stars and "red sox nation" starts putting him in the hall of fame for bringing some championships. It's the Pats players & Sox players that win the games. The great catches and good hitting aren't done by Francoma who sits there spitting seeds everywhere for 3 hours.

The defense has to step up and be like they were in the 2003 season. The defense must be the unit to carry this team and go back to their "bend but don't break" mentality. Otherwise, you risk putting too much pressure on the offense and, specifically, Matt Cassel. Now, on offense, a lot of pressure no falls on the O-line. Not only must the O-line give Matt good protection but more importantly, they must open up holes for the running backs to gain more than 3 yards per carry. Since you don't have Tom's arm anymore, you have to rely on the running game a lot more. If they do this, then I think they can go all of the way.

Don't worry, New England.

I am still on the payroll.

Same here.

Question is will tom come back in the PLAYOFFS>? HOPES ARE STILL UP !!!

461 - tackling the QB below the knees is illegal... ever since Palmer went down. So your rant is a little uneducated. I don't believe however it was intentional, and really don't care if he gets fined or not because it has no affect on the Pats, it was technically an illegal tackle. Suspension isn't justified.

512 - no, if Tom is officially on the IR, then he can't play in the playoffs.

Stil hopes to be an exciting season. I'm not going to make any claims that Cassel is the next Brady, but I am a bit excited to see what he can do. To all the people who say he's awful... how do you know? you don't, no one does, he's never started an NFL game. Could be a case of opportunity meets preperation... we shall see (can't believe I'm taking lines from Tiki).

GOT PATS!!

Nothing says Superbowl like a bunch of pissed off Pats and the stupid comments other teams fans make.Have you people not learned a thing?The more you criticize and put them down and say they cannot do something...they do!Bill put these comments on your bulletin board.We are still behind you.....Go Pats! Go Matt and Wes, Randy, Tedi, Mike.....etc.We are still the team to beat!

Nothing says Superbowl like a bunch of pissed off Pats and the stupid comments other teams fans make.Have you people not learned a thing?The more you criticize and put them down and say they cannot do something...they do!Bill put these comments on your bulletin board.We are still behind you.....Go Pats! Go Matt and Wes, Randy, Tedi, Mike.....etc.We are still the team to beat!

steeler fans are here sayin wipe ur tears..i think that pussy cowher was on the commercial crying..so shut ur pieholes

jets 37 pats 14

OK so everyone posts about how they are cheaters and they deserved this to happen to them? Do you really think that they are the only team that has ever tapped a game NO!!! Even if they were the first was it TB that was the camera man, I think not he was on the feild ripping up some poor defensless defense. Also even if you think karma is getting back at them don't you think the karma has already done enough I mean does nobody remember FEB. 3 when the giants stole some rings?? Seriously its the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Also Pollard should not be penelized he accidently hurt TB (Tom is my favorite so don't say I'm being biasd) He was falling to the ground and he happened to turn the broken blitz into a sack, not his fault he took him out for the season, not at all.

One more thing I think Bill should have picked up Favre when he was floating around after the whole "I'm not finished" thing. Now I think they should set their sites on Penington I mean where did he go after Favre took over? I think Pennington would be a wise choice if they can't get him I think they should try to take Duante out of retirment or maybe even pick up the free agent (if he still is free) Brooks Bollinger (spell check)

haha Patriots were nice but now they are falling down hill but who cares im a steeler fan

Pennington is the quarter back for the dolphins now Joe... also i dont think that we should give up hope for this season at all. I mean the Giants beat the Pats with and average team in the last super bowl.(Im not saying that the Pats are average, im just saying that they obviously arent AS good without Tom Brady) And also, since when does one player getting injured change the whole outcome of the season, i know that its the quarter back and Tom is easily ONE of the best ever, but i mean the Pats still have a spectacular team, on both sides of the ball, Pats fans should deffinitly not loss hope yet... And also for all the people that said that the Pats suck and that they are going to have a lossing record this season, im pretty sure that the record is 3-1 so far.... um... not exactly below .500....

Yes we all know that Tom Brady's injury is sad but we will also find out how important he is to the patriots and how they will do with out him. Know won't we?

we all are looking forward to have tom back
but look at this year with cassel and we will find out the the patriots are the best team

Tom Brady is truly the best quarterback in the NFL, we all know that. I was beside myself when he got hurt and when they took him out for the season, well that was devastating!!!!! He is in my thoughts and prayers. I am optimistic that he will return for the 2009 season, god knows they need him.Watching football is not the same without the "golden boy"!!! I am hopin the pats can pull it out this season, but without brady I am not sure that is possible. Matt Cassle, well , we'll just say he has some big shoes to fill.

yo tom brady is the bomb

yeah i think the surgery was kind of a good idea he came into da season with 2 bad ankles n he was on the injury reserve list for da past 4 season missing a seaon may hurt the team but it will help brady get back to his full potnetial n hopefully in his return next year brady,moss, and welker will have a great year probably a career seaon with a superbowl ring to go wit it they may not go undefeated all that matters is who has the title at the end of the year

he wont even be that good in 09
he doesnt play for a whole year , he is gonna get rusty and its gonnna be hard for brady to stay the #1 QB in the NFL.
im most upset abut the Brady-Moss combo

Brady is an amazing quarterback & thats not about to change sooo when he comes back next season watch out.

to jennifer lewis on sept. 11th... Pats are not the team to beat.... I would not say the season is a lost cause or that the team sucks... because that is not the case! However they are definately not the team to beat bud...

I think he may have shattered his knee in addition to the ACL tear.

I think that Cassel has done the best that he can due to the situation, I still hope they have a chance in the playoffs seeing as they are my favorite team...but I do get a little upset when Cassel doesn't use Moss because Moss is a VERY good WR. I hope Brady is still good in 09' :/ I think he'll pull through though. ;)

we wil have to just what until next season when he comes back, then they will go 16 and 0 again!, he's not lonely anyways he got his super model girlfriend, I would be happy, and plus teddy bruski and rodney harrison didn't put in work anyway so they can retire and no one will care and besides they got moss.

Patriot fans:
I am a Minnesota Viking fan from Wausau, Wisconsin. I just got off the phone with my younger brother. He noted that Matt Cassel has been franchised. Assuming this is the case, it would seem reasonable that Cassel would be the starting QB of the Patriots next year. Would it be conceivable that Tom Brady might be expendable to another team (e.g. the Vikings) for the "right price"? I felt there was no harm in asking...

Yeah he wont be the same because he will be better when we comes back. which is hopefully next season. They werent the same without him.

I BRADY COMING BACK FOR 2009?

i want brady in09

pats we asre back lol lilkilla25 we are going 2 win the superbowl