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Now that we’ve all had some freak out time, let’s take a deep breath and evaluate the situation a little more closely. The situation I am talking about of course is the loss of Tom Brady for the rest of the season.

It is now official. As of 3p this afternoon, Coach Belichick announced that the NFL MVP will not be returning to the starting lineup for the New England Patriots this season. In his usual, we’re moving on, attitude, Bill Belichick didn’t let on if he was panicked, but it’s quite obvious that he is concerned.

Now, with the official word on every blog and in every newspaper, it’s time to move forward with the season. I have heard people say that the Patriots will go 6-10 this season, maybe 8-8 and even one genius who thinks they will still go 13-3 and take the division.

Whatever you think is the future of the New England Patriots, one thing is for sure they will be plugging along with Matt Cassel under center. From listening to Coach Belichick’s press conference this afternoon it is clear that they are not looking to bring another quarterback into the mix and that at this point they are moving forward with Matt Cassel and Kevin O’Connell.

I think this is a good move, not that I would ever question a Belichick move, but I am fully behind this move. For one, Cassel knows the system and has been studying under the best quarterback in the history of the NFL for the last couple of years. Kevin O’Connell was the captain of his San Diego State team in his freshman year. He will take some time to acclimated to the system, but he will be ready to go if called upon.

We don’t want Daunte Culpepper.

We don’t want Chris Simms.

We don’t want Tim Rattay.

We just want Matt Cassel to pick up where Tom Brady left off. Unrealistic? Maybe. But if he can control the game and not turn the ball over, we don’t need him to be the MVP, we just need him to win.

My new prediction, Patriots will finish the season 11-5. They will make the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. Call me crazy, but that’s my prediction and I’m sticking to it.

adam@wickedpissadude.com

Labels: Bill Belichick, Chris Simms, Daunte Culpepper, Kevin O'connell, Matt Cassel, Tim Rattay, Tom Brady

Should we rest him for one more week? With the Kansas City Chiefs coming into town this weekend and Tom Brady still a little banged up, how about we rest him for another week. Don’t think Matt Cassel can get the job done? Neither do I, but I think Kevin O’Connell can and he should get the snap.

Now, before you get all freaked out on me and tell me that I am just some whack job behind a blog that doesn’t know the first thing about Patriots football, here me out. (By the way, the whack job part, may not be far off.)

Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs were 4-12. In the pre-season this year they are 2-2. There is a quarterback controversy, in that they don’t know who they’ll be starting because they all suck. Larry Johnson isn’t what he used to be and besides, our defense can shoulder that burden if he comes out firing on all cylinders by some miracle.

So the real question mark, without Brady in the line-up would be the offense and whether or not Kevin O’Connell (who should start) can lead the charge against the Chiefs defense. What then of the Chiefs defense?

Last year, the Chiefs defense was the 13th ranked defense in the NFL. They gave up nearly 21 points per game, 130 rushing yds/game, 188 passing yds/game and 320 total yds/game. Let’s be realistic, these are not the ’07 Detroit Lions who ranked last in the league in overall defense, but they are also not the Steelers.

The Chiefs defense is a middle of the road crew of young guys who are hungry to get better, but that is, they need to get better.

I am not saying Kevin O’Connell and our offense would eat them alive, but I think we could squeak out a victory. Isn’t that all we need from the Patriots? A win? Give Tom Brady one extra week to heal and get ready for the Jets, after all, that’s gonna be a shoot out with Brett Favre. Hahahahahaahaha!!

adam@wickedpissadude.com

Labels: Bill Belichick, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Kevin O'connell, Matt Cassel, New England Patriots, Tom Brady