Fallout From the Tom Brady Injury

Initially, I hoped that my triumphant return to the blogosphere would be a week one NFL recap in which I could discuss three main issues:

1) The Dallas Cowboys looking like the team to beat in the entire league, not just the NFC.

2) The New England Patriots quashing any thoughts of a “Super Bowl hangover” with a convincing win over the lowly Kansas City Chiefs.

3) The Indianapolis Colts coming out flat, prompting many to wonder if Indy, in its current iteration, had its window of opportunity closed last season with yet another disappointing playoff exit, this time at the hands of the San Diego Chargers.

While I’ll have ample time to cover the first and last points in the fashion I had hoped, first, let’s tackle the hoodie-wearing elephant in the room—the now-enigmatic New England Patriots.

For starters, let’s go over what most would agree to be the best-case scenario for this club:

Utilizing the significant weapons around him, Matt Cassell ranges from serviceable to very good on a week-to-week basis, leading New England to their most difficult division title in the Belichick era. In the playoffs, Cassell plays the role of last year’s Eli Manning—by minimizing mistakes and riding the coattails of the defense to playoff success. Of course, while we’re dreaming, this scenario also demands continued stellar play from a linebacking corps that is not getting any younger as well as quick maturation of a very inexperienced secondary.

Now, the worst-case scenario:

Matt Cassell proceeds to validate the fears of many a New Englander, failing to build on what was already a very sub-par pre-season (maybe not as bad as the 0-4 record suggests—he did spend a lot of time without access to the offensive starters that he will now—but still not very good). The problems don’t stop there; the offensive line that began to show cracks against the Giants in Super Bowl XLII (and also against Bernard Pollard last Sunday) continues to deteriorate. The veterans on defense begin to look older than ever and the young guys fail to mesh with the Belichick system. In a season in which many conspiracy theorists accused the NFL of gift-wrapping another 16-0 season for New England, the Patriots don’t even sniff the playoffs.

Heavy stuff.

But as the bent of both scenarios suggest, neither possibility is about to happen. At least not in the manner that’s described. For example, no matter what the optimists tell you, at this juncture, it is absurd to even consider the possibility of a title for New England. And, with apologies to Pete Prisco, it also seems unlikely that the Pats are dealing with a totally ‘Chicken Little’ scenario.

Yes, Tom Brady is the most important cog in Belichick’s machine. Yes, Brady established himself last year (well, prior to that for people like me, but last year for those indifferent or opposed to Brady) as one of, if not the, best quarterbacks ever. But, like all of the great ones, Brady would not be Brady (a reference to the Super Bowl rings and the astronomical stats, not so much to the relationship with Gisele) without his supporting cast.

I’m not one for the sappy “there’s no ‘I’ in team” crap that most people tend to love so much. In fact, I actually detest it. But not even this will prevent me from pointing out that the New England Patriots have the greatest system in all of sports. They have overcome countless injuries in the past and have thrived under stressful circumstances. And while this will be their toughest loss to overcome, they still have the core remaining from what might have been the greatest football squad ever assembled (Super Bowl title or not). That means they still have a talented defense with lots of pride and an explosive offense with lots of pride. Did I mention that the Patriots are full of pride? For a team that has thrived carrying a chip on their shoulder, this Brady injury—and the ensuing fallout, doubting the team’s chance for success in 2008—may be the most inspirational thing to hit the locker of Gillette Stadium since Bill Belichick arrived in 2000. And that is saying A LOT.

My hunch is that the team will rally around Matt Cassell. They’ll go out of their way to defend him early on and will learn to disguise some of his deficiencies as the season goes on. It’s also a safe bet that Coach Belichick will retool the offense, promoting a smashmouth running game that worked so well for the team in the past. In fact, this might be a blessing in disguise for New England. By learning to play without Brady this year, they will be even more prepared for the 2009 season. And with Number 12 no doubt seeking redemption, it will be quite a scary proposition for the rest of the league.

Okay, so maybe we’re treading back into the wishful thinking, best-case scenario area. But you can be sure about one thing: the so-called experts are counting out New England way too early. With a team hungry to prove they are not just Tom and the Bradyettes and a coach looking to capitalize on an opportunity to cement his legacy (or salvage, depending on whether or not you’re a Colts fan) by winning without his Hall of Fame quarterback, you can bet that while the Super Bowl might be a stretch, a sixth straight AFC East title certainly is not.