One week of NFL is complete and what a terrible week it was. I anticipated writing a triumphant opening column after a Patriot dismantling of the weak Kansas City Chiefs. I anticipated writing about the return of the unstoppable offense that carried last years Patriots to an undefeated regular season and went on vay-cay during the playoffs. Instead, I am writing about Matt Cassel. For the past couple seasons there has been worry about what if Tom Brady gets injured and Patriot fans have always laughed at that happening. This season, however, it seemed a more prevalent issue. This is probably because of Brady’s performance in the Super Bowl and the fact he didn’t take a snap in an ugly Patriot preseason. Or that ever since he has been a national media figure, because of Gisele or wearing the boot in New York, nothing good has happened. He’s been more Matt Leinart than Joe Montana the past 7 or so months. Something about the whole situation felt weird. The Patriots took a quarterback out of San Diego State in the third round. I watched more Matt Cassel plays and stories than I ever wanted to. There was no talk about who was even going to start at the cornerback position, it was all about the quarterbacks and we had the best in the game’s history! Something bad was going to happen. And after a first quarter Bernard Pollard helmet shot to Brady’s knee, something really bad really happened. Matt Cassel is the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots this Sunday against Brett Favre’s Jets.Maybe it happened because I added a “Tom Brady is hot” Bumper Sticker to my Facebook profile. Maybe it happened because Billy Yates didn’t hold his block long enough causing Brady to step up into the Pollard shot. Maybe… maybe the Patriots aren’t that bad off! It has only been one week, but the other AFC favorites – San Diego, Indianapolis, and Jacksonville – all lost and to Carolina, Chicago, and Tennessee, respectively. They didn’t lose to teams like Dallas or Pittsburg, but to second tier teams. The Patriots AFC East rival, the Jets, who look like they might benefit most from the torn ACL, struggled against the Chad Pennington led Dolphins. CP10 had a completely new playbook to learn too, even if he knew exactly what the Jets were running! I’m not saying I’m not worried, because I am, but I am optimistic. The AFC doesn’t really scare me. The Bills looked good, but I can’t get too worked up about Buffalo. The Patriots after all do have the easiest schedule in the NFL, with the upcoming three games all being very winnable – at NYJ, MIA, at SF. Brady is the last person the Patriots could have afforded to lose and he is gone for the season. It undoubtedly will be different getting used to losing a couple of games during the regular season. Maybe that is a good thing with how last year worked out. Mo Lewis knocking out Drew Bledsoe didn’t look very good either and the 2001 Patriots didn’t have the likes of Randy Moss and Adalius Thomas.
Lastly, Dwayne Bowe: keep dropping game-tying touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and never ever imitate Randy Moss’ touchdown celebration ever again!And I removed my contributors Chis, Biff, and Kael, because you didn't write enough lately or Biff ever and summer is over and I doubt you will write anything when you are in a different country or an Ivy League school. But, I kept my favorite post from each of you up.
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