What if Matt Cassel blows up?

[jtex316]

The reason I bring this is up is because in the National Football League, you NEVER KNOW what is going to happen - probably more-so than in any other sport. An injury or a player blowing can alter the course of perception and prediction to an infinite degree.

I was at Publix with Dave about an hour before the 1:00 Game, and I asked him "What if Chad Pennington breaks his leg on the first play of the game, and Chad Henne comes in and breaks his arm on the second play, and you're left with John Beck to lead the Dolphins...BUT he comes in and blows up for 500 yards and 5 TDs". I vividly remember asking this question, and I am sure some New England Patriots fan somewhere in the world asked his friend a similar hypothetical question sometime before the game about Tom Brady.

The good news for the Pats is that they have Belichick, someone who is a great planner and great contingency planner as well - he has probably always thought about this scenario unfolding and having to trot out Cassell for the rest of the year (along with several other key players at their positions).

The pats will be fine, and Matt Cassell will be OK too.

[MaineDolFan]

While Joe is right and QBs come out of seemingly nowhere and launch to superstar status, as Brady did, most usually have some sort of background.

Cassell does not.  He was a back up in college.  He made one start in college and that was as a tight end.  He's a back up now.  The man has never led any sort of team...ever.  New England is 6-10, 7-9 without Brady.  Moss will make Cassell better than he is but, at the end of the day, he's still Matt Cassell.

[simeon]

This is HIGHLY unlikely. But, play along - what IF he blows up? Will it be the end of the Tom Brady era in New England, like Tom Brady displaced Drew Bledsoe after 8 years?

The Patriots are still a solid, respectable team capable of playing at a high level on any given Sunday without Brady.

There is really no comparison in the situation. Tom Brady is two things that Bledsoe has never been.
1.Superbowl winner
2.MVP
These two things guarantee Tom will stay the man in New England.
If Cassel does blow up he will become great trade bait for the Patriots.

[Tepop84]

.. once brady becomes more valuable as trade bait .. he's gone and there's always someone out there who will buy .. just look at the jets offseason

There is no team that has enough to offer to get Brady from the Pats. 

[Tenshot13]

Cassell does not.  He was a back up in college.  He made one start in college and that was as a tight end.  He's a back up now.  The man has never led any sort of team...ever.

Tom Brady backed up Brian Greise at Michigan if I remember correctly...and wasn't shit until Drew Bledsoe got hurt....but I agree with you.  Cassel is a horrible QB who played against probably the worst team in the NFL this year, along with the Rams.  I know preseason does not matter, but look how he played this year then.

Remember when they put Cassel in against the Dolphins last year?  I rest my case.

Good point.

[ethurst2]

This injury will tell you a lot about New Englands offensive system.

If Cassell has the same consistency as Brady, then we would have to wonder if Brady would have been as successful in a different offensive system.

Cassell better call Earl Morrall and get some tips.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

This injury will tell you a lot about New Englands offensive system.

If Cassell has the same consistency as Brady, then we would have to wonder if Brady would have been as successful in a different offensive system.

So if Cassel leads the team to 16 regulars season wins and throws 50 TD that would prove that Brady is just a system QB? okay, I will accept that. 

[Phishfan]

you all thought Brady was going to stink up the place too.  I went to Brady's first game, at Dolphins Stadium, and I remember thinking "oh yeah, Bledsoe's hurt, we should win easily" and then Brady came out and whipped our asses.

Are you sure you remember it that well? We won that game.

[Phishfan]

Tom Brady backed up Brian Greise at Michigan if I remember correctly...

He was a backup for two years and started two years. Nothing unusual about that.

[Tepop84]

Are you sure you remember it that well? We won that game.

Haha, that is hilarious. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=211007015

[Tenshot13]

He was a backup for two years and started two years. Nothing unusual about that.

My bad, I was going off of memory and don't remember him starting.

[stinkfish]

Bills win AFC East this season.