Brady: I'm the starting quarterback. I'm playing.

[JSn]

Nice! I know this was footnoted in another thread, but I think it merits its own space. These guys will continue to be week-week until they pack up for home.

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Rap Sheet Blog Archive Patriots QB Tom Brady doesn’t mess around: “I’m the starting quarterback. I’m playing.”

“We’re playing,” Brady said at his news conference today. “That’s just the way it is. It’s a football game, I’m the starting QB of the team, I’m going to play. We don’t take days off. We don’t take weeks off.”

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I hope the defense plays well. They rise to the occasion, but they play down to the competition too. In a meaningless game like this, I'd love to see them come out and compete hard the entire time.

 

[JSn]

The offense has shown some slippage in second half play. I'd like to see that go away.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I hope that Brady doesn't play more than a half. There's really no need to risk any injuries when the #1 seed is locked up. It's not like 16-0 is at stake this time around.

 

[zb25]

I'd play the starters for a half, or if the game gets lopsided really fast.

 

[Delicate Genius]

Brian Hoyer:

Tom Brady:

 

[The Dynasty]

The offense has shown some slippage in second half play. I'd like to see that go away.

When you have a 20 point lead your approach changes.

 

[JSn]

When you have a 20 point lead your approach changes.

I find it hard to believe "3-and-out" is EVER the approach.

 

[RobertWeathers]

The offense has shown some slippage in second half play. I'd like to see that go away.

So you'd like TB to play the 2nd 1/2?

 

[JSn]

So you'd like TB to play the 2nd 1/2 in a meaningless game vs a marginal team that also has nothing to play for?

I'd like to see him play 3 quarters. They will not play football again for two weeks and that game means a lot. I get your point about mitigating risk. A rusty QB is also a risk-factor.

 

[JSn]

Tom Brady Determined to Play Sunday Against Dolphins, Focused on Team Improvement - New England Patriots - NESN.com

"Whatever we do this week will certainly help us down the road," Brady said Friday. "That's why we need to be good this week, so I don't think you can sit here and say, 'Well, this week's not important.' Or for example, this week, 'Well, let's just go out there and rest for a week.' Well, how are we going to get better then? How are we going to get better? We've got to get better [Friday]. We got better [Thursday]. We got better on Wednesday. We're going to have a better team this Sunday.

"That will certainly help us down the road. That's the focus. That's really been a trademark of this team is to always make improvements over the course of the season. I don't think we take weeks off. I don't think we take days off. We're always trying to get better."

 

[The Dynasty]

I find it hard to believe "3-and-out" is EVER the approach.

When you are up by 27 points, the only thing that really matters is the clock, no injuries. I wouldnt really be concerned with 3 and outs from the Patriots offense.

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

While I want him to play some to keep him sharp I'd also like to see some guys who don't normally get playing time have some, just so we can get some more experienced depth.

 

[Potstickas]

I love it. Team is on a roll and firing on all cylinders. No need to mess with things when you in a groove.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'd like to see him play 3 quarters. They will not play football again for two weeks and that game means a lot. I get your point about mitigating risk. A rusty QB is also a risk-factor.

Name one playoff game Brady has played poorly in where rust was a factor.

Of course he wants to play and get better, but if he doesn't play it won't matter one bit to his game.

 

[JSn]

Name one playoff game Brady has played poorly in where rust was a factor.

This stuff really upsets you, eh?

 

[RobertWeathers]

This stuff really upsets you, eh?

Its a debate, JSn. I don't get upset in debates.

The debate is that you want Brady to play 3 qtrs b/c you are afraid he will be rusty. My response is there is no need to play him because it is a meaningless game and in the 8 playoff games TB has played following a bye week, rust was never a factor in his play.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Next sportswriter article, "Brady Hates Hoyer"

The Pats culture of constant striving to improve makes them a contender who becomes more dangerous as the season progresses. Just what's needed for the stepped up intensity in the playoffs.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Name one playoff game Brady has played poorly in where rust was a factor.

Of course he wants to play and get better, but if he doesn't play it won't matter one bit to his game.

I'm not sure about Brady specifically, but the Patriots have definitely looked a bit underwhelming from time to time when they have the bye. Against Oakland in the 2001 season, they came out slowly. Weather was a factor to be sure, but they were anything but sharp that game. They were underwhelming against Tennessee in 2003, again in a close win. In 2007, they were again a bit unispired in the playoffs. Brady was really good in the Jacksonville game, but for long stretches that game seemed way closer than it should have been. The game against the Chargers and a one-leg Rivers was not particularly jaw dropping. The only time, actually, I can remember the Pats coming out of the bye very strong was against Indy in the snow, and even that was about the defense mostly. Compare that to the Jets and Jags wild card games, where they came out very strong. (Of course, there also was last year.)

I don't know the answer to the question, but there is at least some evidence that 3 weeks of downtime might be less than ideal.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm not sure about Brady specifically, but the Patriots have definitely looked a bit underwhelming from time to time when they have the bye. Against Oakland in the 2001 season, they came out slowly. Weather was a factor to be sure, but they were anything but sharp that game.

Maybe. Although I think it had more to do with weather, gameplans and 1/2 time adjustments

They were underwhelming against Tennessee in 2003, again in a close win.

They went up 7-0 on a bomb to Bethel Johnson in 2 degree weather. Brady played as well as you could in that bitter cold.

In 2007, they were again a bit unispired in the playoffs. Brady was really good in the Jacksonville game, but for long stretches that game seemed way closer than it should have been.

Brady was sharp. You could make the case that the 07 team was not playing it's best ball after T-Day.

The game against the Chargers and a one-leg Rivers was not particularly jaw dropping.

That game was played a week after the JAX game.

The only time, actually, I can remember the Pats coming out of the bye very strong was against Indy in the snow, and even that was about the defense mostly.

Pat's strategy was to pound them with Dillon and Faulk- not throw the ball. Either way, Brady was efficient.

Compare that to the Jets and Jags wild card games, where they came out very strong. (Of course, there also was last year.)

I don't know the answer to the question, but there is at least some evidence that 3 weeks of downtime might be less than ideal.

They were lower than a 2 seed and did not have a bye. I still don't see the evidence but it's good discussion.