Reiss: Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher
 

Belichick's use of quarterbacks Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer was puzzling - ESPN Boston
Reiss also said on ESPN that one of the pats players said that they were confused if they are trying to win the game or not...

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher
 

Mike is a good reporter. He's not one of the two or three great minds in universe...

It was pretty clear they were playing Brady to work with Edleman. And whichever Patriot didn't know whether they were playing to win the game is probably on the wrong team. Bill always plays to win the game. He doesn't generally play to tie the game and go to OT in week 17 unless that's his only shot at the playoffs.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher
 

I'm the last person to question BB, the man has won 3 SB's, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

I was confused however. I've heard that he did not want Brady in 2 minute drills because those are pass heavy situations in which pass rushers would be gunning for Brady. If that is the case, seems like a little bit of overthinking. Brady wasn't hurt last year during a 2 minute drill.

Either play him or not. I would have been fine with seeing Hoyer for the entire 2nd half, the kid looked good. But I was perplexed to see Brady come back out.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher
 

The "In-Bill-We-Trust" kool-aid has now been completely flushed from Reiss' system, replenished with the espn "let's-create-a-story" Bristol brand of kool-aid.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher
 

............

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher
 

"game tying TD" as opposed to game winning TD. Last thing Bill wanted in that situation was a tie and OT. The game wasn't meaningless, just not that meaningful with a playoff game looming in 6 or 7 days...

I think Mike is struggling to grasp this in part because he'd decided days ago that BB wasn't going to play any starters for just that reason...

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher
 

I understand where people are getting the "game-tying TD" argument. But aren't we forgetting the XP. If you want to win but avoid OT, score a TD and try for a 2 point conversion...

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher
 

I was thinking the same thing. At that point I didn't want over time. Either keep the starters in and go for 2 if you get a TD or put in the backups and see what they can do. I didn't want any part of OT.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher
 

There was an option for a 2 point conversion, just like in that Miami game a few years back. I'm sorry, but the "BB always plays to win" argument is just not going to hold up on this one.

Re: Reiss:Quarterback shuffle was head scratcher
 

Today was the one time I wanted to kick BB's *** for that bizarre decision to put Brady back in for all but the last series. There is a time for "situational football experience" and there is a time for a moral victory.