In all this either/or discussion, I have yet to hear the most probable situation that is likely to occur.
Tom Brady had a complete knee rebuild after tearing and ACL and MCL, along with subsequent complications. Most doctors and football experience indicates, that such an injury takes 18 months or more to recover from, and be fully productive.
(Some come back sooner like Dante Culpepper and stink up the joint, and endanger their careers.)
Eighteen months from September 2008 is February 2010, when presumably Tom Brady will be fully recovered, and be able to play like Tom Brady, and not some wounded, hobbling, immobile Duck.
So... Who plays QB for the NE Patriots for the 2009 season?
I think that is THE legitimate question to be asked, and the question and answer is what is really being addressed in the Patriots FO and mulled over by BB and SP. Fortunately, the Patriots are in the Cap shape where they can carry both; or could with some tweaking, according to Miquel. It would be tough, but it appears feasible.
The Pats have an extraordinary draft opportunity upcoming. The possibility exists, of completing the talent acquisitions that they need to finish the rebuilding of their Defense. Unlike Y'all, I believe most of the pieces are already in place for the reconstruction of the Defense. But they still need some other talent pieces, too.
They need a star SS, for their rotation, (Moore or Mays); another starting caliber ILB (Laurianitis, Maualuga, but realistically Cushing, Sintim), or two; a CB perhaps (not as clear); and another DE--> OLB conversion candidate. Only a top ten first pick, could produce a DE/LB ready to play like Merrimen, De Ware, or Willie McG etc. but most are second/third round multi-year projects, like, Colvin, AD, Vrable, or Phillips, Porter, Harrison, Woodley etc. We have a couple in that status already in Woods, Crable, and maybe Redd, to go with starters Vrabes and AD. Or they could sign a FA OLB, but likely they will not have the Cap room.
BB usually does not want to use a First rounder on a position switch and I don't blame him.
Good Safeties, CBs, and LBs, future red chippers, can all be obtained in the late first, second, and third rounds, so there is little need for the top ten type picks. Fortunately, we already have the top linemen and super skill players, that are chosen with these premium type picks.
It is also fortunate that the Offense can be almost ignored for a time. But the example of how poorly the interior and right side collapsed, when Neal fell, during the early minutes of the Superbowl, and the subsequent poor results for half a season, surprised the Coaches. In contrast, a seeming miracle happened with Neal's return two weeks ago, and miraculously there was a pocket and Matt Cassel was able to step up into it. Suddenly Cassel blossomed. The Offense sprang to life.
This experience says they need to spend a high pick on an interior O Lineman, for safety's sake. I suspect that is the course of action that the FO will take. Fortunately, they should be able to get a good interior candidate in the late first or second round, too. They don't need him to start immediately, but we need the talent there. (McKay or Luigs) Or they could gamble that no one will get hurt for a year.
I return once again to BB philosophy, He wants a team that is stronger from 1-53, or 61 than anyone else in the league. Other Teams may have more blue chip players; but if he has more red chippers, enough to withstand inevitable injuries, he will win and win big, at the end of the year. When your cap forces you to play scrubs in place of injured blue chip stars. Meanwhile he substitutes red chip for injured red chip, and gets comparatively stronger.
There is no position more important to have a good backup, blue chip or red chip, than QB. For the first time in a long time BB's management of the Cap, may have produced both the luxury, and the necessity, to do just that. Brady will likely not be the Brady of old until 2010, at the earliest. BB ever the realist, will prepare for that 2009 eventuality.
