Will Tom Brady Start This Week?

by Dave Cariello on Dec 27, 2011 11:31 PM EST

Dave from Canal Street Chronicles here. I was just wondering if there was any talk about Tom Brady sitting the final game of the season. I know the Pats have the division locked up and it looks like they'll get one of the top two seeds. But will Belichick keep his foot on the gas?

I ask because Sean Payton has been fairly elusive when asked whether Drew Brees will start next week and for the life of me, I can't see any reason why he wouldn't. Especially if Tom Brady is going to play and possibly set a new passing yardage record. So I'm wondering, since Payton and Belichick are friends, whether Drew's status this week would depend on Brady's.

All help is greatly appreciated!

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Belichick will definitely keep his foot on the gas

atleast through the first half of the game. If the Patriots are up by a very considerable margin in the third or fourth quarter, and Belichick feels as if the team is in a good position to win, then he could rest the starters. But the fact remains that we have home-field advantage to play for and that’s huge for the Patriots in the playoffs. Tom Brady is 8-2 in the playoffs at Gillette Stadium.

I can’t say what I think Sean Payton will want to do with Drew Brees but Tom Brady will start atleast a half of Sunday’s game.

Cyril P
liryc715@yahoo.com

by Cyrilp on Dec 27, 2011 11:35 PM EST reply actions

Any talk about the passing record?

Any perceived desire to try and set a new one?

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by Dave Cariello on Dec 27, 2011 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

I'm sure

Brady wants to make a run at it. You’ll never hear him talk about it, because that’s just not the Pats way, and if it’s a blowout, I’m sure he’ll come out. In a game like this where HFA throughout the playoffs is on the line, he’ll definitely start.

by dudebro on Dec 28, 2011 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

Belichick, at least openly, doesn't care about the record.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 28, 2011 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

None

We Pats fans haven’t really given it too much thought after Drew Brees’ historic season. We just accepted that it was his well-deserved accomplishment.

Honestly, if Brees sits and Brady plays, and Brady eclipses Brees’ mark, I’d always feel like there was an invisible asterisk next to the record.

Cyril P
liryc715@yahoo.com

by Cyrilp on Dec 27, 2011 11:54 PM EST reply actions

add it to the list

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Dec 28, 2011 7:34 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Why do people love to put asterisks next to things? What if Brees sits at halftime?

Is there half an asterisk?

by dudebro on Dec 28, 2011 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

haha, yes.

by DeutschVergnugen on Dec 28, 2011 10:11 PM EST up reply actions

Not trolling...

But continuing with that train of thought do you think there should also be an asterisk next to Brady’s single season TD pass record since he passed Peyton’s who basically set his with about a game and a half less playtime?
For the record, I’m not one who believes in asterisks in these situations. It’s all a bunch of shoulda’, woulda’, coulda’ to me.

Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.
-from The Sayings of Muad'Dib by the Princess Irulan

by peytonsurdaddy on Dec 31, 2011 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

Brady will probably start but only because they want the number 1 seed

I don’t think Brady cares too much about the record.

by lololol on Dec 28, 2011 3:29 AM EST reply actions

Keep his foot on the gas?

You mean as lead-footed as Sean Payton in garbage time Monday night?

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Dec 28, 2011 7:33 AM EST reply actions

+1

My co-worker, a die hard NO fan, asked me if I’d seen all the “BS” talk about the Saints running up the score.
Their professionals so i don’t believe in the concept of running up scores. But there is apoint when it seems foolish to strive for personal records when this is a team sport. Had brees been blindside sacked and injured in the 4th when they had the game locked up everyone would be on the other side of the argument.
Don’t forget what they did to Indy either.

GFY

by TFBismywingman on Dec 28, 2011 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

Do you really want to bring up the lead-footedness of coaches argument?

2007 season anyone? And for that matter, any season?

Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.
-from The Sayings of Muad'Dib by the Princess Irulan

by peytonsurdaddy on Dec 31, 2011 11:26 PM EST up reply actions

I want Brady to break Marino's record too

Just so he can join the Marino club with Brees. Jesus can you believe how many passing achievements Brady has right now. This second half of his career he has been downright historical in the stats department. I mean it’s superhuman every other year and that AFTER the knee injury and wasted 08 year. Man what could have been in 08? That was an incredibly weak schedule can you imagine what he could have done. He threw 50 TDs on the best defenses the NFL had to offer in 07, he would at least put up 45 going up against some of the worst IN 08. We also could have beat the Steelers that year but that’s a match-up that we’ll never see.

Taylor Price will be the starter by the end of the season (Said before Training Camp)

by Chris Kole on Dec 28, 2011 8:34 AM EST reply actions

I second this thought

I also think the injury extended into the ‘09 year too. He clearly wasn’t himself until last year. Having said if the injury had not happened a lot of things could be different right now in regards to the roster. I mean think about it, Cassel probably never becomes a valuable asset so he never gets Franchised. So then the franchise tag potentially is used on somebody else. Cassel is never traded for the 2nd rounder and Vrabel isn’t gone because there is no trade to bundle him in. The ‘07 offensive unit continues on for a couple of years never missing a beat so maybe BB doesn’t feel the need to revamp the offense yet and doesn’t draft Gronk or Herndo. I guess I am ok with how things have ended up.

by Oughat on Dec 28, 2011 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

Brady's problems in '09

had more to do with only having two receivers and no receiving tight ends, than with a lingering injury. At the time, it was his second-best statistical season of his career.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Dec 28, 2011 10:16 AM EST up reply actions

I could be wrong

But I felt like there was a big timing problem then to. Obviously a lot could be equated with having too few threats, but there seemed to be a ton of false starts.

by Timberg193 on Dec 28, 2011 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

team issues were what killed them in 2009

team was undisciplined and BB sought to fix that in 2010 and it worked

New England Patriots: 11-3 against the Dolphins, Chargers, Bills, Raiders, Jets (x2), Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Chiefs, Eagles, Colts, Redskins, and Broncos.

by freeland1787 on Dec 28, 2011 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

Brady playing for first round bye....

You have got to be kidding me…

How important is a first round bye? How about two full weeks of rest and a week of practice for the walking wounded.

Brady could care less about records.

by megelo on Dec 28, 2011 10:40 AM EST reply actions

Doesn't care about records

But he would like to have at least one decent first half in the last half of the season, I’d bet.

Fenway: "An alternate and better universe, disguised as a ballpark." --Thomas Boswell

by lone1c on Dec 28, 2011 11:17 AM EST up reply actions

Brady cares about records...

See Week 17, 2007 against the NYG. i.e. the game where Brady kept throwing to Moss until they both had the single season touchdown records.

by CanadianPatriotsFan on Dec 28, 2011 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

moss was wide open on those 2 throws

thats why he threw it to him in the 4th quarter

New England Patriots: 11-3 against the Dolphins, Chargers, Bills, Raiders, Jets (x2), Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Chiefs, Eagles, Colts, Redskins, and Broncos.

by freeland1787 on Dec 28, 2011 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

Although sometimes byes are not good.

I like the home field more than the two-weeks off. We have traditionally been a good team after bye weeks so this shouldnt be a problem, but you never know. I expect the Pats to win it all none the less.

by Yardpenalty.com on Dec 30, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

They only care about wrapping up the #1 seed and putting together a solid 60 minutes.

If the team plays lackadaisically or struggles to get any momentum going, you can bet your life savings that Brady (and all the other healthy starters) will be in there until the end. Wrapping up the #1 seed is obviously the goal, but Belichick stresses 60 minutes of mistake-free football no matter what the circumstances. If Belichick isn’t happy with the effort or the results (regardless of the score), he’ll keep everyone in until he’s satisfied.

In other words, if the Pats are up by 3+ scores in the 3rd, you might see Brady come out, assuming he has had a good day. If (by some miracle) the defense is responsible for the scoring and the offense has played poorly, Belichick will keep Brady and the rest of the starting offense in until they prove they don’t suck.

by nbradley07 on Dec 28, 2011 12:02 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

Especially after last weeks first half performance. They are going to want to really work on rhythm and consistency.

by Timberg193 on Dec 28, 2011 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

At least at face value...

I don’t really understand the thought behind your question. Certainly as far as the Patriots go, and typically with most teams, the message presented to the public (fans + media) is that records don’t really factor into decision making — what matters is how it affects the team.

With that it mind, it makes almost no sense for New Orleans to play Brees. You can’t see why New Orleans wouldn’t play Brees? How about the fact that he could get injured, coupled with the fact that the Saints have almost nothing to gain in Week 17 (in order to get the 2nd seed, the 49ers would have to lose to the 2-13 Rams).

Conversely, New England has home field advantage throughout the AFC to play for. The Patriots assure themselves of home field with a win against Buffalo; otherwise they must hope for a loss by both the Steelers (who are playing the Browns) and Ravens.

by CanadianPatriotsFan on Dec 28, 2011 3:52 PM EST reply actions

the saints are playing for a 1st round bye

they have to win to have a chance so brees will start

New England Patriots: 11-3 against the Dolphins, Chargers, Bills, Raiders, Jets (x2), Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Chiefs, Eagles, Colts, Redskins, and Broncos.

by freeland1787 on Dec 28, 2011 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

the Saints have almost nothing to gain in Week 17

Oh...well I guess they should just give up then. Probably should have not run up the score on the Falcons Monday night, too.

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by Dave Cariello on Dec 28, 2011 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

I thought if Baltimore wins and New England loses

Ravens will have home field? Nonetheless, Baltimore having home field is not good, but I sure do want to see a Pats-Ravens AFC ship game!

by SparzWizard on Dec 29, 2011 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

This may affect things:

Twitter / @tomecurran

Brady dinged left shoulder late in Saturday’s game against Miami. Went for x-ray to check for separation. Was later told he was “all set”

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Dec 28, 2011 3:56 PM EST reply actions

any non throwing arm injuries are irrelevant to pocket QB's

esp to guys like brady

New England Patriots: 11-3 against the Dolphins, Chargers, Bills, Raiders, Jets (x2), Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Chiefs, Eagles, Colts, Redskins, and Broncos.

by freeland1787 on Dec 28, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

But how's he going to stiff-arm defenders as he streaks by with the ball?

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Dec 28, 2011 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

I am sure Brees has the record locked up.

Aren’t the Saints also playing for the second seed?

Pedey: Dear Playstation, So MLB the Show '09 says I can't hit the high and inside, huh? That's ridiculous, ask Ramon.
Ramon: Yeah, he can hit it. In fact, if I were to die today and went to some weird...(grabs script) some weird limbo afterlife, where I can gaze at one thing for eternity. Dustin's swing, or my daggers? (DAUGHTERS!) daughter's first steps, I would choose that swing.
Lazer Show: I can hit that pitch!

by BrokenbatGrandSlam on Dec 28, 2011 11:57 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Saints could win the second seed...

But it would require the Rams (2-13) to beat the 49ers. Rams also have some incentive to not play too hard — if they lose and Colts win, Rams get the #1 pick.

So basically the Saints are playing for a small chance at the 2nd seed. If no records were at stake, I would expect Brees to start the game and basically come out at half-time unless the 49ers were losing to the Rams. As is, I bet we see Brees through 3 quarters, even if the 49ers are blowing out the Rams.

by CanadianPatriotsFan on Dec 29, 2011 11:01 AM EST up reply actions