No QB controversy

[JSMOOTH]

NE barely had a chance to enjoy their win before Jim Nantz spouted off about who's starting in the superbowl.

It seems whenever a back-up comes in the game to replace an injured starter, then continues to ride the teams momentum and get the win...people start screaming QB controversy!

The controversy in NE started when Bledsoe was cleared to play and it ended when Belichick told him to stay on the bench.
We're gonna hear and read about it all week, for no reason. The only way Bledsoe will play is if Brady's leg is still hurt.
(That sure is one helluva back-up to have at your disposal, though!)

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

Smooth,

Why do you think all of the Michigan quarterbacks make such great pros? It can't be the offense that they run. Just interested in your thoughts

 

[gardenweasel]

bobby b c

bobby b c

good observation...even more startling is,why does the pac-10 produce such poor nfl qb`s the last 5-10 years....they play a pro style offense.....leaf,mcnown, the huard`s,stanford`s guys(their names escape me).....rob and brad johnson(moderate success at best) and drew bledsoe is probably the best recently....but i have to say,i`ll take a less experienced,gimpy tom brady over bledsoe in the big game.......some guys just know how to win and brady is one of those guys.pats are essentially the same team as last year(antowain smith excluded)...amazing how much confidence team has in inexperienced brady.

 

[JSMOOTH]

Smooth,

Why do you think all of the Michigan quarterbacks make such great pros? It can't be the offense that they run. Just interested in your thoughts

Tom Brady was always very confident in his abilities. He played very well under pressure. My best moment of his was vs the undefeated Nittany Lions in Happy Valley during his first year as a starter. TB was very smooth in that game and showed tremendous poise and leadership.

In 1997, UM coach, Lloyd Carr had to choose between incumbent Scott Dreisbach and a fifth year senoir named Brian Greise to be the starter that season. Obviously, Greise was named the starter but a 3rd string, sophomore QB told Coach Carr that he made the wrong choice at QB. He said..."You should've chosen me!".

 

[TIME TO MAKE $$$]

I will say this, unless Brady is hurt HE IS STARTING NEXT WEEK

INSIDE INFO

FWIW

 

[hellah10]

Man....I have been playing sports my whole life...and experience is so very important. I would start Bledsoe in a heart beat. Bledsoe has played in the Super Bowl...IN New Orleans. IMO of course...

 

[Brick]

Yea Hellah I really like Bledsoe too (showed great class for keeping his mouth shut all year and being ready when they needed him) but as a player how would you feel if you led your team all year and then the coach comes and tells you 'we're going with the other guy' for the championship. Total slap in the face IMO. If NE wants Brady back next year he WILL start. Depends on their future plans and his health I guess.

 

[JSMOOTH]

Unless he's still hurt, Brady will be the man in NO. Belichick needs to step up to plate and silence the media. It's not like NE was losing the game and Brady got benched, only to see Drew Bledsoe rally the team to a victory.

Yeah, Bledsoe's played in the superbowl before, and some may say that the experience helps, but Brady's "experience" has been a topic all year. The AFC Championship was just as big of a game for him, and he did quite well, in a very hostile environment. It's not gonna be that loud in NO.

 

[doveshack]

I think Brady would have folded in the 2nd Half vs the Steelers. He will start for the Patriots newt week. There are no two ways about it. I don't know if Bledsoe could make a game of it against the Rams, but I know Brady can't. Making it to the bowl without experience is less than half the battle, winning the bowl without experience will prove to be much more difficult. Rams have been there, done that, and will do it again. BIG!!!. FYI, I hate the Rams!!! At least I won't fall into the gambler's fallacy and bet with my heart.

 

[thunderdoll]

I think the last thing Belichick has to do is to announce who is starting. Let the Rams prepare for both Brady and Bledsoe. Keep them guessing. Who ever is on the bench is the best second string QB in football anyway.

As for Michigan QB's I remember Brady answering a question about his poise early in the year and he said he has all ready played in big games and played in front of 100,000 people in college. Maybe that's part of it.

 

[hellah10]

Well however starts....this super bowl is gonna suck regardless...Rams have to much of everything! Blow out...I guess you guys could try to middle this....take St Louy -14 and see if Joe Public loves NE and see if the line climbes to 17..and take NE +17. It would be a great middle!!

 

[Blitz]

doveshack on what basis do you say Brady would have folded in the second half? Did he fold in the second half of the Oakland game? 2nd half of Jets game when down by 13? 2nd half of San diego game, when they were down by I think 10 late? Other games he also came from behind.

BRADY will be the starter if he is healthy....

 

[Blitz]

Hellah, I respect your right to your opinion, BUT it just amazes me the lack of respect NE is STILL getting! Pitt did not respect them, they were making plans and reservations for the superbowl. They thought NE was a speed bump on the road to the superbowl, now the only way they are going to the superbowl is if they get tickets!

The Pats played St. Louis tight earlier this season and if it wasn't for Smith's fumble on the 2 yard line it might have been a different result.

I think it will be a good game and NE will play hard!

 

[gardenweasel]

based on recent history

based on recent history

brady`s the man...bledsoe(with the same team)has not had the success that brady has had...does anyone think that if bledsoe had not gotten hurt that new england would be here now?and if so,please explain......pats were 0-1 and headed for o-2 when bledsoe was injured....if i run the show,brady`s the man.look around the league.how many really good young qb`s are there?mcnabb,drew brees,culpepper(warner and garcia not kid`s and vick still very raw).brady is a very valuable commodity.and he`s only gonna get better...unbelievable for a young kid to step in at qb and lead a team to super bowl.

 

[doveshack]

Blitz,

The Steelers played an ultra conservative 1st Half. They knew they would be able to get to Brady, rattle him, and win the game in the second half. When Bledsow came in, it changed everything.

 

[thunderdoll]

Dove, let me see if I have this right. The Steelers were only going play the second half, when they were going to rattle Brady and get to him. Hmmm what plans did they have for Troy Brown? Were they going to tackle him on his touchdown run but.....something happened and they didn't do it? They were not going to get that field goal blocked but....something happened and it did?
It's a real shame because if the Patriots weren't so bad the Steelers might of won.

 

[JSMOOTH]

IMO

IMO

Brady should get the start...100% or 80% healthy. Tom has much better feel as to when get rid of the ball. He seems to sense the pocket collapsing quicker than Bledsoe.

BTW - It was good to see Bledsoe get his 2nd chance and make the most of it. Did anyone notice, the last few plays when they were kneeling on the ball, you could see tears welling up in his eyes. WOW!

Congratulations Drew.

 

[hellah10]

I would cry to if I was going to the Super Bowl....thats gotta mean soooooooo much to a player that actually has some what of a heart to play the game.

 

[doveshack]

Blitz-Doll

Let me try one last time:

IMO, the Steelers thought they could win the game by playing a conservative 1st half. They though that Brady would fold under the pressure and lose the game eventually.

Why did the Steelers think this?

This was only his second playoff game (regular season is a different story). The first was at home, in the snow, in a game that was expected to be a sloppy one due to the playing conditions. That takes the pressure off, and thats why Brady was able to play so well.

However, the Steelers thought that the hostile playing environment, and the Brady's inexperience would rattle him.

My point (which obviously has been overlooked):

When the play-off experienced Bledsoe came in, the Steelers strategy of playing conservatively in the first half and waiting for Brady to succomb to the pressure, was waisted. I agreed fully with Cow (see his post), who presents plenty of evidence about why the Steelers played an ultr-Conservative 1st half.

 

[JSMOOTH]

I find it very hard to believe that Pitt was playing a conservative first half. I have yet to hear of a strategy of "wait until the second half" and the QB will fold.

Pitt, like so many other teams, simply underestimated Brady and the Pats. Ward an Burress were blanketed on every pass and I saw at least 8 silver helmets on Bettis every time he got the ball.

Brady doesn't succomb to pressure. That was proven yet again when he led them from a 10 point defecit, in horrible field conditions, with the season on the line.