With the official status of reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady still unknown this morning until the results of a MRI are revealed it’s rumored the Patriots are wasting no time in trying to locate suitable help should they need it.
Always proactive and at least having a semi diagnosis on Brady’s knee, Christopher Gasper of the Boston Globe is reporting that the team will have free agent QB Chris Simms in for a look today. There are also reports of former 49ers QB Tim Rattay coming in for a work out.
Other options include recently retired Daunte Culpepper, who we all know has a relationship with Randy Moss. But is Culpepper even 60 or 70% of the player he was in the years with Moss. While Simms and even Rattay maybe servicable I just don’t see them surpassing Matt Cassel who is in his fourth year of the system. Cassel has way more time in now than Brady did when he took over for an injured Drew Bledsoe in September of 2001. That was the year that Bill Belichick and Charlie Weis asked the second year guy to just manage the game and not do anything to kill them. If it sounds familiar it should because that is what is going to be asked of Cassel, possibly for a few weeks, likely for the year.
A couple other names have been popping up as probables in Foxboro. Matt Gutierrez is improbable if they thought he was the guy they would have cut Cassel instead of him. Joey Harrington’s name was bandied about in some circles yesterday and it is possible that Vinny Testeverde who played last season in Carolina could come back. Another possibility is, wait for it, wait for it. Bledsoe. Just one year removed from playing it maybe something he would do. Belichick holds no grudges, unless you’re Eric Mangini, but would Pats fans welcome him back? Would Drew, who is 36 and over a year removed from the game, put aside roasting coffee for one last run?
Let’s hear your thoughts. Sound off in the comments.
