Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills was not aesthetically rich in style. For effectiveness, however, the Patriots were artistically masterful, creating four turnovers during the day on their way to a 27-17 victory.
So the team is 8-5 with three games remaining in the season. Prospects for the postseason look promising.
Nearly a year has passed since New England Patriot coach Bill Belichick made the football decision of the year, sticking with second-year quarterback Tom Brady over seasoned and battle-worn veteran Drew Bledsoe. For those who might not remember, Bledsoe was injured severely in the second game of the season last year, forcing an inexperienced Brady to come off the bench to lead the Pats. Brady played extremely well in Bledsoe’s absence, inciting a regional controversy over which quarterback should take the snaps. The coach went with Brady and the rest is history.
Bledsoe is now in Buffalo, where he is having a MVP-type season. Brady is once again performing impressively, leading the league in touchdown throws and completing nearly 65% of his passes. Belichick remains quietly outside the limelight, letting his team receive the adulations, as he should.
Bledsoe Bowl II has come and gone, and if any of you out there still regret the decision management made in trading Bledsoe, at least admit the situation has turned out well for all concerned.
Brady is the quarterback of the New England Patriots until someone else comes along to unseat him. Loyalty has never guarenteed a job in the National Football League (NFL) and it is even less so now. If some young slinger appears a few years from now and blows the coaches away with long bombs and tight spirals with precision accuracy, then he should quarterback the team, with no disrespect to Brady. The one who performs better should play.
After all, that’s what happened in the Brady/Bledsoe situation.
Belichick is no more fond of Brady than he was of Bledsoe (Although the quarterback who leads the team to your first championship title will always hold a special place in your heart). He will do what is best for the team, what ever gets him the best chance at winning.
Brady is having the year of his life after his MVP performance in last year’s Super Bowl. He has graced the cover of Sports Illustrated (shirtless I might add) and has managed to escape the SI jinx. He is Dunkin Donuts’s most celebrated spokesman, appearing in several commercials with a comical tone. He has been seen with famous women (most notably singer Mariah Carey) and there seems to be no end to the list of female suitors. On the field, he has had another Pro Bowl-type season as well as reaping the rewards of a new four year, multi-million dollar contract.
Bledsoe has resurrected a once fading career in the hinterlands of upstate New York. He has not enjoyed a season like this statistically since the mid-90s. He is smiling more than he has in years. One should be a happy for him; he is the main reason, other than the Krafts (the owners of the Patriots), that the Patriots have a sparkling new stadium on Route 1 that is the envy of the rest of the country.
The Pats are on their way to another Super Bowl run, so New England fans should be happy. Belichick is once again leading a team not overflowing with talent. Bledsoe backers and Brady supporters should be happy, as well. All’s well that ends well.