Future Super Bowl MVP, Hall of Famer, Patriots all time leading passer This is as close to breaking news as it gets around here. Be forwarned, the sources are sketchy at best (although I swear to Christ this was not scooped from another blog). I sincerely hope none of it is true.
First, the facts (as told to me but someone who claimed they were indeed factual) - Tom Brady underwent a third knee operation at the same LA hospital that butchered/performed the first two. After going in a second time to clean and test the wound, the infection persisted causing the doctors to go back in for a third time.
As reported here on Tuesday, any infection posed the very serious risk of destroying Brady's 2009 hopes and possibly any hopes beyond that. This was prior to learning of the 3rd operation. The fact that a 3rd operation followed up the 2nd so closely leads one to believe that things are not as they should be. That this infection is spreading to other parts of the knee. Let's not forget that this type of post surgery infectious reaction is highly uncommon. Less than 0.50% of all ACL patients have had similar problems.
So far, the Patriots have remained predictably tight on this situation. No real surprise there given they never report any injury news. However, my sources claim that the team is more protective than ever of this injury because they do not want to lose leverage in any trade negotiations. There is a very real, very desperate feeling in Foxboro that Brady might never play again. It is there job to prepare for the worst case scenario and I think we can all agree that this would be worst case.
Regardless of how glass full you choose to look at life, this is something that has to be discussed. Best case scenario remains a full recovery and a return to MVP form in 2009. I think the more likely scenario is a delayed recovery with a partial 2009 campaign before returning in 2010 100% healthy. What are the Pats to do in the meantime? Can the AFC offensive player of the week continue to keep the team in games this season and into next if necessary? Not if the defense continues to play old and slow. In my humble opinion, Matt Cassel is not the answer.
At the same time, I don't see too many backups that could come in here and do a better job (outside of Brady Quinn of course). Perhaps relying on another team's sloppy seconds isn't the best plan of action. My solution? Draft. Specifically, Curtis Painter, Senior stud QB out of Purdue. Will not be the first QB taken and should slip to late 1st or maybe even early 2nd round. This guy could cover all of our bases. If the best case proves true and Brady returns to form ahead of schedule, great. We can shop Cassel for some future draft picks and let Painter become the understudy. If Tom never takes another snap, Painter is the type of guy who can pick this offense up and carry them back to the Super Bowl and look just as good while doing it.
End of the day, Brady is getting old anyways. What's he 31 now? It's time to start planning seriously for the future anyways so if nothing else, bullshit injury speculation forces the team to have some very necessary conversations.
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