Tom Brady vs. Drew Bledsoe -- The tale of the tape

Tom Brady it is.

The flames for the hottest QB controversy in the NFL were doused yesterday when Bill Belichick pretty much said Tom Brady was his quarterback for the immediate future.

Drew Bledsoe, the nine-year veteran and three-time All-Pro, was under the assumption that he'd be given the opportunity to play himself back in the lineup. There is the one and only reason he has a potential beef.

The last game Bledsoe won was in December 2000 against the Buffalo Bills. That was almost a year ago.

Brady has won five of the last eight games.

If football is all about winning, one can see where a legitimate controversy lies.

Drew Bledsoe has played in the NFL for close to a decade.

Tom Brady just completed his eighth career start.

If football is all about experience, one can see why a controversy is brewing in New England.

The last time Drew Bledsoe had talent around him, he led them to the Super Bowl.

Tom Brady is pushing the team toward a playoff spot with mediocre talent.

If players play with the immediate goal of postseason dreams, things are getting steamy in Foxboro.

Bill Belichick has never seemed to be overly enthusiastic with Drew Bledsoe. Before last season, the last time Belichick saw Bledsoe was when he was a coordinator on Bill Parcells' 1996 team and in football terms, four years is more like 10. Bledsoe was more chipper back then but then again, not only did he have a solid foundation on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, he was hardly getting as sacked as frequently as he has been lately.

The last few years, every single stadium Bledsoe has played in must have seemed like the Hollywood Walk of Fame for him; every game he left facial imprints all over the respected grass or turf surfaces.

Seriously, has anyone in football been hammered more than Bledsoe? He's 29 going on Geritol.

Regardless of these factors, Belichick realizes this isn't the same courageous gunslinger he rememberd, and he may be a little disenchanted with the 10 year, $100+ millions tossed Drew's way.

Brady is playing for the minimum and is finding ways to win. He can step up in the pocket and make that first defender miss. The offensive line may not be significantly better than the one Bledsoe has played with, but Brady is sure making them look that way.

Let's examine some of the most talked about factors, the sports shows around the country are discussing when looking at this situation.

1. Winning.

Unless your quarterback's last name is Farve -- it takes ten more players to help a quarterback win a game.

People say that Bledsoe hasn't won since last December, while Brady has won five times this year. Bledsoe's 2000 team was still partly made up from a skunked cocktail of a combination Pete Carroll/Bobby Grier players. Brady's 2001 team is much more talented and is filled with mainly Belichick prototypical players. Close to 90 percent of Carroll/Grier's players have whittled away. Brady has had a smarter cast around him and has played more games than Drew has with the new team.

2. Experience.

This is a tricky matter. No one can argue Bledsoe has been around the block and has nine years of experience. He is an All-Pro and has seen some great defenses and has played against the best schemes and players around. Yet, people always say he can still make some bonehead, rookie mistakes. Brady hasn't seen too many strong defenses as of yet, but game by game he is gaining more confidence, even in bitter losses. He still is fresh meat so teams haven't completely seen his traits, strengths, and weaknesses so he still may have an edge. However, experience can be a bad thing as seen by all the years of hits that have Bledsoe's 29-year old frame going on Metamucil. Brady is still fresh meat and doesn't have bells ringing in his head when he takes a stroll around a park. Besides, he doesn't have any experience with severe internal bleeding injuries.

3. Playoff direction.

Last time Bledsoe had the team, he took them all the way. Through determination, toughness, and courage, he led them to the Super Bowl in only his third season. Brady, in his first year, is leading the team to the playoffs for the first time in a couple of years. Yet, one could argue the league hasn't seen parity like this in years. Many, many teams are .500 and it's going to be a photo finish.

That's the tale of the tape. It's anyone's guess who's going to be the 2002 gunslinger for the Patriots but at the moment, Brady sure seems like the frontrunner. Just who deserves a chance to lead the team in the long run is anyone's guess.