Pats made wrong choice with Brady

By Marc James Sports Central Founder

This just in: the Rams have named Jamie Martin their starting quarterback over Kurt Warner for Sunday. Okay, maybe not, but there is still quarterback controversy brewing, it just so happens to be on the other sideline.

The Super Bowl XXXVI weekend extravaganza is upon us and the last thing New England needed was a controversy to further distract them. They're already two-touchdown underdogs and barring a miracle, the Rams are looking to run away with their second Super Bowl in three years.

Following the high ankle sprain Pats QB Tom Brady suffered in last weekend's annihilation of the Steelers, Drew Bledsoe stepped in and led New England to a TD on his first drive. Bledsoe looked aggressive, poised, and ready to play in the limited action he got due to Brady's injury. Despite that, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick announced Tom Brady would be the starting quarterback for the team in Sunday's contest.

"Tom Brady demonstrated in practice today that he is fit to play," Belichick said Wednesday. "He will be our starting quarterback on Sunday."

Granted, the Patriots went on to an impressive 11-3 record with Brady at the helm, but aside from a few great games from Brady in the middle of the season, his play would be best described as "decent." In the playoffs, his combined numbers are zero TDs and one interception -- certainly not impressive, and it makes Warner and the Rams, watching this unfold from afar prior to this weekend's game, look even more impressive.

Brady has been just good enough to lead the Pats to victories since he was named the starting quarterback, but he'll need more than decent play and the stroke of luck to get past the high-octane Rams.

Former No. 1 draft pick, former Pro Bowl player, and multimillionaire Drew Bledsoe will flat-out give the Pats a better chance at a victory. The reason why is his ability to get the ball down the field better than Brady and most importantly, his experience. And not just playing experience in big games, but Super Bowl experience. You can't teach that, no matter how healthy and confident you are. Bledsoe led New England to a Super Bowl in this same Super Dome in 1996 against the Packers.

"Drew's got a stronger arm, obviously. A guy with that kind of arm can put the ball in little, tiny creases most guys can't. He can make those terrific throws," Rams coach Mike Martz commented. And he's certainly right.

,br>To win this game, the Pats are going to need to put some points on the board. While that is obviously not an issue with the Rams, the Pats under Brady have been a more conservative team, making this a challenge they will be hard-pressed to meet.

Super Bowls of the last few years have proven that you need to score in the high 20s or 30s to win the game, and this will be a big question mark for New England. Again, Bledsoe brings the ability to utilize Troy Bown and David Patten downfield more than Brady.

While there's no question Brady is going to start, will he get all the snaps if his injury starts to affect his play? Belichick should pull Brady immediately if he shows signs of the injury and put the healthy, savvy, Bledsoe in.

On turf, the Rams are at home, but like their opponent last week, the Patriots are an outside team that isn't used to playing indoors on turf. The fact that turf is less giving will make each movement by Brady painful if there is even a trace of that injury left over.

Brady has been sacked a whopping 46 times this season and postseason, combined, and he'll need every ounce of mobility he can get come Sunday against the swarming Rams defense.

See you in New Orleans!

Article courtesy of Sports Central.