They were the NFL's version of the Flying Wallendas, but the New England Patriots never should have performed their death-defying aerial act without a net.
Keeping a starting quarterback healthy is an offense's most difficult high-wire trick — and New England couldn't execute it. The Patriots now look like clowns for not having a better backup plan in place behind Tom Brady, who suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday during his 2008 debut against Kansas City.
Belichick discusses injury
Video: The Patriots have their work cut out for them with Tom Brady sidelined for the season. Watch Bill Belichick discuss the team's plight in the wake of his MVP's year-ending knee injury. VIDEO
Matt Cassel? Kevin O'Connell? Potential free-agent acquisitions like Chris Simms and Tim Rattay?
All are sideshow attractions compared to Brady, the star of the league's best passing game.
Blame this on New England's ringleader. For a head coach who pays so much attention to detail, it's unfathomable that Bill Belichick would leave himself susceptible to getting trampled by elephants.
The 2007 campaign should have inspired Belichick to seek a proven upgrade behind Brady this off-season. There were 64 different starting quarterbacks around the NFL, the highest total in a non-strike year since the league adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978.
The trend shows no signs of reversing. Two other battered first-stringers besides Brady (Kansas City's Brodie Croyle and Tennessee's Vince Young) are already out for this week's games.
Expecting a starter to remain injury-free for an entire season — let alone string together 129 consecutive career appearances a la Brady — is unrealistic. Such is the punishment being inflicted by blitz-crazed defenses.
Video: The Patriots have their work cut out for them with Tom Brady sidelined for the season. Watch Bill Belichick discuss the team's plight in the wake of his MVP's year-ending knee injury. VIDEO
