Patriot's THIS SEASON!

OK...so so much has changed since my last posting!

Yes, as everyone in the world knows, Tom Brady is out for the season with a left knee injury (not even Bellicheck will say exactly what is wrong, and what surgery he is having. Is that a shock?). Matt Cassell, the less-than-stellar backup, the "Professional Backup", if you will, is now driving this ship. Yup, the same Cassell that pretty much sucked in the Pre-Season.

I'm still not "too" worried. About the Patriots. Want to know why? I'm standing by what I've always said about Matt Cassell since he joined the Patriots: I think, given the chance for him to play, he would be a very good QB. Well, now it's time to put my $ where my mouth is, because he's got his chance. Some would say that this is Cassell's chance to prove to the Patriots that he is a worthy backup. I don't agree. I say that this is Cassell's "Season-Long Job Interview". Think of it...the Patriots drafted a QB this year. Guttierez is back on the team since Brady's injury. Let's say Cassell went on to win the Super-Bowl. Do you think that Tom Brady would then, next season, have to COMPETE with Cassell for his job back? We're not talking about Drew Bledsoe here! So...I say that this is Cassell's chance to land himself a permanent Starting Quarterback position for another team next year. If he can pull off a good season this year, then he'll have an almost guaranteed Starting position somewhere next year.

The Patriots Defense needs to, in the next few weeks, keep teams from scoring a lot of points against them. Cassell needs some consistent practice and game time, to get into a rhythm. And I think he's hungry. I think he's been sitting on the sideline, "holding the clipboard", for far too many years. He hasn't gotten lazy. He's gotten HUNGRY! This is his chance. To shine. To prove to everyone that he's for real. And I honestly don't think he will dissapoint. I truly don't.

So, I am here...in front of you now...or whenever the 3 of you read this...and I am ready to make my statement about the 2008 future of the New England Patriots...

I say they end the Regular Season with a record of 11-5. They'll make it to the Playoffs, they'll win the AFC-East. Even while Brady is having surgery, recovering, having Giselle play nurse, and working out his knee back into MVP shape...I think the Patriots, as a TEAM, will move forward.

Here's how I see the rest of the season panning out...and again...this is just MY very "Jaded Diatribe":

Week 2: Loss to the Jets (Who do you think is under more pressure to win this game? Matt Cassell or Eric Mangini? The Patriots have owned the Mangini-Jets (along with just about everyone else recently), but this is the one game that he faces the Patriots, WITHOUT Tom Brady! This is Do-Or-Die for Mangini.) But I think the Jets win this game. I'm not sure Cassell is up for the task just yet. I think it will be close, but I put the Jets as winning.

Week 3: Win over Miami. Chad Pennington, you're good for the Dolphins. The Dolphins just aren't good for you.

Week 4: BYE WEEK! Was that bad luck? It looks like it wasn't. That should give Cassell 2 wins and 1 loss, and a week's respite. To practice and drink even more of the Bellicheck Kool-Aid.

Week 5: I put the Pat's still beating the 49'ers.

Week 6: I'm torn between seeing the Pat's, led by Cassell, ready to beat the Chargers, and them pulling a major upset. I think the Chargers will win, but it's almost the 5th full game that Cassell has led the Pat's, and by now he should be in his groove. I think the Pat's Defense can somewhat control LT(who currently has a bum toe) and Phillip Rivers, but they'll still score points. And I'm not sure that Cassell will fully be in his rhythm just yet. So I say the Chargers win this. For Now.

Week 7: Denver. I'm torn again. But I'm going to simply say that the Broncos win. I think that this game is a turning point for Cassell. Win or lose, he'll have almost 6 games as Starter under his belt. I'm giving this one to Denver. For now.

Week 8: I think the Rams could become Cassell's "Red-Headed Step-Child", especially if the Patriots lose to both the Chargers and the Bronco's. He's for real now, and he's hungry.

Week 9: He's hungry, but he needs some motivation, and to be humbled. And by week 9, Peyton Manning should be in full stride. The Colts take this one, but losing 3 out of 4, should be even more motivation to Matty Boy, and he'll damn-sure be ready for his next 3 weeks.

Week 10: Buffalo's getting better. And by week 10, they could be ready to go all the way. But I don't think so. I think the Patriots will demolish the Bills in this first Inter-League meeting of the 2 teams. This will be Cassell's redemption (to himself more than anyone else), after possibly losing 3 of his last 4. He'll be hungry. And angry. And there is no scarier person than an angry hungry person! (trust me, I know!)

Week 11: Bellicheck will be the hungry one this week. To bury Mangini's Jets after losing to them in week 2. I think that in the 9 weeks between these games that Bellicheck will be working on some new plays that nobody's ever seen, with Cassell, so that he can stick it so far up Mangini's ass that it's scraping his pancreas. Patriots are now 6-4. And this is where Cassell's resume gets padded.

Week 12: Pennington should be on IR by now, and the Dolphins should be like Fish out of water.

Week 13: The Steelers. I'm putting this as a loss to the Patriots. I don't have any good reasons other than to say that I think the Steeler's Offense will score too many points, and the Patriots won't catch up.

Week 14: By this late in the season, I think the Seahawks have either completely fallen apart, or have kicked ass. Even with their mediocre schedule, I think they're in the toilet. This should be an easy, and late-season ego building, win for the Patriots.

Week 15: The Raiders. Bellicheck let's O'Connell get some game-time in the 2nd half. 'Nuf said.

Week 16: The Cardinals don't win much on the road. I don't see that changing for this game.

Week 17: By now...the Bills will either be the Team to Beat, or will be looking at their 2nd loss of the season, again, to the Patriots.

Las Vegas Bookmakers have spoken, however! The Patriots are now facing 20-1 odds to win the Superbowl this year, with Cassell at the helm. I won't be against them...but I think and hope that Cassell will prove to everyone that he is for real.

I'm putting the end of the Patriot's season at 11-5. That leaves me a little wiggle-room for that one game that shocks everyone, be it a win or a loss. But I stand by them winning the Division, and making the Playoffs.

I'll end this Jaded Diatribe with the following 2 quotes, this week, of Sports-Writers. They cracked me up.

1st: Yahoo Sports Blogger MJD wrote: "If Cassel turns into a superstar, we're going to have to move beyond accusing Bill Belichick of cheating via videotape and accuse him of witchcraft."
I love it! The Haters say that this is the Patriots first REAL year of play, without cheating. I'm just waiting for the NFL to outlaw witchcraft. I'm sure by February, Bellicheck and the Patriots could be being fined for it. Because they'll again be the ones that were caught.

2nd: Matt Cassell, when taking over Brady's interview on WEEI Radio in Boston on Monday, said: "I'm not trying to be Tom Brady. I'm just trying to be Matt Cassel...I don't know where that's going to take us." Brady right now is being Brady (waiting for surgery on his injured knee). Cassell is being Cassell. Why don't we all be what we say that we are: New England Patriots Fans!!! I, for one, am a fan and a believer. Let's see where the season goes.