Matt Cassel Replaces NFL MVP Tom Brady

Week one in the NFL was chockfull of surprises, such as the Chicago Bears demoralizing the Indianapolis Colts, or the Carolina Panthers' last second heroics against the highly touted San Diego Chargers. However, injuries to key players marred the highly anticipated first week of the 2008 NFL season.

The most noteworthy injury was that of the reining NFL MVP Tom Brady of the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

In the first quarter of the season opener, after only eleven pass attempts, Tom Brady bellowed in agony following a blow to the knee by Kansas City Chiefs' safety Bernard Pollard. Brady left the field on his own power, but questions instantaneously surfaced regarding the 2008 season for one of the NFL's most celebrated players.

Following the 17-10 opening day triumph over the Chiefs, there were rumblings all over the NFL that Tom Brady's injury would force him to miss the 2008 season in its entirety. Less than 24 hours later, it became official. The Patriots, coming off a near perfect regular season, will attempt to repeat as AFC champions without their gridiron general.

Former USC Trojan Matt Cassel, who served as a backup to Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, became the interim quarterback on Sunday when the Patriots faced Brett Favre and the New York Jets. Cassel did not throw a touchdown pass, but he led his team to a 19-10 victory after he threw 16 completions in 23 pass attempts, and threw for a total of 165 yards. That is just one game. Cassel still has a lot to prove.

Cassel has a prime opportunity with one of the NFL's greatest offensive schemes to prove that he is more than a mere backup. The Patriots employ arguably the NFL's best head coach, as well as the NFL's top wide receiver.

Bill Belichick is no stranger to this particular situation. In 2001, the Patriots lost Pro Bowl veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe due to an acute chest injury. At the time, Bledsoe was one of the NFL's most productive quarterbacks who had led the Patriots to the Super Bowl just three year prior. Everything appeared grim for New England as they allowed their sixth round draft pick out of Michigan to take over the quarterback duties. The rest is history.

Bledsoe was roughly the same age as Brady is now, and Cassel is around the same age as Brady was in 2001. The circumstances are eerily similar. However, the Patriots are a far superior team than they were in 2001, and much more seasoned.

Brady is a skilled quarterback, only a fool would argue that fact, but it was the system that Belichick utilized that earned the Patriots three Super Bowl titles, and four AFC championships. Brady was a decent and dependable quarterback in 2001 and 2002 and developed into a rock solid quarterback from 2003 to 2006, who thrived under Belichick's guidance and always played his best in pressure situations. Each year, he gained confidence and continued to improve. In 2007, he finally displayed the explosiveness that all legendary quarterbacks possess. He broke record after record, and finally earned the NFL MVP Award. It is unfortunate that he will miss a full season while in the prime of his career.

The Patriots offensive scheme produces, and will continue to produce with Cassel taking the snaps. Granted, he is not where Brady was in 2007, but is could be where Brady was in 2001, and the Patriots won their first Super Bowl that season.