Fan pages across social media platforms were filled with tasteless memes and crude comments, the malevolence of the fans of Brady's rivals well represented, yet a respectful story of benevolence told as well. The universal reaction from most of the fans of the Patriots' rivals was a bit of an ironic quandary...
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| Nate Solder facing a crush of media after rolling on Brady's knee |
...ironic in that they were glad that Brady was potentially out of the picture and their team now had a chance at the division title, but also not wanting to take the title from the Patriots without Brady under center. Nobody wants a division title to have an asterisk next to it - and there wouldn't be, but the fans would know the truth.
Even all the Las Vegas oddsmakers had concurrent panic attacks, suspending wagering on anything Patriots as long as Brady's status was in doubt...
...and with that said, the powers that be may as well just hand Tom Brady the MVP trophy now, because with the trophy awarded to the player who is the most instrumental for their team's success, it appears from the world-wide reaction to his knee injury that Brady has that kind of universal respect.
Too early? Well then, at least just let him play in the team's second preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Gillette Stadium on Friday night, because he needs to play - not because of some insane notion that he needs the real-time snaps, but because he and coach Bill Belichick have a unique opportunity to grasp...
...with the possible exception of Rob Gronkowski, Belichick has already populated his regular season depth chart just one game into the preseason, and is in the enviable position to be able to use the next three exhibition games to get Brady reps solely with his new targets - and if things work out in the way he's envisioning, Belichick will have an offense clicking as a well oiled machine from the opening kick.
Releasing Michael Jenkins is a sign toward that end, as Jenkins represented the cut line, so to speak, of the Patriots' receiving corps - and if Belichick is comfortable letting go of his grizzled veteran presence and is willing to run with a still young Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman as his veteran core, that is a sign that his rookies come as advertised.
Even more telling is the fact that no one in the media is still questioning the team jettisoning Wes Welker, nor their chances of replacing Aaron Hernandez' production, as Belichick addressed those issues and then dismissed them - and let the performance of the team in camp sway public opinion in a way that words never could.
In other words, it's business as usual for Belichick, Brady and the rest of the Patriots - and the rest of the football world can't be comfortable with that.
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