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Patriots Rule Out Brady for Year
Tom Brady injured his knee on this hit by the Chiefs' Bernard Pollard, bottom, who disputed Patriots wideout Randy Moss's contention that the hit was dirty.
(By Winslow Townson -- Associated Press)
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"I think it always has been wide open," Buffalo Bills cornerback Jabari Greer said. "I think that we've taken that approach that no matter who's playing as we have an opportunity to win."
The league also loses one of its most marketable players at a time when possible labor discord is brewing and there is talk of lengthening the NFL's regular season to generate additional revenues.
"You never want to see any injury," Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said late Sunday. "When a great player of his caliber goes down, obviously it's a lot more difficult for the league."
Belichick's teams in New England have been more resilient and adaptable than any other club in the league. Belichick could sign an out-of-work quarterback from a pool of candidates that includes Chris Simms, Tim Rattay, Vinny Testaverde and Daunte Culpepper. He could turn at some point to rookie Kevin O'Connell, a third-round draft selection last spring from San Diego State. He could re-sign Matt Gutierrez, who was released at the end of the preseason after losing the competition for the backup job to Cassel.
There was little sympathy around the league for the franchise that has been so successful and became more intensely disliked last season after the spying scandal in which it was involved.
"It's a long season," Jacksonville Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio said at a news conference. "There are a few teams, half the teams, not real happy today and the other half are feeling pretty good. That's the way it is every Monday in this league."
Cassel said a week of working with the first-string offense on the practice field would help him as he readied to make his first NFL start. The fourth-year pro, a former seventh-round draft pick, wasn't even a starter in college. He backed up future NFL quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at Southern California.
"We all just have to do our jobs," Belichick said. "That's what every player has to do. . . . [Brady] played one position. He played it very well. There will be somebody else playing that position now. I have a lot of confidence in Matt and everybody else does, too."
