Tom Brady: Are His Patriot Days Numbered?

Now, granted for a lot of people, they'll scoff at this, blow it off, and wonder how you could consider it, but let's wind back the clock a bit.

Back in 2001, at that time, Drew Bledsoe was the starting QB for a team that was building up nicely as far as talent and skill goes. Belichick, into his second year, had spent a little time looking over things, figuring out which players would be useful, almost like a chess game. Then, Bledsoe goes down, and everyone in New England lets out a collective sigh, thinking, uh-oh.

But to that end, it also bears mentioning....these Patriots started out 0-2 under Drew.

In steps Tom Brady, the wunderkind, sixth round pick.

After losing three games in the regular season, Brady and the team goes on to the Super Bowl and Drew is shown the door.

Now, it would be one thing to say, Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe are light night and day. True enough. Brady has three rings in seven years, while Drew only got to one as the starter, back in 1996 losing to the Packers.

Also to mention, was Drew's team. He came into the league as a number one pick, back in 1993. With him as the basis point for the franchise, they were able to build up around him....and eventually, found his replacement.

But in all....is Brady's future safe?

I think a lot of it would depend on Cassell, or any other player they'd bring in, in an emergency. Some would wonder if Belichick would have kept Bledsoe, if Brady say, went 4-8, killing their season.

A lot of question marks also surround the team, since a lot of it was designed to work around Brady....does that mean Brady is the only one who can drive it effectively?

Some teams in the NFL, for obvious reasons, thrived on a single QB and were wired to work that way. Denver, in the 90's, had their best machine with Elway behind the center. Miami never looked the same after Marino. And even the Raiders, flipping out QB's, looked best with Gannon in his short stint.

Replacements are easy to come by. Finding a perfect fit, not so easy.

I probably wouldn't bank on the Patriots ditching Brady anytime soon even if Cassell does the impossible and has a perfect season.

But it does make one wonder.