The Big If: Tom Brady's Knee Only Thing Keeping Pats From Super Bowl

Even though it took three hours after the New England Patriots' final game last year for them to be eliminated from playoff contention, it really ended just eight minutes into it.

Bernard Pollard's lunge at reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady's prone left leg tore two ligaments in Brady's knee and tore out the hearts of Patriots fans still wounded from the most disappointing one-loss season in NFL history.

Despite an impressive breakout season from career (college and pro) backup Matt Cassel, and 11 wins, the 2008 Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

In 2009, a healthy Tom Brady may be the only thing preventing the Patriots from returning to their prior glory. To say it's a big "if" is something of an understatement.

Brady says he's on track for an on-time return in 2009, but that wasn't always thought to be the case. Returned trips to the operating table last fall left some doubt about whether or not Brady would have enough rehab time to take the field this September. All indications now are that he should be ready for training camp.

Needless to say, the Patriots need Brady. 2008 third-round pick Kevin O'Connell is the team's backup, with veteran journeyman Matt Gutierrez and Brian Hoyer, rookie out of Michigan State, likely to compete for the third QB position. Though the three-some of backups have roughly the same experience as a pre-2008 Matt Cassel, the Patriots cannot count on getting such high-quality play from their backup again.

Assuming Brady is able to play, he'll have no shortage of weapons. He will have the usual complement of receivers (Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Benjamin Watson), and a deep, consistent running game behind him. Veterans like Fred Taylor, Joey Galloway, and Greg Lewis provide added depth, and rookie Brandon Tate, a third-round pick, may be in line to be Moss' heir apparent.

Though the offensive line had a checkered 2008, it remains a consistent veteran group. Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal, and Nick Kazcur have all been together for several years, serving as Brady's well-fabled "five layers of protection".

The fact that Bill Belichick passed on a talent like Michael Oher with the 23rd pick (trading the pick to Baltimore) shows his faith remains in Light to protect Brady's...um...blind side.

Defensively, the Patriots have always found a way to make plays. Losing Mike Vrabel in the Cassel trade to the Chiefs hurts the D's versatility. Some thought the Patriots needed to trade for potential hold-out Julius Peppers to bolster what they believe to be a middling pass-rush. Guys like Tedy Bruschi and Adalius Thomas aren't getting any younger, but are still effective in the right situations.

They have assembled a potential big-play secondary. The question is, how many big plays will be for the defense and how many will be for the offense? The net impact should be positive, with youngsters Brandon Meriwhether, James Sanders, and Jonathan Wilhite looking to emerge as breakout stars.

But it's Brady, and more to the point Brady's left knee, which remains the biggest question mark. We need look back only five years to see how a pair of top-drawer quarterbacks can come back from a serious knee injury.

Carson Palmer threw for nearly 2,900 yards, 18 touchdowns and 18 INT's in 13 games after suffering a torn knee ligament in the 2003 playoffs.

In 2005, Daunte Culpepper tore about everything he has in his knee, and has since bounced around the league. He's in his second year with the Detroit Lions, waiting for Matthew Stafford to replace him as the starter.

If Brady comes back healthy, the 2009 New England Patriots are back as a Super Bowl contender. If the knee is not right, age and a relative lack of speed defensively could once again keep them out of the playoffs.