2011 NFL Draft Steal: Ryan Mallett Extends Tom Brady's Career & Prepares His Own

Ryan Mallett has to be the steal of the 2011 draft and a particularly bad omen for the rest of the AFC East, AFC and other NFL opponents. Most writers focus on the heir apparent aspect of "will he" or "won't he" be that person in the long term.

Mallett can make an immediate contribution to extending Brady's career while Mallett prepares for his own.

First, Mallett has the best arm in the draft, according to most commentators. So it is straightforward for the Patriots to use him in practice with the first team to get them ready for games. This saves wear and tear on Brady.

Second, Mallett can be the extra training camp arm to get the other players in shape without losing any zip on the ball. Mallett's issues relate to footwork and being a second or two slow in his release. These would only be a minor problem in practice or training camp. Brady's arm gets more rest.

Third, Mallett can come in much earlier in preseason games than the Patriots have let other second stringers do in the past, even Matt Cassell. This helps preserve Brady as well as keeping the other players on their toes.

Fourth, in the season, Mallet might just come in for a series or two to see if he can extend a substantial lead. If so, keep him in; if not, put Brady back in. But even this small amount of rest would be helpful for Brady.

Fifth, Mallett might be able to come in late in games to mop up. Belichick has never trusted anyone to do this; possibly Mallett being tall and strong can serve this role.

Sixth, this gives the offense a very good reason to go for maximum points early with the strategic purpose of pulling Brady. Saving Brady wear and tear in September, October and November, would pay off big time in the long season that leads up and through the playoffs. This would have to motivate the offense to play stout.

What are the risks of such an action?

First, using Mallett instead of Brady in practice isn't quite the same for the offensive line. However, that also means that if Brady has an injury, as he did in the Matt Cassell season, they would be more ready to get after it with Mallett in charge. Some risk/some gain.

Second, the receivers would get a slightly different look with Mallett. Again, this wouldn't be all bad if Brady had an injury. Some more risk and some more gain.

Third, it might annoy and rouse the other defense. It would.

But it would be like Red Auerbach lighting up his cigar at the old Boston Garden when the game was in hand, in hand in HIS mind. As Don Meredith said, "Turn out the lights the party is over."

That would be an enormous lift with the roar of the crowd (even on the road, the Pats have a loud strong following, as I have experienced in Miami and Buffalo).

I must admit, in the old days, my favorite game moment was when Red lit up the cigar. I loved Cousy (I am an old guy), Russell, Cowan, Bird, Pierce and the rest of them. But nothing was as uplifting to the crowd as when Red lit up his cigar!

So Mallett's entrance into the game would also frustrate the other team, knowing they have to really get Mallett off the field or they lose the game and Brady gets a rest too. This is a double loss for them, especially for AFC East teams or others that might face the Patriots in the playoffs. Pressure on the other team. Also, pressure on the Pats. More risk and possible gain.

Summary:

On balance, this would be like chess, where if a player gets ahead in a series, as the Pats could in a game, then the player behind has tremendous pressure placed on them to do more than "draw" or "tie out" the game. That player or team must take more risks to break the tie.

Now the Patriots would be in a strategic position of putting pressure on the other offense to take more risks to break through the draw, which would let the Patriots coast to victory in a specific game.

With our two shutdown cornerbacks, thanks to our No. 33 pick Ras, this provides more opportunities for Pat cornerback picks, with the other team having to put pressure on the Pats to break out of a draw for the rest of the game.

Bill must trust Mallett to make the throws without picks, or this can't happen.

At 6'7", Mallett has a substantial advantage versus shorter quarterbacks in throwing safely downhill, over offensive linemen and linebackers. This increases the chance of a missed ball being knocked down, not up, or thrown wide and hitting the ground rather than sailing into another defensive player's hands.

The other defense will have to try to entice the Woody Hayes three yards and a cloud of dust approach when Mallett gets in the game. The Patriots have to trust Mallett on seven to 15 yard throws to keep the chains moving. No bombs needed, but this can't work effectively if the other team can just crowd the line of scrimmage.

Fans would be the big winners.

Would be great to watch. The Patriots go for a big early lead to let Brady get off the field. Our shutdown corners stay on the prowl looking for more risky passes for them to pick off. Picking off just one would give the Patriots a big lift, getting momentum on their side and then on to the next games.

Remember: Cam Newton has to try to win. That's big time pressure, especially with the not so good offensive players in front of him. Mallett can start out just trying not to lose with one of the best offenses in the game in front of him.

Mallett has a much easier task, and his confidence is much less likely to be broken, as so many young quarterbacks have had happen to them when thrown into the lion pit Newton will be dumped in.

Mallett can be successful if he comes in three touchdowns up and closes out the game just one touchdown and a field goal ahead. That 11-point shortfall would kill Newton with the Panthers.

With the bar lower for Mallett, the Patriots can build confidence in their young backup quarterback, keep Brady healthier and make the team much stronger going into the playoffs.

May the games begin!