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Why Tom Brady’s Suspension is a Good Thing for the Patriots

By Mathis Bauchner

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I know, I know. This is a hard sell. The reigning Super Bowl MVP out for the first four games of the season can’t possibly be a good thing for the New England Patriots. Or can it? In reality, we don’t know for sure how many games quarterback Tom Brady will have to sit out for his role in Deflategate. Commissioner Roger Goodell will hear Brady’s appeal June 23rd, and could potentially reduce the suspension. But for now let’s take it as it stands, four games, one quarter of the NFL season.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Patriots don’t face a cakewalk by any means in the time Brady could potentially be out. They open the season Thursday, September 10th with a primetime home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then they head to Buffalo to face a revamped Bills team led by new coach and frequent Patriot agitator Rex Ryan. After that they face the Jacksonville Jaguars at home, followed by an early bye in week four and then a trip to Dallas to visit the Cowboys. This is a tough way to get things rolling, with three potential playoff teams, but such is life for the reigning Super Bowl champs. Brady or not, the Steelers, Bills, and Cowboys pose a real threat.

So how can I argue the benefits of going Brady-less for those matchups? Well, let’s start with an undeniable fact that us Pats fans much prefer to ignore. Tom Terrific, the Golden Boy, who’s been at the helm for a decade and half, and led this franchise to unprecedented heights, the quarterback who may very well be the best to ever do it, is 37, 38 by the time the season starts. I’m sorry, in sports that’s old. Injuries happen, and recovering from those injuries becomes more difficult. Brady was fantastic last year and I’d love to see him break the mold and continue to play at a high level into his forties. If anyone can do it, it’s him.

That being said, the idea of Brady sitting out four games to start the year doesn’t seem so bad. He’ll return fresh, and a shortened season for him means less wear and tear on his body come playoff time. We all saw how Peyton Manning broke down towards the end of last season. He simply wasn’t the same quarterback that started the year so strong. Brady’s absence could cost the Patriots a couple games early, but it will be worth it if it means he’s sharper down the stretch.

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Another benefit of Brady’s suspension is it gives his potential heir in Foxborough, Jimmy Garoppolo, a chance to take some meaningful snaps. As hard as it is to admit, Brady will not be the Patriots’ quarterback forever, and New England used a second round pick last year to draft his potential replacement. Garoppolo played sparingly in his rookie season, but he performed well, completing 19 of his 27 total pass attempts. Admittedly, that’s a minuscule sample size, but the Patriots were very positive about Garoppolo’s progress in practice and seem comfortable with him starting the year behind center. He’ll be tested early by staunch defenses in Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Four full games will reveal a lot about the 23-year-old’s potential moving forward.

The Patriots should be confident, even with Garoppolo to begin the year. Coach Bill Belichick has proven his ability to adapt to Brady’s absence before. Back in 2008, when Brady went down with a season-ending injury in week one, Belichick managed to coach his team to an 11-5 record with Matt Cassel at the helm. The Patriots will manage just fine for four games without Brady. They’re a team that’s always responded well to adversity and they’ve got about as much entering this season as any Super Bowl champ ever. They will be extremely motivated to perform well and prove themselves capable without Brady. When he returns, they should be poised to take it to another level completely.

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The “Free Brady” shirts have already made their rounds in Massachusetts and we’ll see what Goodell says later this month, but if the four games stand the Patriots will be okay. I’m going to go ahead and say they’ll be better for it. Brady will reduce his workload for the season, which should help towards the end of this year and beyond. We also get to see what Garoppolo’s made of, knowing it’s only a trial run. The Patriots have always been a dangerous team when they’re pissed off. With some questioning their legacy following Deflategate, they might enter this season more pissed than ever. When Brady returns this team will explode, with plenty of time to make up whatever ground they’ve lost.

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