ESPN: Without Tom Brady, Patriots-Cowboys meeting not the same

[jobberone]

Without Tom Brady, Patriots-Cowboys meeting not the same

Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer

OXNARD, Calif. -- Unless Tom Brady takes the NFL to court and is successful in appealing his four-game suspension, the Dallas Cowboys won't see the New England Patriots quarterback when the teams meet Oct. 11 at AT&T Stadium.

From a football perspective, that is absolutely good news for the Cowboys. They would much rather see Jimmy Garoppolo, provided he holds onto the job in camp, than Brady, the future Hall of Famer.

Peyton Manning play in Arlington two years ago with the Denver Broncos in one of the most memorable games of the 2013 season, a 51-48 Denver win.

Most fans won't look at Brady's suspension that way. They'll just see the benefit of playing the defending Super Bowl champion without their starting quarterback, which is perfectly understandable.

Just because Brady won't be at the game, doesn't mean there won't be a lot of storylines. CBS will still get the ratings. The Cowboys and Patriots are two of the most popular teams with outgoing owners in Robert Kraft and Jery Jones.

But the most intrigue will remain at the quarterback position. Garoppolo is an Eastern Illinois product, like Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. That's quite a feat for a small school.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-cowb...m-brady-patriots-cowboys-meeting-not-the-same

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

How am I going to live with it?

 

[Bullflop]

I don't think I'll be losing any sleep over Brady being absent -- in fact, I kinda like the idea.

 

[Tenkamenin]

It's not our fault, next story.

 

[jobberone]

Interesting the backup is an Eastern Illinois product.

 

[AdamJT13]

OXNARD, Calif. -- Unless Tom Brady takes the NFL to court and is successful in appealing his four-game suspension, the Dallas Cowboys won't see the New England Patriots quarterback when the teams meet Oct. 11 at AT&T Stadium

From what I've read, he could get an injunction and play while the case is in court. The risk for him there is that the case could be decided late in the season, and he might have to miss four games then -- or even miss playoff games, depending on how long the case takes.

I would count on him playing against us, one way or another.

 

[theogt]

From what I've read, he could get an injunction and play while the case is in court. The risk for him there is that the case could be decided late in the season, and he might have to miss four games then -- or even miss playoff games, depending on how long the case takes.

I would count on him playing against us, one way or another.

To get an injunction he'd have to show a likelihood of winning on the merits, not a low bar to pass. But at this point, it's basically impossible for anyone to handicap his chance of winning on the merits, given this case is largely unchartered territory for the courts and Doty can't really be characterized as either player friendly or team friendly at this point.

 

[JBS]

From what I've read, he could get an injunction and play while the case is in court. The risk for him there is that the case could be decided late in the season, and he might have to miss four games then -- or even miss playoff games, depending on how long the case takes.

I would count on him playing against us, one way or another.

Is it certain that his case won't be ruled on before the season? Or at the very least before our game?

 

[JoeKing]

With or without Brady there, the game counts the same. So when the Cowboys win, I'm still going to feel very good about it.

 

[tyke1doe]

I don't think I'll be losing any sleep over Brady being absent -- in fact, I kinda like the idea.

I'd like to face a team at full strength if possible. But I won't cry if a team doesn't have its best player, particularly if that player did something worthy of suspension.

 

[DoctorChicken]

Jimmy Garoppolo is Brady's heir, chosen by the hand of Belichick. I wouldn't underestimate him.

He was probably my favorite QB in the draft last year.

 

[cej757]

Who cares Archer? A win is a win in my book. Plus I'm sure New England will find another way to cheat themselves to the Super Bowl again. So we'll see Pretty boy Brady in Feburary when it's all on the line.

 

[Tommy]

The first 4 games they play before that without Brady won't be the same either. Cool story!

 

[UDcowboysfan]

Interesting the backup is an Eastern Illinois product.

Of all the players to come out that would take some time to be ready, he was my favorite.

 

[CATCH17]

Kinda wish they had him.

They have nothing to lose now and that kid that backs up Brady might end up being pretty good.

 

[ufcrules1]

A win is a win...

 

[YosemiteSam]

The Earth will cease to exist....in about 4.5 billion years, but not on Oct. 11th 2015.

 

[Alexander]

In before someone says they want the Patriots at full strength.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

I am not really a "win at all costs" kinda guy. I love a good football game even more than I love the Cowboys. Brady's first and last appearance at AT&T is something I want to see, especially since I didn't get to go in 2007. It sounds stupid and clichéd, but this really is one of those games you tell your kids you got to see. Even NFL.com is calling this the game of the season.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...of-2015-mustsee-matchups-in-the-coming-season

Having said that, I'm sure it will be a good game either way. Even in our history, we've seen backups like Longley and Garrett produce games that are still talked about to this day.

 

[Doomsday101]

In before someone says they want the Patriots at full strength.

I really do not care if Brady plays or not. I expect the Cowboys to go out and win games be it vs the Pats with Brady, GB with Rodgers or Seahawks. All tough games but if you expect to be a champion then you don't shy away from any team. I think if Cowboys go out and play as they are capable of doing then they can stand toe to toe with anyone out there.