This is the question that will be debated back and forth for the remainder of this week. It's the old rest or rust debate. Belichick will be asked whether he plans to play the starters in a hundred different ways. Replays of Welkers knee blowing up against the Texans last year, will be shown over and over.
The reality is that this game against the Dolphins is meaningless. We have already clinched homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and there is no need to risk injury to any of our starters. We don't need another knee explosion.
Heres what I love about these Patriots. They've been Belichick-ed so thoroughly that they speak fluent Belichickian. When asked they immediately respond that they want to play... but that it's not up to them. Their answers are the same, from Brady to Meriweather to Wilfork.
But what should the plan be for this Sunday? If I could step inside the Belichick hoodie I would play the starters for the first half. The reason this team has been as good as it has starts with Brady and his incredible accuracy. His ability to control the football (319 straight passes without an interception) has been the foundation for this teams success. The reading of defenses at full game speed is hard to duplicate in practice. I don't think its a good idea for Tom to go two full weeks without making any of these reads. It is unlikely that sitting a game would affect him at all, I just don't like the thought of him losing even a little precision. But I'm a worrier.
My guess for what will actually happen? I bet the starters get pulled once we have a three score lead. Preferably in the second half. Keep those knees safe.
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