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Should it be Brady or Bledsoe?
ESPN.com

First, Tom Brady took over the Patriots' starting quarterback job when Drew Bledsoe was hurt in the second game of the season. Then, Bledsoe replaced the injured Brady in Sunday's AFC championship game.

Now that the New England Patriots have reached the Super Bowl, they have a choice: Should they start Brady or Bledsoe? We enlisted our panel of ESPN experts to pick which quarterback should get the nod on Super Sunday.

Who should the Patriots start at quarterback?


Joe Theismann		 Tom Brady
It really all depends on how healthy Brady is. This is where not having two weeks is tough on a coach. If there were two weeks in between games, you would say definitely Brady. We probably won't know the real answer until Super Sunday.

Mike Golic		 Tom Brady
If Brady is healthy, he should start. It was good to see Bledsoe come in and get the job done, though. The emotions got the best of him in the end. He handled his situation with class this season. If Brady falters in the Super Bowl, it's not bad to have a $100 million as the backup.

John Clayton		 Drew Bledsoe
I think he gives the Patriots more downfield passing ability if they get into a scoring match with the Rams. In the end they will go with Brady, and he does well in 20-17 games. But I don't know if they can hold the Rams to 21 points. If it turns into a 28-point game, can he lead three or four touchdown drives and win the game? If Bledsoe gets hot, he can match Kurt Warner and get into a scoring match. He is more used to shootouts than Brady. Bledsoe is still a pretty good quarterback.

Merril Hoge		 Tom Brady
He's earned the right to start as long as he's healthy and can perform the game plan and what the Patriots need him to do. Drew Bledsoe has been out 90 percent of the season. He will be ready if Brady can't perform. When you decide on a quarterback, it shouldn't change after only one half. If Brady is healthy enough, there is not even a question or a controversy; Brady starts.

Tom Jackson		 Tom Brady
If he's healthy and ready to play, Brady should play. Missing a couple of days of practice these days will not be a big deal.

Sean Salisbury		 Tom Brady
He was 12-3 as the starter this season and got the team the lead. People may say, "Well, what about what happened to Bledsoe?" They were 0-2 when it happened. Bledsoe deserves a lot of credit for the way he played. A lot of guys when they start and then lose their job will pout and not prepare. But Bledsoe came prepared and was reliable. If Brady is healthy, though, he deserves to start. Bledsoe will need to get a lot of work this week; and if Brady is only 85 percent, Bledsoe should play.



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