FOXBOROUGH — They knew months ago that they had a date with the Dolphins today. The Patriots didn’t know who’d be on the roster or what their record would be or whether there’d be anything to play for. But even though they’ve already clinched everything there is to clinch, all of them are prepared to go the full 60 minutes. As always.
“We’re playing,’’ said quarterback Tom Brady. “That’s just the way it is. It’s a football game. I’m the starting quarterback of the team. I’m going to play.’’
How long he and the other starters play will be up to coach Bill Belichick, who will ponder the usual variables.
“It could be a long list,’’ he reckoned. “But in the end, you take it all and put it together and do what you feel is best for everyone, individually, collectively as a team and all that.’’
To rest or not to rest? That’s the perennial January question for NFL teams that have already earned a playoff spot going into the regular-season finale. The answer? It depends. It depends upon whether they’re facing a bye week (Patriots). Whether they can improve their seeding (Jets). Whether they’re coming off a bad loss (Eagles). Whether they have a signal caller who simply cannot get himself sidelined. (All of the above.)
The stock answer last week was: We’ll do what’s best for our football team. That usually means playing the varsity for at least a half, or until victory appears assured. In the 2004 season, when the tapped-out 49ers put up an exceptionally spirited fight, Belichick kept Brady in the game until the fourth quarter before calling for Rohan Davey. New England prevailed, 21-7, and went on to win its third Super Bowl.
The risk, of course, is that a key man will go down with a season-ending injury, as receiver Wes Welker did when he blew out his left knee while making a cut after a catch at Houston last season. But the players accept that as an occupational hazard.
“When I play, I play,’’ said defensive lineman Vince Wilfork. “If it’s meant for somebody to get injured, you get injured. You could easily get injured off the field. So that’s something I don’t worry about.’’
Nor does Welker, who is not concerned about tempting fate by suiting up for another meaningless game today.
“I’m here to play football,’’ he said. “I’m always ready to play.’’
Football logic in play Though the Patriots can’t improve their position — they already have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs — they wouldn’t mind reinforcing the point that they’re virtually unbeatable at Gillette Stadium.
