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This is the scenario Tom Brady has always feared

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John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

In "The Brady 6," the 2011 documentary by NFL Films about the six quarterbacks drafted ahead of Tom Brady in 2000, the Patriots quarterback described the mentality that has helped him become one of the greatest players in NFL history.

"Part of being a quarterback, being a leader, is being on the field. And you never want to see someone else do your job," Brady said. "Like Brett Favre, you know, he never came off the field. Never even gave a chance to any other quarterbacks to get his job. That's how I feel. I don't want anyone to ever think, 'Man, maybe someone can do Tom's job better than he can do it.' "

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There's no doubt that Brady is thrilled with the Patriots' 3-0 start and is happy for teammates Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett for playing well in their first NFL action. But we're also seeing why Brady fought his Deflategate suspension so vigorously over the past two years.

This is the scenario that Brady has always feared.

It's still very early in the season, but the Patriots seem to be rolling along just fine without him. Garoppolo has looked fantastic in his 1½ games, throwing for 496 yards, four touchdowns, and no turnovers while leading the Patriots to a tough road win in Arizona and jumping out to a huge lead against Miami.

Then the Patriots crushed the Texans on Thursday night without much semblance of a passing attack with Brissett, their third-string quarterback.

"I think Jacoby and Jimmy this year have both shown that they can do a lot of things well," Bill Belichick said after Thursday night's win. "There are certainly a lot of things they can improve on, but you know, they've had plenty of opportunities in a lot of different situations. They've made a lot of good plays."

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Jacboy Brissett was the only active quarterback on New England’s roster against Houston.Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Belichick is earning praise far and wide for his ability to coach up his backups and win games without his star quarterback. "Dear Bill Belichick: Can I play quarterback for you?" was a headline in Friday's USA Today.

Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin said the Lombardi Trophy deserves to be renamed the "Belichick Trophy." And now some fans and commentators are wondering if Brady is just a "system quarterback," whose greatness is owed to the brilliant coaching of Belichick.

It's a nonsense argument, of course. But it's out there, whether Brady likes it or not.

More importantly for Brady, this four-game absence could absolutely have an effect on his career and his Patriots tenure.

The better Garoppolo plays, the more difficult and fascinating a decision the Patriots will have after the 2017 season.

The stakes are fairly simple. Brady is signed through the 2019 season, when he'll be 42, while Garoppolo is only signed through 2017. Brady is still at the top of his game right now — arguably playing better than he did five years ago. And Garoppolo, like any professional athlete, doesn't want to hang around as Brady's backup forever.

So the Patriots have a big decision to make after 2017 — Brady or Garoppolo? Do they ride it out with Brady for as long as their franchise hero wants to play, risking a steep and swift drop-off at some point? Do they hand the keys over to Garoppolo, who was drafted in 2014 because the Patriots worried about how many more years Brady had left? Or do they attempt the impossible and try to keep both around?

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Before this season began, the answer was simple — Garoppolo was trade bait. And he still may be. It's one thing for Garoppolo to beat the Cardinals and Dolphins in Weeks 1 and 2, but he hasn't proven he can stay healthy for a full season, that he can survive the ups and downs of life in the NFL, and that he can perform in the playoffs and in high-pressure situations, where Brady has proven to be the greatest of all time. Garoppolo might just be a "system quarterback" in the eyes of Belichick and the coaching staff.

First time out
A look at how the first starts of these quarterbacks compare.
Tom Brady Jimmy Garoppolo Jacoby Brissett
Opponent IND ARI HOU
Result 44-13, W 23-21, W 27-0, W
Comp-Att 13-23 24-33 11-19
Passing yards 168 264 103
TD-INT 0-0 1-0 0-0
Rush-Yards-TD 1-2-0 4-12-0 8-48-1
Source: pro-football-reference.com

And when the Patriots drafted Brissett, it looked like a clear sign that they were preparing to trade Garoppolo, most likely between the 2016 and 2017 seasons to a team that needs a franchise quarterback (we're looking at you, Bears and Browns).

But the better Garoppolo plays, the more difficult the decision becomes for the Patriots.

If the Patriots do choose Garoppolo, Brady's contract, which calls for him to make $15 million in 2018 and 2019, would be easy for the Patriots to trade and could be attractive for a team looking for a short-term fix at quarterback (like Joe Montana to the Chiefs in 1993).

"If they determine that [Garoppolo] is a franchise quarterback, I don't know if you want to just trade him away," one AFC executive recently told me. "These guys aren't easy to find."

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The option of choosing "both" is possible but seems unlikely. Garoppolo does not want to stay in New England to be Brady's backup forever. If he becomes a free agent in 2018, he almost certainly will sign elsewhere to get on the field.

The Patriots could try to sign Garoppolo to a long-term deal, or at least use the franchise tag on him in 2018, but that would run counter to their organizational philosophy. Part of the reason for their success has been Brady's willingness to take below-market deals, allowing the Patriots to spend their money building up the rest of the roster. Paying mega-dollars to two quarterbacks hasn't been their M.O.

The Patriots have until 2018 to make their final decision. But Garoppolo will only get one more game to play before he returns to the role of backup, and his performance this year has been a revelation.

Brady or Garoppolo? It's a good problem for the Patriots to have, but it's one that won't be sorted out easily.

SINKING SHIP?

Vikings have met turmoil early

Mike Zimmer and the Vikings are 2-0.Andy Clayton-King

Football can be a cruel, cruel sport. Just ask the Vikings.

They entered training camp with as much optimism as any team in the league. They were coming off an 11-5 season in which they won the NFC North and should have won a playoff game if not for a missed 27-yard field goal. They had a blossoming young franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, one of the best running backs of all time in Adrian Peterson, a stout defense that could carry the Vikings deep into the playoffs, and a shiny new stadium that just opened last week.

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Now, only two weeks into the season, it is quickly unraveling, and not because of anything related to scheme or performance. Bridgewater suffered a horrific knee injury in practice, knocking him out not only this year but potentially for some or all of next year, too.

Peterson tore his meniscus last week and will be out for several months, and possibly the entire season. And left tackle Matt Kalil was placed on injured reserve last week with a hip injury.

The franchise quarterback, star running back, and cornerstone left tackle, all gone with 14 games still to play. Preseason Super Bowl hopes now have to be tempered as Sam Bradford, Matt Asiata, and T.J. Clemmings pick up the torch.

Of course, coach Mike Zimmer won't allow his players to feel sorry for themselves. And hey, the Vikings are 2-0 under Bradford, with a win over the Packers on their résumé.

"Obviously, we've had a few setbacks," Zimmer said. "We're not the type of team that's going to sit back and cry about what's happened. We're going to go forward and try to find a way."

But a trip to Carolina this weekend could be the start of a humbling season for the Vikings.

IT’S NO BARGAIN

CBA’s limitations affecting product

Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown and a pick during Green Bay’s loss the Minnesota.Jamie Squire

The next collective bargaining agreement negotiation is still five years away, and it promises to be a tense battle between the owners and the NFL Players Association as they fight over revenue shares, commissioner powers, and player benefits.

It's wishful thinking, but here's hoping that the coaches are represented in the negotiating room, or that the sides put the best interests of the game ahead of what's best for the owners or the NFLPA.

Because if there's one thing that's clear, it's that the new CBA hasn't been good for professional football.

Among the many issues we have with the CBA are the restrictions on practice time and full-contact practices in the offseason, training camp, and regular season. These restrictions are good for the players but horrible for the quality of the sport, as the players simply aren't getting the instruction and development that they need.

Former Buccaneers and Raiders coach Jon Gruden echoed this sentiment last week when he was asked on ESPN Radio why Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are struggling on offense to start the season.

"They're not practicing at all like they used to, and it's impacting offensive line play," Gruden said. "I look at a lot of these teams, and I think pass protection is horrific. I don't think guys are practicing the way they used to — switching stunts, communicating at full speed, blocking looks on the practice field. And this collective bargaining agreement I think has a lot to do with pass protection eroding, and that affects drop-back passers like Aaron Rodgers."

ETC.

Bills putting faith in change

Patrick Semansky

The Bills are once again falling short of expectations with their 0-2 start, and the firing of offensive coordinator Greg Roman last week is not a good look — either Rex Ryan is looking for a scapegoat to save his job or Bills ownership is meddling with the football operation.

Either way, it will be interesting to see how the offense responds under new coordinator Anthony Lynn and whether he can get more consistent play out of Tyrod Taylor, who hasn't been that bad this year (three touchdown passes, one interception, and a 98.9 passer rating). Through two games, the Bills are tied for last in the NFL with only 27 first downs.

"Right now, I just want to stay on the damn field," Lynn said last week. "We're going to play a little bit faster and see if we can put a little pressure on the defense. Just execute."

Lynn also suggested that Taylor will have less freedom at the line of scrimmage to audible and change plays.

"We cut back on that a little bit," Lynn said. "We're going to have more call-it-and-run-it concepts."

McCourty believes in cause

Interesting comment from Patriots safety Devin McCourty on Friday morning while appearing on NFL Network, calling Colin Kaepernick a "hero" for starting the discussion on NFL players and their right to protest during the national anthem. Kaepernick said last week that he has received several death threats in the wake of his protests.

The Patriots haven't been the most outspoken team on this issue, but McCourty and Martellus Bennett did raise their fists in a show of solidarity and unity after the anthem in Week 1.

"I think Colin Kaepernick going out there and taking the brunt of all criticism, the hate letters, the hate tweets on social media — everything — he's a true hero from that standpoint to go out there and do something that's not popular," McCourty said. "Obviously the dialogue has picked up a lot in our locker room and I'm sure in locker rooms across the NFL on what is there to do next for us as athletes, as players. I think we have a platform and we have a chance to do something.

"So for myself, I've talked to our PR guy Stacey James in helping me get different outlets. I'm going to have a chance with the extended weekend to hopefully talk to someone in Boston, a police officer, and see how as players how we can help out, how we can bridge the gap and try to avoid some of these things.

"I have a college roommate that's an officer in Charlotte, and talking to him during his water breaks with the riots and everything going on, you just look out there and you see this isn't the way we're supposed to live. Just trying to take a stand and make a difference and help out communities across the country. I think as athletes, we're trying to do that and it's a proud moment for myself and I think all NFL players for going out there and trying to take a stand."

Extra points

Christian Petersen

The Cardinals play in Buffalo Sunday for the first time since the 2004 season. That game 12 years ago also happened to be the last time Larry Fitzgerald didn't have a single catch. He's had at least one catch in all 181 games since . . . A couple of good Patriots-related reads in bookstores now — "Belichick and Brady" by Michael Holley, and an updated version of "Brady vs. Manning" by Gary Myers, which now includes insight on the 2015 season and the end of Deflategate . . . Los Angeles residents seem happy just to have NFL football back in town, but any enthusiasm won't last long if the Rams don't start scoring. In 22 offensive possessions this year, the Rams have 16 punts, three field goals, and three turnovers. Jeff Fisher is trying to bring a little levity to the situation, joking with his players that they will have a sleepover party in the end zone, and discovering a box of unopened items from the team's move from St. Louis — a box of touchdowns . . . Cody Kessler will be the Browns' fifth starting quarterback in the last five games, joining Johnny Manziel, Austin Davis, Robert Griffin III, and Josh McCown. The Patriots have had just five starting quarterbacks in Belichick's 17 years (Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, Drew Bledsoe, and Matt Cassel) . . . Former longtime Dolphins PR boss Harvey Greene has been friends with the Clinton family for more than 20 years and is now volunteering on Hillary Clinton's campaign. So we got a nice chuckle out of seeing the title of Clinton's new book — "Stronger Together," which just so happened to be the Dolphins' marketing slogan and social media hashtag during the 2014 season. We're told that this is just a coincidence, but if Clinton's next book is "Feed the Wolf," we'll really know who holds the power behind the Clinton throne.

Lost versatility

FR48783 AP

The loss of running back Danny Woodhead to a torn ACL robs the Chargers of a dynamic player and safety valve. While the eight-year veteran lacks prototypical size, he has become one of the most reliable passcatching backs in the league. Here's what San Diego will be missing:

Receptions by a running back since 2013
(when Woodhead joined San Diego)
Running back Games Rec Yards TD
Matt Forte 47 227 1,859 10
Darren Sproles 48 170 1,411 3
Danny Woodhead 37 167 1,429 13*
DeMarco Murray 47 166 1,179 4
Shane Vereen 42 164 1,415 10
*Tied with Jamaal Charles for most among RBs over that span
2,000 yards receiving, 2,000 yards rushing since 2009
(when Woodhead entered the league)
Player Games Carries Yards TD Rec Yards TD
Darren Sproles 109 488 2,375 17 435 3,805 23
Matt Forte 106 1,771 7,560 40 431 3,707 15
LeSean McCoy 104 1,695 7,804 48 340 2,617 12
Fred Jackson 98 1,117 4,875 27 285 2,390 9
Danny Woodhead 93 503 2,182 15 267 2,498 17
Jamaal Charles 84 1,253 6,863 42 256 2,171 19
Pierre Thomas 83 652 2,932 18 288 2,257 8
Ray Rice 79 1,323 5,726 37 336 2,761 6
Arian Foster 78 1,470 6,519 54 252 2,330 14

Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.