Shalise: Hey all --

Joe came up with this idea yesterday, and we're going to try it out. It's called She Said/He Said, and we're going to basically debate on-line, mostly about Pats things, but it may get into other areas, you never know.

Our first topic: Tom Brady.

I think there's something... missing with Tom Terrific. Something isn't there, and I don't think it's just a chemistry (or lack thereof) issue with his new receivers. In the first two games, he didn't look sharp and it wasn't much of a concern because in the end, the Patriots won the games. But it was magnified last night. At least one pass attempt came out of his hand wrong, and on a few passes, he overthrew or underthrew his intended receiver.

And while he was 10-for-10 on the lone touchdown drive, Denver was in soft coverage then. As soon as New England scored, they switched up again and the Pats were three-and-out on their next possession. Brady admitted after the game that he had thrown the ball away on two of those three tries (the third was forced and broken up).

It's easy for everyone to say, "Yeah, Deion is gone, he has to be a professional and get over it." And I know that's what he's getting paid for. But if your best friend, the person you worked with every day, went to lunch with, sent IM messages to about the God-awful shirt your boss is wearing, was all of a sudden gone, wouldn't that sting for a while?

I hope whatever it is -- or they are, if it's more than one thing -- gets better soon. But right now, Tom Brady isn't the Tom Brady we all have come to know.

Joey Mac: First of all, it's He said/She said.

Anyway, I don't think there's anything wrong with Brady. His receiving corp, for the most part, is completely new to him. Sure, you can say he's had plenty of time to get used to the new guys during the preseason and the first three games of the season, but nobody can take a completely revamped passing game and make it work this early.

Brady has faced enough adversity during his career to realize this thing will straighten itself out. THERE'S NO NEED TO WORRY!

Receiver Doug Gabriel said after Sunday's game that the passing game will figure itself out very soon. Plus, you have to give Denver's defense credit. Okay, so Brady wasn't sharp during the first two weeks of the season, too. It's early so come off the edge of the cliff and snuggle back up to your computer. I'll give you this much, his body language on the field last night, and in the locker room today was disconcerting.

Serve it up. . .

Shalise: Alright, buddy, you can call it whatever you want. I know the truth.

Let me get this straight: Since Doug Gabriel said the passing game will figure itself out very soon, that's supposed to make me feel better??!?? He's only been around for a couple of weeks, but so far, I like Doug. Nice guy, made some nice catches Sunday night. But that quote makes it sound like he's the Pats' version of David Copperfield and he has a magic wand he's about to wave over the offense in the meeting room on Wednesday and everything will be A-OK come Sunday in Cincinnati.

No less an expert than John Madden commented during the game that the Pats' offense wasn't playing with passion on Sunday night. And whose job is it to instill that passion, to stoke that fire? Brady's.

Like I said before, I don't think he can't right the ship. What I am saying is something isn't right with the man, whether it's between the ears or mechanics or his Hollywood girlfriend hasn't been around much lately because she has a new TV show. Whatever it is, it can't go past the bye week if this team has any aspirations of cementing its place as a dynasty.

Pow.

Joey Mac: JOHN MADDEN!

Isn't he the same guy, who during Super Bowl XXXVI, said the Patriots should play for overtime? I know I'm new on the football beat, but if I remember right, Tom Brady marched the team down field before Adam Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired. Yes, Madden is a football guru. Yes, he has forgotten more football than I will ever know. The thing that drives me absolutely nuts is when "experts" give their opinions about a player or a team when they're not ever around the locker room to see these guys up close and hear what they have to say.

Listen, the Patriots are in a transition mode. Brady is going to be fine, it's clear he's not panicking. Even when someone asked Belichick if he was worried about his QB, the coach smirked out of the corner of his mouth as if to say 'are you kidding me?'

As for the magic thing, I prefer that guy who immerses himself in a water tank.

Serve it up . . .

Shalise: You can say what you want about John Madden; if you spent most of your life on a bus and eating most of your meals at Outback Steakhouse, you might not always be lucid either.

(By the way, I hear Don Cherry has had his share of suspect moments, hockey boy.)

Yes, Madden wasn't in the locker room, and nor are most of those other so-called "experts." But he saw Brady on the field Sunday night, and he's seen Brady play enough to know when the man lacks passion. And I've seen him the past few weeks; he's still spouting the company line with the media, but he hasn't been doing it with the same conviction.

The chemistry thing is a work in progress, and count me among those who thinks they might have something with Doug Gabriel -- if Jerry Rice raves about him, he's probably pretty talented. (Unless, of course, you want to discount the opinion of the greatest wide reciever to ever play the game.) And if Brady keeps working as hard as he has with the wideouts, I don't doubt there will be improvement.

Just like I said, though, things have to be worked out by the bye week, both on the field and in Brady's mind.

You got something new you want to get e-slammed with?

Sha-zam!