A reader tells us that WEEI in Boston has reported that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady actually has or had a broken bone in his foot, but that Brady still plans to play in the regular-season opener on September 7.  (We’ve since dialed up WEEI over the Internet, and while the guys are debating whether or not Matt Cassel can get it done if called upon to play, they’ve said nothing over the last 30 minutes or so about whether or not Brady has or had a broken bone in his foot.  It could be that they were speculating, but since we typed this thing up and have been holding it for a half hour, we’re compelled to salvage the article.)

The prior reports regarding Brady’s foot were that he had only a deep bone bruise. 

Even if Brady is healthy, there should be concerns regarding whether he gets hurt at some point this year.  Cassel, who was a backup to Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC, looked awful in the 2008 preseason.

And, if Cassel is forced to play, karma could be catching up with the Patriots for their controversial decision to run up the score in so many games last season.  By not removing Brady earlier from games, Cassel missed out on valuable regular-season game reps, which would have better prepared him for this moment.

Then there’s the failure of the team to do anything to immediately upgrade the depth at the position.  Sure, they drafted a quarterback in round three.  But that won’t do much to help them if Brady gets hurt between now and February.

UPDATE:  Here’s the link to the audio.  WEEI definitely reports that a cracked bone was found in Brady’s foot during an August MRI, and that barring a setback during practice this week he will play.