Is it wrong to revel in another's pain?

Well, if it is, then I am a bad, bad man.

I have to admit I smiled just a little when I found out New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was out for the season after getting his knee shredded againstKansas City in the season opener.

I smiled mostly because he is not on my fantasy team.

How would you like to be the proud owner of Brady this year? Yeah, you're all happy — smug even — thinking you have your league in the bag and then you get 11 passes out of your stud before he lands on the injured reserve list for the year.

My second thought was karma. Serves you right, Patriots, for being so cocky, I thought. Let's see you go undefeated this season without Tommy Boy, Pats! I exclaimed.

My Buffalo Bills — yeah, they're mine, get off my back — have a chance to make the playoffs and maybe win the division with Brady on crutches wearing his own hoodie on the sidelines!

But then reality hit.

Karma came last February when the New York Football Giants knocked them off in the Super Bowl. That was worse than any injury.

Brady is just one player on a team full of talented dudes. And, as much as I loathe Bill Belichick, this isn't the first time he has seen his starting quarterback go down with a catastrophic injury.

Anyone remember Drew Bledsoe?

Belichick probably will sign Troy Brown, play him at quarterback and still win 11 games.

He won't have to do that, though. He has Matt Cassel.

Yes, Matt Cassel, who hasn't started a game at quarterback since highschool.

He did start a game at USC once — as a tight end.

No one knows how Cassel will do. I'm betting he will be just fine.

Just in case, though, here is a list of other possible QBs Belichick can call on to fill the void if Matt Cassel plays like, well, what most pundits thinkMatt Cassel will play like this season:

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Vinny Testaverde. Sure, he was around before the forward pass, but don't let the gray hair and AARP card fool you.With an offensive line in front of him that kept Brady unmarked for most of last season, Vinny still can chomp down on a defense like he chomps down on a hamburger with his dentures.•

Dante Culpepper. He may have "retired," but we all know retirement is by no means permanent.He wanted a chance to start. Well, here it is. And he has a fighting chance to win the job.•

Bernie Kosar. He's the same age as Testaverde.Belichick once chased the sidearm slinger out of Cleveland because he had "diminishing skills." I can't imagine those skills have diminished any more over the years.•

Drew Bledsoe. How ironic would it be if the Patriots call Bledsoe to take over for Brady?We finally would get a chance to see what would have happened if Bledsoe had not been injured, opening the door for Brady in the first place.Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.