If there was ever any doubt that quarterback was the most important position in professional football, all one has to do is look at the point spread for this week's game between New England and the New York Jets. Who would have ever thought the Patriots would be underdogs to the Jets? And there is only one reason for that. The two quarterbacks.
The odds on the Jets to win the Super Bowl went down dramatically after the signing of Brett Favre, while the Patriots were the favorites heading into the season. Without Tom Brady, however, those odds don't look nearly as good as they did just a few weeks ago.
The injury to Brady raises an important question for sports bettors. How do you handle injuries in the National Football League?
That isn't an easy question to answer, as different players will impact their team's overall chance for success to a much different degree. The odds on the Patriots saw roughly a 10-point swing because of Brady's injury, while the odds on Tampa Bay changed minimally when news that starter Jeff Garcia was unlikely to play.
An injury to a quarterback will have the biggest influence in the point spread, although it may not be as great as you think.
Photo: Tom Brady's injury has had a dramatic effect on the point spread in this week's game between New Egland and the New York Jets. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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