Aug 29, 2008 - 1:23 AM
0 shoutsEAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Although the teams were competing in a Super Bowl rematch in name only, the New England Patriots and New York Giants opted to rest their respective starting quarterbacks on Thursday.
For the fourth consecutive preseason game, Tom Brady remained on the sidelined for the Patriots, which dropped a 19-14 decision to the Giants.
Hobbled by a foot injury this summer, the two-time Super Bowl MVP and last season's league MVP is expected to be ready for New England's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 7.
"Well, we wanted to see Matt (Cassel) play. Tom (Brady) wouldn't have played very much in this game anyways," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "We wanted to see Matt (Cassel), (Matt) Gutierrez and Kevin (O'Connell). That is what we got done."
Brady threw a single-season record 50 touchdowns last year in leading the Patriots to a 16-0 regular season.
The Giants also elected to sit Eli Manning, opting to keep the Super Bowl MVP fresh for the team's season opener on September 4 against the Washington Redskins.
Manning led New York to a 17-14 triumph over New England in Super Bowl XLII.
