Armed with backup plan


Zolak is the backup to drew bledsoe.As far as paying the bills go the necessary ones, too the job ain't half bad.

Bledsoe has been playing through a painful fracture of his right index finger the past three weeks.Some

Wonder why.In his absence, zolak and no.3 quarterback Tom Tupa, also the No.1 punter, have been sharing reps at quarterback with the first team in practice.It can't be easy for zolak or tupa, to some extent to be toyed with like an ornament hanging from the rear view mirror.

It's like a see saw thing, he might go, he may not, ''' zolak said of bledsoe, who hasn't practiced in the days leading up to the patriots' past two games.I really thought i was pretty much going to play in the buffalo game [nov.29] and then he was able to go, and that's good for him.But mentally, it's a little draining as far as going up and down.But that's my job.That's my role.I'm the backup and i have to prepare.That's the bottom line.''

After bledsoe had minor surgery monday to readjust pins in the finger, there shouldn't be any more dangling for zolak.The patriots are expected to name the eight year veteran the starter for the pivotal game against the playoff bound 49ers sunday at foxboro stadium.To qualify for the playoffs, the patriots(8 6)Need one victory in their final two games combined with a loss by the tennessee oilers.

Zolak needs to get himself ready to play from start to finish for the first time since oct.1, 1995, when the Patriots played the Falcons.

I haven't played in a while, but i'm going to continue to practice and do the best i can,'' zolak said.And if i'm going to play, i'm going to go out there and play my tail off for these guys.There's a lot riding on this game.A lot of guys have busted their tails all year and a lot of guys have played through some pain and injuries.It would be unfair to them to not be up for this game.''

Zolak, 31, has yet to be declared the starter by coach pete carroll, who said bledsoe will not play this week.Zolak might wind up splitting time with tupa, 32, who is in his 10th season.

Both zolak and tupa said it would be better for one of them to ray ban uk store stay in the game, especially since they haven't played much.

That's [carroll's decision],'' zolak said, shrugging his shoulders.That's all his decision there.But you have to get in good;Get in a rhythm and get going.Five or six plays here, then it's tough.It's tough not only for me, but the rest of the guys around.''

And tupa? http://www.lepetitfournil.co.uk/

I've never been in that situation before, ' said tupa, a former starter for the cardinals who hasn't taken a snap at quarterback since 1992, when he was with the colts.There might be some things that they feel zo does better than i and some things i might be able to do a little bit better than zo.''

While that may be true, zolak has had more recent opportunities to show what he can do, although he probably would just as soon forget about the last one.He fumbled the ball away on his first passing attempt sunday after bledsoe had to go to the locker room to have his finger worked on in a 32 18 loss in st.Louis.

You never want to play because of an injury if there's a guy in front of you,'' zolak said.But the season goes on.We've got two games left, two big games.We've got to pick up where he left off.''.

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