There has already been speculation of the Patriots gambling on Michael Vick, the once highly regarded - and now disgraced - quarterback who was reinstated after getting busted for funding dog-fighting club in Georgia. After many months serving time in the slammer, Vick is looking for an employer, and the Patriots reportedly have interest. There's a slight chance Vick and O'Connell might share space in the quarterback section of the locker room, if the Pats were to extend an offer and Vick were to accept an offer.

How would this impact the depth chart?

Currently at the quarterback position, supreme Patriot Tom Brady will once again lead the Patriots, healing for the past 11 months after a torn ACL. Former La Costa Canyon and San Diego State quarterback Kevin O'Connell holds down the two-spot, followed by former De La Salle and Michigan standout Matt Gutierrez.

If the Patriots sign Michael Vick, don't expect him to make much of an impact on O'Connell's standing. Is Vick better athlete than O'Connell - yes - but who knows where the dog-lover's head is at. Also, who knows what type of physical condition he is in after a 2-year NFL hiatus. Furthermore, Vick may not be available to play in a game until week 6, according to commissioner Rodger Goodell's reinstatement plan for Vick.

Then again, we all remember how Vick torched NFL defenses with his ankle-breaking cuts and scrambles during his previous years in the league, 3 seasons of which he was selected into the Pro Bowl.

Is there any opportunity for the Pats to land Vick and play him at a different position?

Imagine lining Tom Brady up under center and having Randy Moss and Wes Welker on the outside. Then having Fred Taylor and Michael Vick split off in the backfield…just think about the nightmarrish matchup difficulties the opposing defenses would be facing.

Bill Belichick is known for resurrecting careers for athletes. No one thought Randy Moss would fit in with the Patriots, but look what he’s done.

What happens if Tom Brady goes down with another injury to his knee?

Overcoming an ACL tear is not easy. Its takes months and months of tenacious rehab to the knee back into football condition. This is only one side of the story. Sometimes even more challenging than the rigors of physical therapy, it can take time to regain complete confidence in the knee. If Tom Brady gets hit in a game and twists the knee slightly, don't expect him to be coming back into the game. In a long-winded 16 game season, which can give a beating to a quarterback, there's a good chance 2nd year quarterback O'Connell my get a chance to start some games.

At the very least, we'll see him take most of the reps in the preseason.