New Patriots' starting quarterback Matt Cassel and hopeful Republican Vice President, Sarah Palin, have more in common than you might think, or so says Dan Shanoff.

*Both were drafted after limited preparatory experiences.

*Both spent the last week of August mocked after minimal vetting.

*Both draw on the power of an enthusiastic, blindly supportive base.

*Both are carrying their teams' fortunes on their shoulders.

And this fall, suddenly to the point of whiplash, they are the two most pivotal figures in their respective sports -- football and politics.

This begs the obvious question: if Cassel = Palin, does John McCain = Tom Brady?