NEW ORLEANS -- It's Tom Brady.

The big question of Super Bowl week was answered Wednesday night when New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Brady will start at quarterback over Drew Bledsoe, choosing the former backup over the $103 million, three-time Pro Bowler.

Tom Brady doesn't have a big contract, but he has posted winning numbers this season.(AP)

Brady, who sprained his left ankle in last Sunday's 24-17 win in Pittsburgh, was cleared to play after Wednesday's practice, the first by the Patriots this week.

"Tom Brady demonstrated in practice today that he is fit to play," Belichick said. "He will be our starting quarterback on Sunday."

Against the Steelers, Bledsoe replaced Brady with 1:40 left in the first half, threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to David Patten for a 14-3 halftime lead and was solid the rest of the way. It was his first appearance in 126 days since he sheared a blood vessel in his chest when he was hit in a loss to the New York Jets in game two.

But Brady, the AFC's third-rated passer, was 12-3 in his previous 15 starts after the Patriots lost the first two games of the season with Bledsoe at quarterback.

So the 24-year-old player from Michigan, who has shown outstanding poise in big games, will start in the biggest of his life Sunday after being a fourth-stringer as a rookie.

Belichick delayed naming his starter until he and his assistant coaches had a chance to watch tapes of the afternoon workout at Tulane University. He went so far as to ask a pool reporter not to identify who took the most snaps in practice; the starter usually takes almost all off the practice snaps with the offense.

"They both worked, and I was satisfied with how they worked," Belichick said in the pool report.

Belichick's decision, though, might not settle the quarterback controversy for long.

There's always next season.

Questions could linger long into the offseason as coaches and club officials consider their options: Dump Bledsoe's big salary, explore a deal for the younger Brady, or keep both.

Earlier, Patriots owner Robert Kraft had some ideas about keeping the NFL's deepest quarterback corps together.

"If I have a vote, I would not be against both of them playing for us next year unless someone comes with a blockbuster offer for either one," Kraft said.

And what might that be?

"Oh, I don't know, ask the coach," he said.

The Patriots could fit Bledsoe's and Brady's salaries under next year's cap, Kraft said. Bledsoe's cap number next season is $7.5 million, a $5 million salary plus bonuses. Brady's cap number will be $370,833, a base of $358,000 and a prorated signing bonus of $12,833.

But Brady may get a new deal to keep him from becoming a restricted free agent after next season. And that could make it too costly to keep both, especially a backup with a 10-year, $103 million contract that began this season.

"That is irrelevant," Patriots fullback Marc Edwards said. "Drew has earned every penny with how he helped keep the team together this year."

Bledsoe, who made Pro Bowl three times before Brady turned pro, seemed to be the odd man out but kept helping his successor

"He's never done anything that hasn't reflected well on the team," Kraft said. "He's the prototype of the kind of player anyone would want on their team."

Brady was the AFC's third-rated passer and is 5½ years younger.

Asked how he would feel if he were told in the offseason that Brady would be the quarterback next year, Bledsoe said, "The future's the future and, right now, we're focused on this game, this week, and whatever happens after that happens. Right now, we're not going to even address that."

Brady, who remains friendly with Bledsoe, praised his mentor's selflessness.

"When I was growing up, that was a guy I watched," Brady said. "I got the opportunity to come here and meet him and really learn under him and then learn with him. It's been pretty neat for me."

Whether they keep learning together is uncertain.

Bledsoe, who won't turn 30 until Feb. 14, doesn't want to remain a backup after being the Patriots' signature player for most of his career. Chicago, Seattle and Washington all are possible destinations -- good teams who could use a better quarterback

Chicago won the NFC Central with a 13-3 record despite quarterback problems. Seattle just missed the playoffs, and Bledsoe played at Washington State. Washington has new coach Steve Spurrier, a former star college quarterback, and needs help at that spot.

Other teams, like Carolina, also would like to upgrade the position but aren't the playoff contenders Bledsoe would prefer.

Bledsoe remains mum about next season, but not about how being a bystander made him realize how much he loves to play.

"I have a great passion for the game," he said.

Standing on the sidelines for another season watching Brady play won't feed that desire.

"That's been hard to watch," Bledsoe said, "but it's also given me a new appreciation for just how much I value this game and how important it is to me."

Tackle Matt Light, who has a sore ankle and was the only Patriot besides Brady listed on the injury report, also took part in the full practice Wednesday and was expected to play on Sunday. Punter Ken Walter, who left the team for two days to be with his wife for the birth of their son, practiced with the special teams.

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