Are the good times gone?
 (Photos by Reuters and Jim Davis / Globe Staff) |
Presented the chance to make a statement on the cusp of December, the Patriots got their noses pushed in late yesterday in the form of a 33-10 beating by the Pittsburgh Steelers on the phony turf at Gillette Stadium. The cold, hard rain brought a cold, hard reality. Once unbeatable in their digs on Route 1 -- old or new -- the Pats now have suffered two home defeats by 21 or more points this year, something that hasn't happened in New England since the intrepid Rod Rust (mis)led the Pats to a 1-15 finish during the calamitous fall and winter of 1990.
Most of the time.
"I thought we played hard out there, I just didn't think we played well," said a succinct Bill Belichick after yesterday's game. "We didn't play well enough."
They really weren't even close.
Yes, there have been injuries, beginning with the one to the talented and fashionable GQB, the inimitable Tom Brady. Beyond that, Sammy Morris, LaMont Jordan, Laurence Maroney, Ty Warren, Adalius Thomas, Rodney Harrison, and Terrence Wheatley all have missed significant time or suffered season-ending setbacks. The fact that the Pats are even still talking about the playoffs is a borderline miracle, a testament to their football operation, their leadership, and to what they have built.
Here's the worrisome part: All this time, the clock has been ticking and nothing lasts forever. Prolonged success in the modern NFL is the exception rather than the norm, and the Patriots' dominance is bound to end sooner rather than later. By the time this season plays out, four years will have passed since the Pats won a Super Bowl, a period that generally encompasses the entire second term of George W. Bush.
Look at it this way: In the first four years Belichick effectively had Brady as his starter, the Pats won three titles. In the next four, the total will be zero. (Wanna bet?) Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons now look better positioned for the long term than do the Patriots, which shouldn't shock anyone given the cyclical nature of professional sports.
In the NFL, especially, success is difficult to maintain. Entering last postseason, the Pats looked like a juggernaut and the New York Giants looked like a classic case of one-and-done. Since that time, the Giants are 15-1 while the Pats are 9-6. That shocking reality is precisely why Belichick preaches the importance of playing one game at a time, something far easier to do when you are the team setting the pace, in complete control of the field.
Once that control is gone, the mind is more easily infiltrated. Baltimore needs to lose. Miami needs to lose. What's Indy's record now? The Patriots of old could focus solely on themselves because they didn't have to worry about anyone else. Now they do.
"We're not worried about Baltimore. We worry about us," Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward said yesterday when asked about the Steelers' slim lead in the North Division and the team's potential pursuit of a first-round bye. "Everyone else has to catch up to us. We've had the hardest schedule in the league and we're 9-3."
Know why Ward can get away with that kind of thinking?
Because the Steelers probably have the best team in the AFC, the Tennessee Titans included.
Recognizing that Brady's absence is a positively enormous variable, let's acknowledge the worrisome trends here. The Patriots had a chance to win at Indianapolis last month and blew the game on a stupid penalty. Against the New York Jets, in overtime, the defense failed to get off the field on a third-and-15 at the opposing 15-yard line. Yesterday, the Pats turned the ball over five times, dropped more than a few passes and gave up 161 yards rushing while allowing five sacks.
Beyond that, the New England defense has forced a total of just six fumbles this year, tied for the lowest total in the league. They have allowed 21 touchdown passes, second-most in the NFL. The draft class of 2006 looks like a collective bust -- the Pats took Maroney first and Chad Jackson second when they might have had Green Bay's Greg Jennings in the second round -- and much of the 2007 class was swapped out in the deals that brought Randy Moss and Wes Welker to New England.
Don't misunderstand. Nobody regrets the Moss and Welker deals. Those trades gave the 2007 Pats the most prolific offense in NFL history and brought them thisclose to an undefeated season. The tradeoff was that the Pats sacrificed some youth and salary cap flexibility to get there, which only made the outcome of Super Bowl XLII all the more damning.
All of this brings us back to Brady, who is now at a crossroads in his career. As such, the Pats similarly find themselves teetering on the brink. Despite playful debates about the relative importance of each -- is the coach or the quarterback? -- we all know that the Patriots success' this millennium has been built on the marriage of masterminds. The Pats had both. Every modern NFL dynasty has been built using an identical formula -- Terry Bradshaw and Chuck Noll in Pittsburgh, Joe Montana and Bill Walsh in San Francisco, Troy Aikman and Jimmy Johnson in Dallas -- and the Patriots clearly are no different.
But now? Let's be honest. We don't know if Brady will be the same player again, be it because of the knee or anything else. He is getting older, too. He has other things in his life that seem as important to him (or more so) than football. Meanwhile, the Patriots have at least temporarily slipped into the middle class like Henry Hill, the onetime large-living mobster of "Goodfellas" who entered the witness protection program, sacrificing his essence to ensure his existence.
For a time, Hill had the best of everything.
In the end, he had to live his life like an ordinary schnook.
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I don't think the good times are gone, but I think the euphoric times may be.
It shows what a razor's edge it is between winning and losing in football when a team can go from unstoppable juggernaut to the mediocre middle-of-the-road team we're fielding now, in one year. Brady - aside (and that's a huge aside), we've got pretty much the same group out there. Yes, we've got a lot of injuries, but many teams do. Take the Steelers for one. Asante Samuel leaving was huge. He was our one CB who didn't need a flame retardant suit to keep from being burned every week. Still, if we can make a couple of key adds to linebacking and secondary next year,there's no reason we can't be back in the hunt. Look at the turnaround the Jets made by adding a few key players.
To say this team is 7-5 with the pathetically awful secondary is really an accomplishment. With some smart drafting and a free agent signing or two this team can definitely be elite again. With the addition of a pro bowl saftey or cornerback I guarentee this defense returns to form. Speaking of this season though, they need to blitz way more, they are way too conservative and they are getting burned.
The sky is not falling, relax.
Look, it's been pretty simple - the Pats' offensive line has been overrated for the last couple of years. They have NEVER been able to stop speed rushers. They also have not been able to run the ball in at least three years. It is not just a running back problem. The second issue is the defense. The defense is not old, it is just not very good. They have not put together a big defensive stop in the clutch when they needed it since the Pats won their last Super Bowl. Either the league has figured out Bill's schemes or the personnel is just not able to execute them which means they are just not that good.
stop.. stop, just stop. If anyone thinks that the Patriots are headed for a 5-10 year "down period" they are wrong. Yes, Brady, Moss, Belichik, etc will not be there in 4 years, but still New England is a place where many premiere free agents will want to play. Scott Pioli does a great job with development and drafting. And lets face it, i don't see the division getting better any time soon. This is the most competitive we will see the East for some time. Set expectations for the playoffs. Not 16-0 or 15-1! Let be a realistic 11-5, or 9-7 for a few years... feel gratitude for homefield advantage, or a bye! We are so spoiled as Pats fans, and we need a dose of humility.
So if they end up 11-5 they are ordinary?
"The fact that the Pats are even still talking about the playoffs is a borderline miracle, a testament to their football operation, their leadership, and to what they have built." Actually, it's a testament to the fact that the Patriots have the easiest schedule in the NFL. The Patriots have not seen a team even remotely as good as the Steelers all season. Therefore, they have managed to rack-up a decent record in spite of being a mediocre (at best) team.
"Time slips away and leaves you with nothing Mister, but, boring stories oooooooooooooofffffff.............Glory Days."
Your defense is what is killing you. You need a fresh infusion of new young talent.
Thanks for the nice comments about the Steelers.
Just like every other journalist in this country - everything is bad. Oh woe is us. Oh what can we do.!!? Well, how about let's wait until Brady gets back, but he may not be the same old Brady - more scare journalism. With all the injuries and the key one to Brady, I think this team deserves the benefit of the doubt. Let's wait until next year before we put the Pats to bed. They were a great team, are a great team and deserve better than this piece of editorial junk.
Massarotti: You are a complete quitter - a freaking LOSER. You were a LOSER at the Herald and you brought your disgraceful quitter attitude to the Globe.
Do you have a side job as a motivational speaker? No? I didn't think so - LOSER.
Living outside of Boston but having grown up in Boston, this is the kind of article that makes me wonder where the perspective is. Hines Ward and many others seem to recognize the fact that the Pats without Brady area completely different team - one not to be feared and one incapable of competing with the upper echelon teams. C'mon, have you forgotten that it's not just how Brady plays but his leadership and intelligence that have driven this machine. He's going to come back with a major chip on his shoulder, he's going to motivated as heck, and the Pats will resume their elite status. It's not that complicated. It's ALWAYS been mostly Brady.
What worries me the most is not whether in ten years the Pats will be mediocre but whether the front office will fail to realize that you probably have 3-4 more years with Tom when you could win 2 more SBs (yes, I believe that). Take advantage of that opportunity. If you have to trade for an elite CB and another linebacker do so.
Living outside of Boston but having grown up in Boston, this is the kind of article that makes me wonder where the perspective is. Hines Ward and many others seem to recognize the fact that the Pats without Brady area completely different team - one not to be feared and one incapable of competing with the upper echelon teams. C'mon, have you forgotten that it's not just how Brady plays but his leadership and intelligence that have driven this machine. He's going to come back with a major chip on his shoulder, he's going to motivated as heck, and the Pats will resume their elite status. It's not that complicated. It's ALWAYS been mostly Brady.
What worries me the most is not whether in ten years the Pats will be mediocre but whether the front office will fail to realize that you probably have 3-4 more years with Tom when you could win 2 more SBs (yes, I believe that). Take advantage of that opportunity. If you have to trade for an elite CB and another linebacker do so.
Yes, you guys in Boston are living like the other half lives ... unless you count your World Championship NBA team and your championship-caliber baseball team. Most every sports town would kill for Boston's "problems" ...
Liberal, emotion based, media. They're like kids. Next week, if we beat the Seahawks, the storyline will be: "Brady-like Cassel and the resilient Patriots push towards the playoffs"
We have a ton of injuries and it's a miracle we're as good as we are this year. Belichick is unbelievable.
Only time will tell for sure...but I do see the grains of truth here. Parity is king in the NFL....the league has worked long and hard to ensure it. No team can go on winning year in and year out forever. Brady is getting older and more suceptible to injury. We have several aging defensive stars on the team that have not been replaced. The injury to Rodney Harrison was all but predictable...he is getting too old to be throwing his body around the field with wild abandon...and he is not alone in this situaton. The Patriots brass is going to have to make some tough decisons this off season...lets hope they do a better job of it than this past off-season
Well, I'm not willing to count the Pats out yet, they are a strong group of talented players, never mind their coaching staff. However, it's clear they have reached a threshhold that might possibly take them out of the playoffs, they can't sustain another loss. More worrisome is their situation at quarterback. No question Cassell has more than carried his weight, as he's gone up the learning curve. His reward will be, most likely, a starting quarterback with another team. The real issue will be Brady; most people forget that, aside from his leg injury that killed his season, he was recovering from a foot injury that kept him out of pre-season. Pat's training camp will be more than interesting to see how he handles it.
That would be "schmuck"....
you're kinda still hoping for the downfall of this team arent you?....
This year there has been 1 team that has been a powerhouse, that every week looks better than anyone else and thats The Giants..This Pats teams has holes..some due to injury some due to lack of talent . But they have been holding on this year through it all..Coulda. Woulda. Shoulda's mean nothing but this team could easily have been 9-2 goining into last nights game...(The Jets and Colts games being virtual ties) They dropped too many balls, made too many mistakes and they arent good enough to overcome THAT mant mistakes..that was a very winnable game last night...10 at the half and they should have had the lead..
If they can scrape their way into the playoffs they can beat anyone in the AFC. The Pats arent that far off the charts. AFC is a conference of flawed teams..none of which looks like they will be able to handle the Giants. But instead of trying to write there obituary why not talk about the upside a little bit...you dont always have to crap on the home team to sound objective. Which is something I dont think the sports writers in this town realize...lets see how things play out this year and how they re-load next year before we toss this team aside.
If it were not for the injuries, the Pats probably would have won 2 more games and been leading in the AFC East and this story would not have been written. Agreed; all terms have injuries and they part of the game but the Pats' injuries have been devastating and have made the difference between 7-5 and 9-3. The Pats will not win the superbowl this year, but they are far from done from being one of the elite teams in the NFL.
Boy you're just now figuring this out. The Pats have been old for years. Brady will be back but not what her was. He's more into his lifestyle anyway. So we'll hang around 9-7 or 10-6 for the next couple of years. But the dynasty is over.
Time to cut the old guys. Re-vamp the most over-rated O-line ever. Matt Light is a joke and get some playmakers on defense.
Or it could be that a majority of the talent on this team is either out of the season, or not known when they will return.
I think its pretty sad to call them has-beens when you look at the fact that they still win games with serious injuries that would cripple most teams and completely ruin their play-off chances. The fact that we can even have that conversation is a testament to the quality of BB's coaching and the overall depth of this team.
Yes, it is a testimony to their determination and ability that we are even talking about a "possibility" that the Patriots make the playoffs. But let's be honest: do you think this team, as it is, can get beyond the first round? I don't. If you can't beat a ragged Indy team with a roughed up Peyton Manning, if you can't overcome a pitiful Miami team, if you can't beat a beaten up Pittsburg team on your own turf, then I don't believe this team can do it. Besides, we are now in a position of having to "wish" that other teams fold, because we couldn't do the job ourselves. And, we have to clearly win out over the other teams because we are last in any tie-breaker scenario. Not a good position. This team, as is, is on life-suppprt!
and another thing...since you are trying to state that all of a sudden this is some mediocre team..
This is a team that besides a miracle comeback would have been in the Super Bowl when the Colts won it...and were about a minute away..(while being completely outplayed)..and a miracle or miracle catch away from going 19-0 last year....now they lose their leader on Offense, their leader on Defense, their best LB and all of their running backs...still fighting for a playoff spot...and suddenly The Pats are back into the middle of the pack...maybe this year, sure...but you know they will spend the money and address their needs in the off-season...then if they are fighting for a playoff spot again with the pieces in place, you can bury them like you so want to....It's true that they arent the team they were last year...its also true that there have been several bad breaks and several injuries this year...any winning team The Patriots included get lucky when they win...those "breaks" go there way...Patriots have benefited from lucky breaks for nearly 10 years now..sometimes..like recently you dont get the breaks...they will be just fine...much to your disappointment
The Patriots will never be a championship caliber team so long as
Hobbs,Oneal and Sanders are in the secondary. You can hire the greatest coaches in the world but it will not help.You can not coach talent, period!
The play by these three is horrific and the stats don't lie. On offense, Koppen
is regularly getting manhandled and a replacement for Light is needed so he can move to right tackle. Tight end play is weak and Gaffney
needs to be replaced. Cassel is not in Brady's league. Until these problems
are addressed, the team is very mediocre.
Even if Brady doesn't come back to NFL HOF status.....so what? He's already in the HOF based on his current resume and we've had a run of 7+ years when the Pats were THE team to beat. So if he doesn't, and is a "regular" guy his next 6 years, be thankful we had what we had!
I fully expect Brady to be Brady when he returns, and that being said, with some extra tweaks in the secondary as well as the O-line playing better than it did in SB XLII and a REAL running game, this team could be back where it was in 2003-4.
I expect that will happen. Yes, I'm a HOMER, but I'm proud to be one. ;)
And good luck to Matt Cassel when he takes over a team in need of a starting QB next year. Way to show all those people who said you stink that you DO know how to play!
How would you feel if you were a Chargers fan?
When do we say goodbye to number 84?
Quite simply... you're an idiot.
The fact that this is even being discussed is so typical of Boston media. You are the most pathetic, loathsome bunch in the world. British tabloids have nothing on Boston sports media!
The fact that Brady, Harrison, Thomas, Warren, etc., etc. weren't playing had NOTHING to do with this performance. Obviously it's a sign that the "good days" are over.................
Let's see. We've got some new serious gamers at linebacker who are only going to get better. The secondary could use some help, and the O-line could use an infusion. Skill positions are good for three or four more years.
I'd wager we still make the playoffs this year, and a Super Bowl in the coming two seems quite possible.
Columnists are just whackos. One week Matt Cassel is the second coming of Tom Brady (he's not), and the next it'w woe is me, we'll probably never win again.
bobo48,
Schnook is how Henry Hill described his life at the end of Goodfellas so Tony Mas is correct in his reference.
The Patriots injuries are blown WAY out of proportion. They lost Brady and Thomas. The rest is just gravy. Harrison's a billion years old and his play has been deteriorating anyways. They Patriots don't have a dominant running back like AP or Steven Jackson, so it's not a huge deal who's in there. What's the difference in yards per carry between Maroney last year and the top backs this year? I can't imagine it's significant.
Plus, you have to factor in the ridiculously easy schedule the Patriots have had this year. They're only 1-3 against teams who finished last year with a winning record. They're other games have all been against teams that were awful last year..........and, other teams have lots of significcant injuries, too.
YES....GO BRUINS!
Writers are the absolute worst bandwagon fans around!!
Get a LIFE!
Get real. Glory days gone? It's an off year, nothing more. Next year the Pats get healthy and may see the return of Crennel as DC and Weis as OC. Brady is back. Next year....Return of the Jedi.
This article is ridiculous! Last year at this same time, the Giants were pathetic. No one even thought they'd make the Playoffs. Next thing you know, they win the Super Bowl. Champions are not crowned in November.
The Pats will be fine. If any team is set up for the future, it's the Patriots. They should have won the last two Super Bowls as well, were it not for colossal chokes against the Manning brothers.
Unfortunately I feel you are right on the money. There are a number of problems with the Pats which are not going to be solved in a hurry. Very well written article!
As many fans were after the debacle last February, I was sickeningly upset about the results of last season’s Super bowl. I would have been less so if I believed this team was going to be a contender for years to come. But teams get old and I truly believed that their place in history, not only to finish up a perfect season, but to be recognized as a powerhouse Super bowl winner for the ages HAD TO happen as that would likely be their last chance for quite a while.
Friends of mine talked like there was always tomorrow. But, as your offering explains, this is a great team in decline and people around these parts better get used to the fact that it will be a long football time before they are strong enough to claim elite status in the NFL.
ROMEO DC 09!
Look at that disgusting fan...Put on a shirt you pig.
What happened yesterday? Forget to video tape our plays from last year?
Typical doomsday banter from Tony Mazz trying to get a rise out of the fans....Wow, it took you long enough to stoop to the levels of where you were at the other rag.....
Time for you to wear your "Pink Hat".
And for this, we season ticket holders get to pay the highest ticket price, by far, in the NFL? The Kraft family better hope we don't show him the same allegiance he showed us when the team starts the inevitable slide......
"The Patriots injuries are blown WAY out of proportion"
No they arent and the stock reponse of "well other teams have significant injuries" isnt a response or critical look at the facts at all...its a cliche...every teams injuries affect every team differently...
take either Manning off of their respective teams and see where they are..Take any team with a top flight QB and take that QB away and see how they fare..and you might want to discard Harrisons play but he still brought plenty to the table and was the glue and the leader in the secondary....take away any teams top 3 backs..whether they are all equally as good as each other or not...now take any teams top linebacker on top of that...there are injuries and there are KEY injuries...
you have to factor that into the conversation when discussing this team this year...
just because everyone wants The Pats to go away doesnt mean they will...
just like after the Loss the Indy in the title game there was an obvious glaring need for recievers and they went and got them..they will plug the holes, re-group and be right back next year....
It's the defense guys, simple as that, I thought they were suspect this year and now it is obvious. As much as i hate to admit it Teddy B is no longer a force, but Mayo is becoming one. Vrabel is no longer a great player, still good but not great. Seymour in my opinion is a waste, gets lots of press bot does little. This team generates little pass pressure and if you are suspect in the secondary a pass rush is critical, yet it is not there, BB knows this yet the Pats do not generate a pass rush. Once the D becomes less effective the handwriting is on the wall.
Tom brady may keep them in a game with the offense but eventually that will fade too. Time to reload on D for now
All you have to do is look at the author of this article to determine whether it is worth reading or not. TM wants the Patriots in a pile of rubble so he can dump on them for hurting the feelings of TM's tubby friend over at the Herald. Did you forget, already? TM has designated us the 'worst kind of fans' and he's worthy of neither our readership nor his paycheck.
Go cover the CFL, plenty of space for blowhards like you up north.
Mazz, may be the most ridiculous flip-flopper in the sports world. A week ago, you're ready to anoint Cassel the next big thing, now your back to earth and casting doubts again. "Oh, but the injuries...." Come on man! Now all the sudden you're back on the Tom Brady Express saying that it's all the injuries with him as the focus. Cassel is a bright spot, but keep in mind he hasn't done it in January and in February like Brady has. Cassel still has a lot to learn obviously including a simple techinque known as protecting the football. He dangled that thing out there each time knowing that you have two of the best in the league currently in terms of Sacks between Harrison and Woodley? Are you serious? Cassel may be able to run, but he lacks Brady's pocket presence. And guess what? We've won 3 Super Bowls off of that. Come on now! If you have an opinion, please stick to it...
Saying Brady doesn't put playing football first is the kind of thing that gets writters blacklisted in locker rooms. Brady may never be the same again, but questioning his desire is pretty low. I'm shocked a writter like Tony Mazz would sink so low. Is he suggesting Brady is more intrested in modeling or acting than playing the game of football? Is there any evidence that Brady has been slacking in his rehab? Or that he wasn't focusing in meetings? All I've ever heard about Brady is that he works harder than anyone. To say Brady has lost some of his desire for the game, based on zero evidence is plain ignorant. Who do you think you are, John Tomase?
My thought is that although no one could have foreseen the injuries to key players
like Brady, Rodney, Thomas, Warren and others, it could have a positive outcome. It is providing key experience to young guys like Woods, Guyton and others that will hopefully pay dividends down the road. To be 7 - 5 with the hand we were dealt (everyone has injuries but not to the Pro Bowl caliber guys the Pats have) is not so bad. With work and good coaching these guys should be the mainstays of the future along with Jerod Mayo and the other veterans. I have
little hope that Maroney will ever do anything here, perhaps in Denver after the Pats cut him as Shanahan coveted him when he was drafted.
I expect with a healthy Tom Brady and others coming back in 09 that the Pats will be right back at the top of the AFC where they and we as fans expect them.
nothing lasts forever...even cold november rain
It's not outlandish to suggest that the glory days might be over, but there are excellent arguments against that assessment. I see most if not all of them have been made, but not by the person who wrote the piece for The Globe.
What do you think Pittsburg record would be right now if they had lost Big Ben, Troy, Hines Ward for the season.
Our defense really misses the leadership of Rodney Harrsion and the talent of Adalius Thomas, Throw in the loss of Brady and it is amazing that they are above 500.
Winning out and finishing 11-5 should make Hoody the Coach of the Year, it still may not be enough to make the playoffs but it will still be remarkable.
Why do you think that Crennel and/or Weis would be welcomed back? They left a winning organization to pursue glory. IF they returned, do you really believe that their presence alone would turn the table for the Pats? I don't think coaching has been the issue this season. Injuries, that has been the issue. The team has done an admirable job of plugging the holes with available personnel, but there is a limit to what can be accomplished. The star RB on IR as well as most of the secondary. The D-line has done the best it can, but again, there is a limit to what can be accomplished.
In other years, the Pats would have had no problem making the playoffs with their current record. 11-5 is a solid performing year. NOBODY saw the Titans being this good and, before Favre turned traitor and joined the Jets, who gave them a snowballs' chance of making it? Take the Jets out of the picture and the Pats are in front, despite all of the issues.
They'll do well with the remainder of the schedule and they may even make the playoffs. Believe me, there will be some serious reloading for next year and the Pats will be contenders.
I think there's been a long-standing attitude & track record of "coaching up" marginally-talented players. Under this current CBA, the expanded salary cap has increased teams margins of error, and the Pats SOP of "coaching them up" no longer works. For the first time in a long time, the Pats have a major talent deficit-- on both sides of the ball. I'm holding my breath for the day the Pats draft a DB north of 6-foot.
ALL football teams sink back into mediocrity. One need look no further than the 49ers, Raiders, Chiefs, or others to see that. Even the Cowboys, Jets, Bills, and Dolphins have been terrible for years until only recently. Thus, my question: Once the Pats return to mediocrity, who would want to drive to Gillette Stadium to shop at Patriot Place, dine at its restaurants, visit its Hall of Fame, or see a movie?
Mazzoroti or tomase should not be covering the Patriots they are bias . Go suck up to the bruins , when anybody says anything about the bruins I just say We have hockey east who cares about the pro's with their every series is 7 games greed.
hahaha BROOOOOOOOOKSIE.. You Drunk
That was the most pathetic game our team played. The way I see it is if you can touch the ball then you should be able to catch the ball. Too many opportunities dropped and it looked like they let the Steelers get into their heads. Maybe the Mazz is right....this may be the sign of the end of our dynasty. I hate to admit it but if you truly look at both sides of the football there needs to be some major overhaul. We just looked horrible against a "smash mouth" type team.
Yes, the Patriots built an NFL dynasty and it now collapsing. This is not a harsh critique just reality. With NFL players having 3-4 prime years, the salary cap, drafting order, and the constant injury bug, staying an elite team for more than a few years is amazing in and of itself. With the exception of Welker, Moss and Mayo , the outgoing free agents have not been replaced by equal or better free agents or draft selections (see horrid secondary with aging LB corps). It is more realistic the Patriots will struggle to compete for a playoff spot for a few years and then get better than to stay top notch. And with a return to elite status, 3 Super Bowls is har
They (PATS) have made serious errors in judgement with their defensive secondary, running backs, and Scott "the drafting guru" Pioli's drafting techniques have fizzeled out. ... Teddy B's days in the sun are long gone ... Lawrence Maroney is a bust, Chad Jackson was a bust, and at the tight end position Ben Watson is a no show bust. Let's face it the glory days are gone ... Their offensive line is showing signs of being beat up by talented D-Lines with Steve Neil, Kazur Mankins, and Koppen all having a miserable year. The G-Men, and now Steel Curtain, exposed them for what they are: four slow white boys with no speed as the Steelers ate them for lunch especially Rodney Hampton. How could BB, a defensive guru go into the season with a secondary as poorly devised as this one? Delpha O'Neil was cut by the lowly Begals, and he is the starting conner, and he is an embarrassment a total embarrassment.. Add in the rest for the smurfs, and they could not cover Damian Woody of the JETS ...
Bye, Bye, yesterday year; welcome back Patsies ...
The last season he played the team was undefeated until the Super Bowl and he won MVP. I would like an explination of the comment about more important things. I hope family and his son are more important than football. I know my family is more important than my job. Please explain the problem here.
DUHH...Injuries play major factors to how good a team is. They will be fine.
PLUS they have an ownership that will spend the $$$ to make sure they stay good:)
UNLIKE so manuy other franchises that take the money and run.....AND thier fans still support them LOL IDIOTS....Boston sports teams spend and get winners...and has the best fan base.
YOU GOTTA LOVE THE MORONS WHO COME TO BOSTON GLOBE JUST TO TRY TO START A FIGHT AND SAY MEAN OR BAD THINGS!!! WHO HURT YOU???? ARE THESE MOMMY ISSUES???? NEED ATTENTION??? I GUESS YOU TEAMS STINK AND YOU NEED A RELEASE....
BOSTON TEAMS ARE GREAT LOOK AT THE RECORDS, CHAMPIONSHIPS AND FAN BASE. AND THEY ARE ONLY GETTING BETTER.
I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.
Thanks for the photo of the stupid, drunken fan along with this crap story. Real nice.
Patriots' problems are plenty. They had plenty of chances to win this game. The coordinators are terrible. Here's an example. First drive of the third quarter, Pats get 8 yards on first down to the Steelers 32. Second and 2. He's got Cassel in the shotgun against one of the best pass rushing defenses in the league. Why not run the ball twice, get the first down, and keep going. Instead, Cassel gets sacked back to the40 and they miss on 3rd down and have to punt. Steelers drive the field for the go-ahead score.
End of era. The defense has turned soft and needs to be rebuilt. The big time playmakers and their legendary toughness (Willie, Ty, Asante, Rodney, Teddy, Mike, etc.) are gone or are on the way out and have not been replaced. (Mayo couldn't tackle his grandmother yesterday). The front 3-5 failed to apply an ounce of pressure.) The drafts have been mediocre or worse the last few years. Admittedly, it is hard to stay on top when you have a low draft position and your best players leave for "greener" patures but somehow the Steelers, with similar problems. are able to continuously replenish their defense. Cassel isn't the problem and Brady isn't the answer.
I don't necessarily believe that the good times are over, but that might be partially because I dont want to give into the depression that that might trigger. But, I am willing to say that this might be an off year for the Patriots and possibly other Boston sports teams. The Patriots have lost a lot of key players and Cassel is learning every step of the way, but it is still his first season and replicating Brady's first starting season is highly unlikely. Honestly I am happy and surprised that the Patriots have a winning record at all. As for other teams, the Celtics and Bruins are looking good and as long as they are strong contenders, that is all we can ask for.
it would seem that belecheks genius is a variable of tom bradys' health...................
Just curious, since the Patriots have come back "to the pack" is there any chance Kraft will bring his ridiculous ticket & parking prices back "to the pack" ?
If brady was not injured this year i dont think you any of you would be saying "brady is getting old and wont be here that much longer". Just because of his knee problem i dont think we should count him out. Look was Brett Favre is doing right now at his age, how bout Kurt Warner, Kerry Collins, Jeff Garcia. The pats will be fine, they just need to focus on the defense because i am sick of seeing deltha oneal getting burned for touchdowns every damn play. Also why hasnt our defensive line been doing anything this year? Finally, our LB's are all too old we need to get some speed in there (See: Jarod Mayo).
As for the rest of the year i see the pats winning the last 4 games with ease, and winning either the wild card or AFC east. Baltimore has a tough schedule and still has to play Dallas, Washington, and Pitt. I see two losses there which could help the pats sneak in at a very respectable 11-5. If they could do this i think that would be a great accomplishment after the first week of the season. All is not lost in foxborough i have faith that Belicheck will figure things out with the defense and get this team playing to an elite level in the playoffs. Cassel will adjust to playing in crappy conditions and will get the job done.
GO PATS!
YOU FORGOT TO MENTION DON SHULA AND THE PERFECT 72 DOLPHINS WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE OTHER DYNASTIES.
Injuries aside, I think the Pats' roster is in need of an overhaul or youth infusion at certain positions, notably CB, OL, OLB, ILB. SS.
With Brady and less injuries on the defense, this team may have been on the cusp of another superbowl. No excuses though, because injuries are part of the game.
This is a year where Pioli and Belichick will have to take a hard look at the roster and look at the production they're getting from some of their older players.
Good points, all, for sure. It's been the silent, aching question on the back of every fan's head since Brady went down.
But, I look at the very team that beat us last night, the Steelers. Somehow, with a blip or two, they have been relevant and very good in Bill Cowher's tenure - a very long one - and Mike Tomlin's. They are mentioned in the top 5 in every AFC prediction in just about every one of the last 14 years.
A strong organizational ethic, a commitment to certain type of football (strong running game; smash mouth defense) has kept them consistently "very good," including an improbable SUper Bowl win 2 years ago.
There's no reason to hink the Pats can't do the same. Remember, THIS NFL season is a year where everyone except for the Giants, TItans, and Steelers is mediocre to lousy.
Ah! We all forget the Dick Macpherson-Hugh Millen days, don't we! The worst side of sports journalism and fans alike is exhibited here in Mazz's story as well as the response. If, indeed, this is the end of the window of Patriots greatness, doe it it taint anything that they have accomplished? What do you think San Francisco 49er fans hang their hat on at night. 5 Super Bowl rings! Well, we got 3 in our time! The nature of sports is cyclical. It was a great run while it lasted!
Stick to baseball you yahoo...
The Pats are done and will not recover this year or next. We stink...again!
A lot of factors have contributed to the drop from the peak of the 2007 season. The primary reason is the dramatic change in the number of injuries they've had to deal with. Let's remember that the Pats started to look mortal when Colvin went down for the season. Since then, they've had countless injuries among the O-Line, LB corps, the RB corps and, most importantly, their all-world QB.
The second major factor is the aging of the defense. Basically, 2/3 of the defense is gone from their Super Bowl victories. They have started to make strides with a new generation of LBs, but they are just far too weak at CB.
Right now, they are not really a playoff-caliber team.
Dennis Brooks - I figured him making front page billing would be for sexual assault or harassment....
Good job buddy - Weymouth Pride
This article represents another reason why so many pro athletes avoid the media. Tony M belongs on the NY Post and the comparison to Henry Hill is absurd. Then again you've acheived your objective. You wrote a foolish article that generated lots of e-mails.
What a terrible, terrible article. Are the good times gone? No, not until Brady, Belichick and Pioli hang up...whatever it is they hang up at the end of their careers.
You mentioned it all halfway through the column: This team lost their starting QB--who just so happens to be the best QB in the league-- in Tom Brady; the glue of their defense if not their best defensive player in Rodney Harrison; the second best player on defense who really turned it on before his injury in Adalius Thomas; their TOP THREE running backs in Maroney, Jordan and Morris (though Morris has since come back...sort of); and their 2nd round draft pick who had just started to show some competence before his injury in Terence Wheatley.
Pick a team, any team, that is able to suffer those sorts of injuries and still contend for the playoffs...I mean, take JUST Tony Romo off Dallas and they put up 13.6 points a game in a 1-2 stretch...add him back and they're 3-0 with almost 28 pts. a game. Now imagine them without Romo for the year...and just for good measure lets take Barber, Felix Jones, Bradie James, Zach Thomas and Orlando Scandrick off the team and see how they do. They would be looking toward next season, as would every other team in the NFL. I think this season has been a true testiment to how amazing a coach Belichick is that the team is even CLOSE to competing for the playoffs. Core players keep going down, and somehow the team continues to chug along. End of 'this euphoric chapter'? Not even close, not with Brady-Moss-Welker-Adalius-Seymour-Wilfork-Mayo ready for another go-round next season.
Ridiculous, ridiculous article.
The Good, the bad and the ugly times, I am a PATS fan. Win or lose, I will see you at the game.
GO PATS!!!
I think it would be wise for The Globe to sell some ad space on Mazz's columns to an anger management course - many of the commenters need one (though I agree that the Henry Hill analogy was strange).
What I see every week is one glaring problem and it boils down to fundamentals:
Missed tackles.
How many times did the Steelers runners get out of the hands of Patriots tacklers yesterday? It seemed to be every time. It's the extra yards gained after the initial contact that is killing the defense. Yeah, I admit it's not the only problem but, I don't know how many times I've seen Merriweather miss tackles this year. The Steelers hit hard and knock 'em down. The Patriots let them slip away. I think the secondary has the skills but they lack the follow-through and fundamentals of tackling. It drives me nuts week in and week out.
For a long time people complained about how old are LB corp is. The future is extremely bright there. Mayo is a star. Guyton and Woods will be solid and Vince Redd is a monster. He is converting from end to LB so transition is slow. Add a pro-bowl safety or corner who can cover (good bye O'neal) and this defense has legs for years. I am excited about the future for this defense. Not the near future, but the future.
The Pats could resort back to cheating. Thats what got them to that elite status anyways!
It's OK to say the Pats stink this year because they do. Next year who knows? This time last year the NY Giants were a joke and the NY fans were trying to run Manning out of town. Now the Giants are the jaugernaut and Eli has become Brady.
That's why we love sports, but don't make excuses for the Pats. They stink this year period. They have not beaten one good team. Cassel is just OK. He'll sign a big contract with some desparate team. But he will not be with the Patriots which is the right thing to do..
This is insane! The Pats went 16-0 last regular season.....16-0! They lost their quaterback....hall of fame quaterback....in the first quarter of the first game. Then they started a quarterback that has not started since high school. Then they lose their starting running back, hall of fame safety, explosive-do-everything linebacker, etc.. Yet here they are with a chance to win their division. Its amazing! They lost to Indy, SD, Miami, and Pittsburgh. Indy, SD, and Pittsburgh are their biggest rivals. Miami always gives them a tough game. Lets not bury them yet. Besides If they go 11-5 without Brady they should be applauded. Playoffs or not.
Or we cold look at this as...while videotaping the oponents and knowing all the defensive signals, blitzes etc. 3 superbowls - While playing by the rules.....
Get a grip, Mazz! Why don't you go back to writing about baseball. You have a full dose of Boston Negativity circa 1992.
Brady will be back; he hasn't even entered his prime. Belichick is the best NFL coach. Once they shore up their defense, they will be the kings of the hill again.
The sky isn't falling, OK? If the Pats finish 10-6, and it is very likely, how do you call them mediocre?
Everybody freaken RELAX !
Are the good times gone? You kidding me? The Pats have the best system in football, did last year, do this year, will next year. Until Belichick is gone we're always a top team. Lost to the Colts on a foul, Lost to the Jets on a coin flip, Loss to the Steelers -- well, because we somehow forgot to play in the rain.
Anyway, RELAX, Brady is back next year, the Pats do need to firm up the secondary, but let's not forget the studs we have as running backs and upstart next generation linebackers, and oh yeah, TOM FREAKEN BRADY.
Anyway, I will say this, Kraft better dust off that wallet, and but some defense or we will slowly erode and die off. Defense wins championships, not offense. Always has, ALWAYS will -- Pats won on defense, Giants beat the snot out of us on Defense, Steelers just won on defense -- our defense is simply horrible right now - O'Neil running around back there like Stevie Wonder
steelers fan you are an idiot.We didnt need to videotape your plays to bash your brains in for the last two years.Your team is pathetic and quite frankly if randy moss cared some this year and caught the two touchdown passes thrown to him it would of been three years of getting your brains bashed in.Second everyone who is talking bad about the Pats are haters who just cant get over the Patriots are THE SINGLE greatest organization in football and will go down with the best teams to ever play the game not to mention,best quaterback ever,and coach.Its funny how pats have a injury ridden season and still are doin above average and people wanna talk bad because they are actually gonna be in the playoffs thisyear.
Think about this next year tom brady will be back the greatest quarterback/leader in football leading the patriots to another super bowl with something to prove.Also you might want to think there might be some close coaches coming back.But we are patriots fans we dont settle for playoffs and write off other teams who have bad seasons we smash every team in our way and get them super bowl rings and next year it will be the same thing with tom brady leading the way.
This guy is nuts. Just a few more cameras on the sideline, some lipreaders in the stands, and listening devices placed in the other team's headsets and this team will be back on top again. BANK ON IT! Belichick is a GENIUS!!
Why hasn't more been said or done by the players regarding the vicious and unwarranted hit of Welke by Clarke. The league should fine him plenty for the hit he delivered to an unprotected and vulnerable player. The Patriot players need to remember Clarke's number for the next time.
Just tell me who the "hot " shirtless wonder is ????
A couple things to remember. One, the Pats have been a very good team for 7 or 8 years, but not a "dominate" team. Every superbowl trophy they hoisted was on the back of a 3 pt win. This article makes it seem as if teams had feared the Pats for years. The Pats were an afterthought for most of the league until 2001, so lets get a little persepective here.
Second, there is no WAY to overestimate the difference that Brady makes. With a healthy Brady, this team is probably a one loss team, if not undefeated.
The "Mazz" has got to be the most over-sensative reactionary columnist in Boston sports history. He needs to get over the fact that he is not named Shaughnessy, Ryan, Gammons or McDonough.
"Mazz", you are second rate.....accept it
hey mazz, you're a hack who makes excuses for his poor workmanship. i don't appreciate your opinion as it seems short-sighted and uneducated. the "good times" as you call them are certainly not over. have you noticed this town's other teams? and do you really think a terrible rash of injuries makes the team washed up? pick any team, give them the analogous injuries, where would they be? everybody can have an off year. you, unfortunatly have had an off career.
Posted by Pats4Life24
Do you read any other papers or websites in the USA outside of boston.com??? You are pathetic. Go tell your kids to cheat on his math test and when he gets caught, just tell his teacher it's ok, Little Tommie cheats. Hhahahahahahahah.
Notice, your team doesnt cheat, finally, in the Bowl last year, you lose. You don't cheat this year, your Qb gets his legs broken. hahahahahahah
I am from Boston and not one of you so called fans even watched before 1993. Bucnh of frauds.. It's funny, watching all you slobs come over to watch the Bruins now. Hey band wagon scum bags, stay on your crappy pink wagon.
In Belichick We Trust. GO PATS!
49ers won their first superbowl in '81. They won their last in '89. There were off years in between, but they were the dynasty of the eighties. We ain't done yet.
I think the man in the middle picture is super sexy! I would love to jump his bones!!!
Steelers Fan, wow, your mom should take away your computer privileges. So much to be gained from your sophomoric rant. Thanks for your very fresh take. Jim Rome must have cut you off after the first line. We understand you just had to get it off your chest and you "brought it" here. Well done!!!!!
Karma. Plain and simple. Systematic and willful cheating for six years, and now the pendulum is swinging. I love football and I was a die-hard Pats fan since '72, but the one thing I can't tolerate (and now can't get over) is the cheating. I won't be back until BB drags his crooked, stinking carcass out to Oakland to pay his dues as Al Davis' whipping boy. And all you ethically challenged, morally bankrupt homers can spare me the excuses in BB's defense. There is no excuse for what he did. Period. I would rather cheer for an honest 1-15 Pats team than cheer for this tainted pile of dog mess.
I don't think it is about Tom Brady, or the offense; except the lack of one high quality running back. But it is about a 75% revamp of the defense. I feel bad for them, and us.
Boston/New England Patriots fan since August 1962.
I'm looking forward to next year. Brady and Thomas will be back. Guyton, Mayo and Meriweather will have another year of experience. All we need is a pass rusher and a corner and the D will be back to where it once was.
I never thought I'd be saying this a couple of years ago, but hey, at least we've got the Celtics!
I couldn't agree more with the posters that felt this was just an awful article. Makes me wonder if the sports editor is on vacation or just has as bad a perspective as this negative um self edit lol. No wonder the Patriots feel that their fanbase has not been supportive or grateful enough. We have all be spoiled rotten by the Pat's outstanding excellence, and at every sign of being mortal, some fans stop cheering and hacks start writing doom and gloom nonsense like this. I think the Pats earned more from any true fan, or intelligent writer, than that type of perspective.
Last week Cassel looked like he could more than get the job done, and even bring a mobility that Brady lacks. He just needs some more time, some more confidence and some better help out there IMHO. And truthfully I think it stinks that Brady isn't in New England helping him along as Drew did with him not so many years ago. I thought he had more class than that.
Anyway I have faith we will be better than this Sunday's game based on how they played the previous Sunday. They just need to gel and hopefully bring in some help to shore up the holes. But I'm a true fan....I'll be watching and cheering them on regardless, not whining about potential doom and gloom. I'm grateful not obnoxiously spoiled!
Such a quick article to dismiss the Patriots. I know the Pats have moved in on your precious Red Sox territory, Mazz. I know you hate Belichick because he doesn't talk to you. Your work is so transparent, it's sickening.
@96
Seriously, get a life. Trolling is immature behavior. Making up shit ("not one of you so called fans even watched before 1993") that is utterly false, and is known to be false by any fan from the Boston area, exposes you as a fraud.
Pop quiz: what team holds the single-season record for most rushing yards? I'm guessing most Boston-area football fans know the answer to this one.
In your hurry to throw in a homophobic comment, you've let your spelling slip. A shame.
It's over - you also fogot to mention the cheating aspect of the Dyansty***********
Of course the good times are over if Mazz is writing the article.
Mazz -- do you feel it's your job to bring us down to earth all the time?
I keep posting comments under your articles that label you Tony "I don't think so, but we'll see" Massarotti and you keep writing articles that solidify my point.
You're the classic Boston sports pessimist. Maybe you'd be better suited for Tony "wait 'til next year" Massarotti.
Let me ask you something. Why should I EVER watch or follow a Boston sports team based on YOUR articles?? You picked the Angels, you picked the Rays and now your telling me that the Pats are entering a protracted funk. I know you feel you just want to be honest, but could you lighten up even a little? You're such a consistent buzz-kill.
I mean, really. If you were the only writer at 'boston.com' why would I ever watch a game???
This article is a great example of the child-like emotions of the sports media. They rave far too heavily when a team does well and cast an equally hyperbolic dim view when a team stumbles. It's been this way for quite some time and I marvel at how laughably immature these guys are. No wonder BB wants nothing to do with answering questions from these children. That these writers are cast as the arbiters of teams, coaches, owners and fans is akin to asking your five year old their opinion on your driving or your performance at work. Hard to believe that guys like Mazz are this narrow-minded, uninformed & context-challeneged.
The "good times" ended when they were exposed as cheaters. Ding dong, the 9 point dynasty is dead.
At least we don't live in Pittsburgh. Maybe the rogue Steelers fans can stop spewing on the Globe message board and buy Ben a helmet.
Hatriot Nation's assault on their mom's computers continues...
The Pats defensive problems begin and end with the 3-4 defense which will never generate a pass rush. Give any NFL QB that much time, he will cut you to shreds.
The offensive line is very good, but suffers from a QB that they don't know where he is. They can not turn around and look. The QB must be exactly where they expect him to be, or they can not protect him
I think everyone needs to understand that EVERYTHING is cyclical in life. There are peaks and valleys. This is one of the valleys. What goes down, must go up and what goes up must come down. Things will come around again. Just be patient.
Patriots will make to the playoff if they play as a team. They have lot of injuries and inconsistencies and the remaining backup players must stepup and play their A game.
Maybe it's the cameras
Mike in Post 31, how many teams that you know have lost their starting QB and still have a winning record? Also, we had lost not just our #1 Rb, but we lost our #2 and #3 RB as well. We were down to playing with our 3rd down back and our undrafted rookie back that started on the practice squad. Tell me how many teams that had lost their QB and top the RB's and still have a winning record?
Yes, Harrison is getting old, but you seen to give the leadership role little respect. Ask the rookies and people on the field...Harrison is a huge loss to the defense.
The good thing about these losses to injuries are that the players that have to step up and play are getting game time and learning more and more about the system. When everyone is healthy next year, the Pats will be back to DYNASTY form once again.
Watch out for Chad Johnson on the Pats next year!! And the Pats will tag Cassel and trade him for picks once we know Brady is 100%.
Steelers Fan. You gotta be kidding me. If you truly are from Boston you would know that the fans have supported the team though good times and bad, and it is the true "TITLETOWN". Let me ask you this, genious, who has more Super Bowl Rings? Enough said.
@107
Who cares which team has the single-season record for most rushing yards??? I can see you at a party and trying to start a conversation with that one...really cool LL...you will need Old Spice for that one. What really matters is below:
Steelers 5 SUPERBOWL RINGS
Patriots 3 superbowl rings ***
*** alledged cheating scandal under Bellicheat Era
The Steelers have the best tradition and the greatest fans in the world!!!
It just seems that we can no longer predict what the other team will throw at us....that and our aging talent pool. I agree with an overhaul. Maybe we can get Plaxico to complement Moss. They say that the Giants don't want him anymore. Michael Vick will also be available soon. They don't need him in ATL. That is better than Cassel who has not started since high school. Vick would be a good back-up for Brady should his knee bother him. Chad Johnson and Larry Johnson are also unhappy with their teams.
FIRST of all the Patriots are still very much in the playoff picture. SECOND of all, there were never any GOOD times... They were, and still are, GREAT Times and they're not over by a long shot. If we are already talking about next season (which we should not be) then The GREAT TIMES are going to continue to roll on.
Since Bill Belichick's second year as the New England Patriots head coach the Patriots have had records of 11-5; 9-7; 14-2; 14-2; 10-6; 12-4; 16-0. Most teams go through a few down years, rebuilding years, retooling years, losing or mediocre seaons, whatever you want to call it, before they get back up to elite status. It's very difficult to keep players on Super Bowl winning teams together. Players leave for more money, and teams are willing to pay. Some players just retire (ex. Ted Johnson, Jerome Bettis, etc.) The Patriots are a different organaization, they are an elite organization that knows what they're doing. The Patriots records during those DOWN years, in which i was referring to, were 10-6; 12-4. In each of those two seasons they won one more playoff win than the previous season. In 2005 they lost in the second round to the Broncos; 2006 they lost in the AFC Championship game to the Colts; and in 2007, well we all know what happened.
But to make a quick argument, NE should have beat the Colts in that 2006 AFC championship game if it weren't for a Reche Caldwell dropped pass on a critical second or third down during a critical drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter... which pretty much lost it for them. Had Reche not drop that pass then the Patriots win and most likely beat the over-rated Bears in the Super Bowl. Then there is last season. If ALL-PRO Asante Samuel didn't let that interception slide through his hands on the Giants game winning drive in the Super Bowl, or if that freak catch didnt occur, then the Patriots go UNDEFEATED. Thats two more Super Bowls the Patriots should have won. Remember, This is all during the Patriots "rebuilding," or "retooling" years.
Tom Brady will come back with a vengeance. All this talk in the media about "his knee; and how he might never be the same; and how his career is in jeopordy and might be over; and how he might have lost his focus and his drive for football with his new super model girlfriend," is driving him to come back even harder. Brady has always had one of the best work ethics amongst all the NFL players. He wins that famous parking spot for hardest worker during trainiing camp every year. He has worked on improving his game every single year he has been in the NFL. Since he was a sixth round draft pick he has always driven himself extremely hard to prove everyone wrong. Everyone knows that he is one extremely competitive person and that he hates losing at ANYTHING never mind football (watch the "60 Minutes" segment about Brady and Willie McGinest will talk about about it.)
Belichick and Pioli will shore up this NE Defense in the off-season through free agency and the draft. The front three is still the teams strong point, think about how much more of a beast Jerod Mayo will be with a year under his belt in the Patriots complex defensive system. Rookie, Gary Guyton, has been a solid linebacker this year and is filling in nicely for AT in his absense. AT will be back next year also. Shawn Crable is another solid rookie prospect that may have a little bigger role. The Cornerbacks will need some off-season retooling but there should be some improvment with this years rookies having some NFL experience. The safteys right now are solid and possibly Rodney Harrison and/or Tank Williams returning will bolster that group. And I'm not sure but I believe that if a team signs Matt Cassel during the off season then NE gets some draft picks, like the Wes Welker deal.
The 2009 Patriots will be Domininant and I see many Great years to come... along with multiple Super Bowls.
@120
Sounds like what the Dallas Cowgirls and the Oakland Faiders will do...hire athletes with troubled pasts or criminal records...great idea!!! Moss turned around fine...so far. ;-0