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Page 18 of 18 -- A: They can afford a loss or two, but I think it's preferable they keep winning. They don't look at three games from now. They're the ultimate one game at a time team. I think it would be shocking to see them lose any of the next three games. people talk about the Jets at the Meadowlands as a possible loss, but why? I would guess they'd want revenge on the Bills, and Jacksonville, sure they're an up and coming team, but it's not even close in terms of talent between the two teams. You also have a rookie coach against the best coach in the league.

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Hey, Nick, happy holidays to you and your family. I am having such a wonderful time rooting for this team and almost hate to ask you this question: Can you imagine how scary this defense could've been if we had Covin all year? What's going with his health? I'd love to see him back next season.
Todd Zaino, New Britain, Conn.

A: Happy holidays to you, too, Todd. I think they would have been about the same, really. Colvin is a heck of a player, but McGinest did a great job basically filling for him. The way McGinest has played, it's hard to imagine Colvin could have been better. He's undergoing a very slow rehab. It's one step at a time. He just began sitting up a few weeks ago.

Nick: Every strong defense needs a nickname. The posters over at patsfans.com have coined one for our beloved New England Patriots. We are now calling our killer Patriots defense "The Boston D Party." Use it on your website or in your articles and pass it on. We want this thing to spread. All of us at www.patsfans.com will be reading your articles, as always, as our Pats make a march to their second championship in three years! "The Boston D Party" has a date in Houston in February! Thanks.
Armen, Plantation, Fla.

A: Good job, Armen.

Nick, First off, I'm so proud of the Patriots and their play thus far this year. Sunday's snow game was amazing. The defense was stout and Brady played a spectacular turnover free game. Which brings me to my point. The Patriots are everything that is "right" in this league. Team and winning comes first, no egos on this team. During commercials Sunday I switched channels to check the Chiefs game and I see Clinton Portis on the sidelines wearing some sort of boxing or wrestling belt proclaiming himself the best running back in the world. I thought to myself, you would never see this on the Patriots sideline. Players who play for the teammates and play for their fans, this is what is right with this team. I don't know if you can "blueprint" that.
Joe Sawhill, Des Moines, Iowa

A: I saw that, too. I don't know what that was all about but Mike Shanahan is quite a disciplinarian. He's won two Super Bowls. He's a fine coach. I think you have to allow some expression by your players. Look at what Deion Branch does after he catches a ball? Of course, the Patriots don't a have a running back like Clinton Portis, either. The Patriots players are humble, they do the right things, no question.

All this talk of pay cuts for the good of the team. Let's view it this way. How offended are we when a player decides he is worth more money than what he agreed to in his contract and holds out for a new contract? Aren't we offended and don't we insist that he honor his contract? Now reverse the tables and think how absurd it is for the owner to insist he signed a player for too much dough and ask him to take a pay cut. I can see if the player were Terry Glenn and honestly didn't earn his pay however in a case like Ty Law, he earned every red cent and like you said in last week's letters, give the man a raise!
Chuck Dore, Portsmouth

A: Ty has earned it.