The model franchise?

Yeah and I bet Bowen thinks fudge brownies are good for breakfast. I used to play football so I know that the thing with New England is that they have the TEAM which builds on itself and creates a MONSTER going into the playoffs. However, we need KEY PIECES to compete, like a QB and a WR. Bowen fills one hole, but we need the missing piece filled. The draft perhaps?

they havent won a super bowl since 2004

It's funny to see Pittsburgh fans whining about how they have 6 rings, when most of them came from the 70's. I'd take Belichick and Brady over Tomlin and Rothlisberger anyday!

I recognize the talk about the Patriots - a model franchise - for years but i wonder if it really attracts younger players or players in their prime to come to Foxborough for a little less money just to win and experience the Patriots way. In my opinion only money rules and therefore the first adresses seem to be always Washington, Dallas, etc. Are those model franchises ? How can they handle the salary cap and never have to suffer for their spending more than 1-2 years ? What bugs me the most is that even the Jets get players like Pace, Jenkins, Faneca, Woody, this year Scott, Sheppard, Leonard while the Pats get mostly old players (and if they get a younger one like Thomas they actually have to pour their pockets) or have to take some risks (as Dillon, Moss, etc.), not to forget that the Jets get their old players like Law and Favre, too. So while teams like Dallas, Washington, Jets, etc. are nevertheless always been able to self destruct and the Pats (hopefully) will further dominate those guys i don't think it's because of the advantage that everybody wants to play for the Pats because of their 'model' franchise. Finally look at all those younger Pats who left the team for the money and had no discount in mind to stay in the familiar and winning environment (Law, Woody, Graham, Branch, Givens, Samuel, etc. and please not next in line Wilfork).

FW: Julius Peppers

Volker, Money isn't everything when you have gobs of it. Over the years, the Patriots have been able to attract players that feel winning a championship is greater than having a few extra benjamin's in the bank. Especially the guys that may have hit it big (financially) early in their career but played for losing teams. The Pat's may not pay top dollar (with a few exceptions e.g. Adalius Thomas) yet the message that, "no individual is greater than the team" permeates to the core when you strive for the ultimate prize in a team sport.

Volker, I understand with what you're saying, but two things come to mind. First, even though Adalius Thomas's deal seems like a big one (and it is comparatively speaking when it comes to the Patriots), it was still a very cap friendly deal and some even considered it a steal. Second, i totally agree that they don't have a major tendancy to go after the young players in their prime, mostly because of the money involved. However, they draft well, use those young players while they can, hope to resign some of them and then let the rest go. The results have been favorable, especially when you consider that the most successful player they've let go is probably Vinatieri (won SB with colts). Branch is oft injured, Samuel hadGivens can't play the sport anymore. They have had great success so I dont think we can question too much.

Sean,,,

Adalius Thomas in reality was NOT the exception.
While BB wooed him and cooed him in foxborough, the 49ers were trying even harder to get him. and the 9ers coach said, if it came down to a game of money, we'd have gotten adalius thomas.

what can I say!?

Sean and Brendon,
you are correct. But although i mentioned the money, i didn't want to say the Pats should spend more money. In fact i love the way the Pats do business and how successful the team operated in times of the salary cap. I just wanted to comment on a (in my opinion) too often used statement by the media or people who don't follow the Pats as much that the team benefits every offseason by getting high-profile free agents because of their great environment and winning ways. In my opinion this aspect is exaggerated. Actually i ask myself why there is not more interest from players around the league to sign with Pats for a little less money. What is more satisfying than the chance to be on a winning team for a longer period, especially when you're already a millionaire (and Pats pay them too, just not the top dollar).

@ChrisForsberg

You overlooked Bowen's interesting comments about "Spygate"...

The best part of this story was what Bowen said about Spygate. I don't have it in front of me but he basically said something to the effect of, "...I don't want to hear about Spygate, in the NFL everybody does it..."

I have always believed the Patriots cheated. That does not mean that other teams don't also. It's nice to hear from someone truly in the know that it wasn't just the Pats, and that it was not what made them so great and set them apart from every other team.

There isn't much money guaranteed in NFL contracts. The risk of career ending injuries is high and when players are in their prime and can get the most guaranteed money they are going to take it. We would all do the same. BB puts a lot of emphasis on the front defensive 7 and will break the bank for players like Colvin and Thomas. He knows defensive backs, TEs, receivers, and running backs are interchangeable and won't break the bank for them. BB has not let Seymour or Warren leave and won't. Don't be surprised if Peppers is brought in and Wolfork is signed. BB has a plan and sticks to it, producing a competitive team year in and year out. BB knows he can rely on a veteran market to fill in the holes in other positions. His work environment is attractive to them. BB is a machine and does not allow himself to make exceptions.

Gee, do the math ... Patriot only have 3 Super Bowl wins ... there are a couple of teams with 5 na done with 6. Even if Brady were to win another Super Bowl, there are not that many player on the team that have the same number of rings that Brady would have? So therefore, Dynasty as a team ... not!