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Consensus is building: Pats helped themselves

Email|Link|Comments (2) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff May 6, 2009 07:20 AM

Since free agency began in late February, the Patriots have been one of the NFL's busiest teams reshaping their roster.

As the pace of the NFL offseason slows a bit, more national writers are stepping back to assess all the movement, and one thought seems to be prevalent: The Patriots helped themselves and should be one of the teams to beat in 2009.

Clark Judge of CBSSports.com is one of the latest to opine on the Patriots. He identifies five teams that he feels most helped themselves this offseason, and New England is on the list.

"These guys don't regroup as much as they reload each year," Judge writes. "I don't care if you like them or not. You can't help but admire the way they do business. They have a core of outstanding talent and fill in with role players who fit their system. The results speak for themselves."

Also count Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News in the group.

"Only three NFL teams finished in the NFL's top 10 in both offense and defense last season – the New England Patriots, Giants and Eagles. All have improved themselves this off-season," writes Gosselin. "So pencil in the Patriots with a healthy Tom Brady as the favorite in the AFC and the Giants and Eagles as the teams to beat in the NFC."

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2 comments so far...

Mike, do you think the media is overreacting to the Eagles' Peters and Hobbs acquisitions? We know Hobbs well, and in my opinion, he's a borderline starter that wants to be paid like a #1. The Peters acquisition is a joke to me. They gave up a #1 pick and a big contract for a guy that gave up 10+ sacks last year? What, was Winston Justice busy?

Posted by Mile High Pats Fan May 6, 09 04:05 PM

I agree with The Mile High Pats fan. I love Hobbs as a special teamer and all around "good dude" but was not sad to see him no longer play as a CB for us. Way too many 'costly' burns in coverage.

Posted by Dante_PortlandOr_NEP4L May 6, 09 05:02 PM

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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