IGotWorms

Its possible, of course, but could Samuel really be THAT mad at being paid the average of the top 5 corners in the NFL? Granted there is no long term security, but just in terms of the salary he couldn't be too pissed off about it.

This does put them in a bit of a tough situation. Is Samuel a top 5 corner in the league? Probably not. But if they lose him, do they have anyone even remotely capable of taking his place? No, they do not. Signing a free agent to replace him would likely lead to either a Duane Starks type situation, or groslly overpaying for someone serviceable anyway. They could draft somebody, but that would leave them with Hobbs (perhaps not the "sorriest corner in the league," but also not great most of the time) and a rookie. I wouldn't like that one bit. So I think they franchise Samuel, not because they think he is worth all that money, but because they do have a lot of cap room this off-season and it will buy them a year to come up with Plan B. As for youth on defense, they do need to get younger at LB, yes; but with the exception of Harrison, they are already quite young in the secondary. As for Harrison, I don't think they should count on him to be a significant contributor anymore. His age is clearly catching up to him, and for a guy that plays as physically as he does, that spells disaster. And Wilson hasn't done jack squat since 2004. I'd be halfway surprised if he were on the team at all next year. I agree with everything here. Lose Caldwell, find a #1. Not an easy task, but they've got to do it or opposing defenses will just stack the line every game next year. Dillon would be nice to keep as a goal line back, but he will have to take a significant reduction in pay for that role. Yup. They need a big signing (A. Thomas, Briggs, or maybe a somewhat lesser guy like D Edwards or L Fletcher) and youth at linebacker, a veteran addition at safety (Deion Grant?), and a wide receiver (Drew Bennett?). If they manage to address those three things, and either keep Samuel or adequately replace him, they will possibly be even better next year.

I'm not so sure Martz really understands this, but I can guarantee you that Millen does not. All those wide receivers he drafted? Wide receiver is perhaps the least important position on most quality teams! If Millen had used those picks on the DL and OL, and they had at least not shat the bed, the Lions would in a MUCH better position today.

That is when I became a fan, although it was particularly because they drafted Bledsoe. I'm only 25 though, so that doesn't make me a bandwagon fan, unless you have to come out of the womb screaming "PATRIOTS" to fully qualify as a "true fan" (as some here would undoubtely argue).

Oh, poor suffering Niners fan. How can you bring yourself to root for such an historically sucky team? Look, I don't like bandwagon fans either, and as a true fan of the Pats, I guard against them BIGTIME. But I really haven't come across that many. Most all of them were fans back in the days when they stunk, but perhaps they were not as involved because there wasn't much to be excited about. Why can't we enjoy our time in the sun?

A lot changes from year to year in the NFL.

When did the U of M ever do anything right with its football program, though?

This is true. The penalty was total horsecrap in that Banta-Cain's actions had no real effect on the game at all, but it was the correct call according to the rule. Still, I think the refs could have let that one go as a non-call, given the gravity of the situation. I think the Colts would've scored anyway though. The Pats defense was pretty much dead tired at that point.

Why did you forsake them this year, Jesus?

The Patriots will surely franchise him rather than let him go to the Jets.

You are probably right about Maroney, and obviously I hope you are. But he did play terribly against Indy. I think the problem is that he was dancing around behind the scrimmage later in the year, whereas early in the season he just found the best hole he could and hit it (insert joke here). Given that Dillon was still effective down the stretch, I figure this must have more to do with Maroney changing his style than the holes just not being there. And I hope you are right about Chad Jackson too. I just have a feeling that he is not smart enough or dedicated enough to pick up the offense, though. Hope I'm proven wrong. And Faulk is gettin' old. Plus, where was he at the end of the game yesterday? He wasn't on the field for the last 25 snaps.

Let's see, the Niners of the 1980's won Superbowls in: '82, '85, '89, '90 The Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970's won Superbowls in: '75, '76, '79, '90 Notice the gaps there? Oh, but don't let cold hard facts stop you. Oops--replied before readind the thread. I see I got beat to the punch on this, but it does bare repeating. Also, 6 Million Dollar Faulk was way too easy on yako0o. His statement, in obvious contradiction of the facts, proves that he is not only a Pats-hating troll, but a dumb one at that.

I don't see Freeney moving to OLB, and if somehow it could happen, there is NO WAY the Pats get him AND Thomas. Plus, I think there is a better than 50% chance that Bruschi retires. And why did you drop Colvin? I don't think they need a CB, unless they lose Samuel (which would be a collosal blunder at this point). They do need a safety, and there are some out there. Deon Grant and Ken Hamlin are a couple possibilities.

Great thread. I think the Patriots needs are as follows, in order of relative importance: - Inside linebacker: They need at least one guy to put next to Bruschi so that Vrabel can go back outside. Can Briggs or Thomas play ILB? I believe they both play OLB now, but they do seem to have the size necessary to make the transition inside. If Bruschi retires, the Patriots will probably need to keep Vrabel inside (for leadership and continuity) and will then need an ILB and an OLB. - Safety: They need a veteran leader to replace Rodney Harrison. With the amount of injuries he's had over the past two years, it is obvious that he has really worn down. Thats to be expected of a guy who has played as physically as anyone else over his career. Eugene Wilson spent the year on IR and really hasn't been a factor since 2004, so I wouldn't rely on him either. That means they need to bring in a veteran guy. Deion Grant is my current favorite, although I haven't really looked closely at the other guys expected to be available this offseason. - Wide receiver: Gaffney is a keeper, but they really need somebody else to start alongside him. At this point I am thinking that Chad Jackson=Bethel Johnson. As for Reche Caldwell, he showed yesterday that he is not to be relied upon. I know its a harsh assessment after he played well for most of the season, but in my opinion has neither the grit determination necessary to make it on this team. So I think that leaves the Patriots with having to sign a guy in free agency this year. We all know they HATE to overpay for wide receivers, but they need to get a guy like Drew Bennett. Bobby Engram could be a poor man's signing. I won't even mention Stallworth as that would be beyond a pipe dream. - Cornerback: If they re-sign, or more likely, franchise Asante Samuel, then I think they are pretty well set at the position. Perhaps adding a veteran or two for depth and the nickel spot would be good. They should get Randall Gay back next year, and Chad Scott seemed serviceable (though he will be a year older). If Samuel goes, obviously this position goes near the front in terms of biggest needs. In general, the Patriots do need to get younger and faster at the linebacker position, they need another playmaker in the secondary (see Rodney's replacement), and they need to get a running game together. Maroney looked awesome early in the year and then fizzled out BIGTIME. Will this change next year? If not, the Pats definitely need to look elsewhere for another back. So here is what I'd like to see happen: 1. Re-sign or franchise Asante Samuel. Try to re-sign Graham, but if his price is too high we've still got Watson and Thomas, though neither of them are half the blocker that Graham is. 2. Sign Briggs or A. Thomas. This will be the hardest, since its hard to imagine either of those teams letting them get away. Another option would be Donnie Edwards, if the Chargers do let him go. He isn't young, but if they can't get Briggs or Thomas he would be a good consolation prize. 3. Sign a safety like Deion Grant. 4. Sign a WR. They need a big play threat, but I don't see that out there this year. 5. Use the draft to get younger and faster on defense. A third down type of back in the 3rd or 4th round to replace Kevin Faulk would be great. They really need a playmaker at the position, like a Leon Washington, if you will. Comments? Disagreements? This is good therapy.

Uh, no. Before the season a lot of people were actually predicting that the Dolphins(!) would win the division and the Pats would be a wild-card first round exit, at best. The fact that they made it as far as they did was pretty amazing, I think, but no, it still does not excuse the choke job they pulled off yesterday.

Very true. Very, very true. Freeney in the 3-4?! And considering that the Patriots already have three great, young defensive linemen signed long term...that would be stupid. Unless you think Freeney could play OLB for them? That would be a heck of a stretch though. No, they need an inside linebacker very badly. Then they could move Vrabel back outside. Heck, they might need 2 inside linebackers if Bruschi decides to hang them up. They could also use a veteran safety to replace Harrison. And of course a WR.

Kevin Faulk with a timely and much-needed Big Play.

I watched the NFL replay of the game tonight. They showed the end of the game where LT flips out near mid-field, and then they showed his press conference afterward where he claims the Patriots have no class and that "the coach" is to blame. Well you know what? I did NOT see any actual footage of the Patriots doing anything disrespectful! NFL Replay made a point of showing Tomlinson flipping out, and they made a point of showing the part of his press conference where he "calls out" the Patriots. Yet they didn't show any film of the incident itself! Why not? I'll tell you why: they didn't have any. They've got NFL films at their disposal, with a ton of cameras on the field, and they couldn't find one clip of the Patriots "dancing on the logo"? LT was pissed because the Chargers lost. Understandable, but to make up that crap does indeed make him a LIAR and a CRYBABY! I thought he was better than that.

Brady is absolutely THE MAN. When the Chargers went up 14-3 before the half it pretty much looked like they were going to pull away from the Pats big-time in the second half. So what did Brady do? He led the team down the field and got the TD to make it 14-10 at the half. He had been playing like crap up until that point, but when it really mattered he came through. Then when the Chargers went up 21-13 in the 4th, Brady did the same thing again. Right when Tomlinson ripped off his huge gain and it was obvious the Chargers were going to score, CBS showed Brady on the sidelines telling his offense that they were going to go down the field and score, and they did. Was he fortunate that the Chargers stupidly went in to prevent mode at the end of the first half? Yes. Was he very fortunate that Brown stripped the ball after that 4th and 6 interception? Hell yes. But the bottom line is that when he was in a position to come up big when the Pats needed it, he did so every single time, as he has done pretty much every single time his whole career. THAT is why Tom Brady is the ultimate clutch performer.

Who the hell would hire Martz? Jesus, as a Patriots fan, I really hope Miami is that dumb.

Yes, everyone else has agreed that you are a no-class moron.

Wrong again. He was officially listed as a starter in 13 games this year. Maybe you should just sit this one out?

Well they sell naming rights to the stadium, and it happens that they struck a deal with Gillette. This way, whenever people talk about the stadium, like we are now, they are reminded of Gillette and thus may be more likely to buy Gillette products. Its called marketing, and it has nothing to do with who actually owns the stadium. Did you miss all this stuff back when they started changing Candelstick to 3COM?

Yeah, I guess you are that dumb. BOB Kraft is the owner of the Patriots and, since he built it with his own money, Gillette Stadium.

"Nearly half a season"? He played in 14 games this year. When did they move the season up to 28 games?