I think the clock is ticking and ... the Welker / Brady bunch just isn't enough to getit done like they used to.

Somehow at crunch time Welker is not the guy anymore. Last year and this year too, not so much the drop, but more so that he didn't make the winning catch.

I wonder if they haven't all lost a step - Brady, Welker, Bellicheck
- Time for a new King of the AFC East!

I would love to believe that but the Patriots in our last game of the season stomped us as bad as anytime during the last ten years and that taste is still in my mouth... Brady's age is getting up there so eventually it will happen, just don't think it happened this year at leadt based on how they played us...

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All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.
Nietzsche

Over the AFC east? Who knows but if you are referring to the NFL, they won 3 SuperBowls, the last one being 2005. This is 2013. They have been "in it" as far as being a good team but to say they have dominated the NFL recently so as to ask "is it over," then as far as the NFL has been concerned, it has been "over" for the Pats for a long time.

Any team that can make it to the play-offs consistently year after year is a powerhouse. How many years have we been predicting an implosion?
Hasn't happened yet. When they start missing the play-offs with Brady under center we can start cheering. I think he has two or three more good productive years in contention.

. I think he has two or three more good productive years in contention

agreed, but we are up and coming

It depends on the future of vaginal football...

Brady is getting older and they have really never added any WR besides Welker and he may be gone via FA


They are the AFC's Packers, stong offense no defense.

My prediction. That ain't letting him go. Too much chemistry between he and Brady.

They both have about the same shelf life remaining in pro football.

To let him go would be insanity.

Sure they might have to pay a little more but there is no substitute for him on the field.

Just my prediction.

Who is the last WR Belichick paid a big long term contract to?

Normally he lets 31 year old players walk. He doesn't sign them to long term contracts.

He let Richard Seymour go at age 29.
He let Lawyer Milloy go at age 29.
He let Ty Law go at age 30.

These were all dominant players at their positions. Pro Bowl players. Some were trades but still...

He also let Deion Branch go in his prime (26) after his biggest year in NE.

He has done everything in his power to get rid of Welker. He drafted Julian Edelman and tried to limit Welkers role on the offense early in the year. They limited his snaps in September. BB started Edelman in place of Welker at one point.

He brought in two TE's and changed the offense.

Some say they gambled on Edelman and were trying to trade Welker but it backfired. They refused to extend him on a long term deal.

It may be insanity not to resign him but that's what most thought about the Pro Bowlers he got rid of...

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

The Patriots won 4 Superbowls between 2001 and 2005.

They got the benefit of BS phantom Pass Interference calls, the benefit of a little known, never before used 'tuck rule'....AND.....they cheated.

They had been stealing signals, audio taping QBs,and taping practices.

This helped them beat the Steelers to get into the Superbowl, and helped them win against the Rams and Eagles.

Since they got caught....they haven't won the Superbowl.

In that time...their legacy has enjoyed a mirage of dominance since they get to play the Dolphins, Jets & Bills twice a year. The AFC East has been incredibly weak for a long time.

The Patriots like to run up the score when they win to try and promote to impression of their dominance....maybe to erase the stigma of SPYGATE...but this year in the regular season they lost to the Cards, Ravens, 49ers and Seahawks.

They are good...but not GREAT...They ain't pretty they just look that way!

Next year we will be able to play with them. It won't be the same...we will be in both games....win or lose.

The Bills and Jets will be rebuiling/retooling....so next year it is us and the Pats.

The following year...they will be in the middle looking for a wildcard spot.

Their reign is over!

realist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Patriots won 4 Superbowls between 2001 and
> 2005.
>
> They got the benefit of BS phantom Pass
> Interference calls, the benefit of a little known,
> never before used 'tuck rule'....AND.....they
> cheated.
>
> They had been stealing signals, audio taping
> QBs,and taping practices.
>
> This helped them beat the Steelers to get into the
> Superbowl, and helped them win against the Rams
> and Eagles.
>
> Since they got caught....they haven't won the
> Superbowl.
>
> In that time...their legacy has enjoyed a mirage
> of dominance since they get to play the Dolphins,
> Jets & Bills twice a year. The AFC East has been
> incredibly weak for a long time.
>
> The Patriots like to run up the score when they
> win to try and promote to impression of their
> dominance....maybe to erase the stigma of
> SPYGATE...but this year in the regular season they
> lost to the Cards, Ravens, 49ers and Seahawks.
>
> They are good...but not GREAT...They ain't pretty
> they just look that way!
>
> Next year we will be able to play with them. It
> won't be the same...we will be in both
> games....win or lose.
>
> The Bills and Jets will be
> rebuiling/retooling....so next year it is us and
> the Pats.
>
> The following year...they will be in the middle
> looking for a wildcard spot.
>
> Their reign is over!

You know what realist? I never bought into the spygate thing being a big deal, at least when it happened bucause they kept on piling up stats and wins after.

But the proof is in the pudding, pre spy gate the won 3 Super Bowls by a fg each.

Post spygate they have lost two by a fg and by 4 pts each.

Clearly the NFL felt that they gained an unfair advantage through spygate of they wouldn't have docked them a 1st round pick. And it's fair to conclude that the advantage they had from spygate was worth a few plays that helped them beat teams that were as good or better than them.

It's also fair to conclude that were it not for the advantage they got from cheating they could well be 0-6 in Super Bowl appearances.

The Pats era may be coming to an end but not until Brady retires and that will be a few more years.

It would be so much more satisfying to become competitive and KNOCK them off their "high horse" as opposed to waiting for them to be put out to stud.

.....................................................................................
“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

They are ripe to be overtaken, but we don't match up well with their offense. We don't generate enough pressure on Brady. We can't cover Welker (if he's back). We can't cover their TEs. And we don't punish any of their pass catchers after they make catches.

That said, the Pats could look very different next year. They have about $18M in cap space and are faced with Welker, Vollmer, Chung, Donald Thomas, Kyle Arrington, Julian Edelman, and Aqib Talib hitting free agency. They are going to have to do some manipulating to even re-sign their own guys, let alone play in the free agent market.

My bet is Brady will continue to have better than average receivers (WRs and TEs) to throw to next season. Unless they somehow have injuries that prevent them from scoring they are still primed to be the best in the East. We could challenge them if Ireland hires the right FA WR and we get the right draft picks to pan out for us. They have playmakers--we need playmakers on O and D.

Yes and this year was a strange one for the entire team in that we had one of the worst turnover ratios in the league. We could not force any on defense. No one is going to have success when this is the case. This year was a bit of an anomaly. Next year is sure to be different which will make us that much better in these close games.

NE was +25 and Miami was -10. That is just plain ridiculous.

Our offense averaged 18 ppg this year. We need to improve that by at least 5 points per game to be competitive. The 12th ranked team was at 24.4 (Cincy). That should be a key spot since there are 12 playoff teams.

I am sick of boring offenses. We need a faster TE and a dynamic WR. Assuming we can upgrade the line and can actually block next year. RT needs time to throw or he will never improve.

.....................................................................................
“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

realist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Patriots won 4 Superbowls between 2001 and
> 2005.

What???????????

They "won" 3. Not 4. And more realistically they stole at least 2. Some MAYBE they've actually won 1.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2013 05:01PM by BigNastyFish.

The final word is that the Patriots are "Hoo-wahs!"