miDeuce

The only thing I agree with is that the whole spygate thing did unify them into the ultimate 'us against the NFL' mentality. I don't think you can quantify the effect people saying they cheated their way to 3 Super Bowls had on people as competitive as Brady, Harrison, etc.

The OLine's dip last year had as much to do with Cassel holding the ball too long and not avoiding the rush like Brady could as it did with Yates and LeVoir filling in here and there. They were much better by the end of the year once Cassel got more comfortable. The Pats will always have a game or two a year where the OLine gets beat up, but 90% of the time they are as good as any in the NFL.

As for Brady not being as focused on football as he once was, I'd just point to his interview where he says he wants to play until he's 40. The guy wants to be one of the best of all time. Just because he's not living in Foxboro every second of the offseason doesn't mean that he's slacking off.

I don't think the Patriots offense needs to be as devastatingly good as it was in 2007 to get back to the Super Bowl. Galloway could be the real X factor. While Stallworth only had a handful of notable plays in 2007, he did have some big plays in the clutch (see Indy, Dallas). Gaffney's only clutch game in 08 as the 3rd WR was the second Jets one that we lost. If they can get better-than-Gaffney production out of Galloway I think this offense will be as dangerous as 2007. They might not score as many points, but they don't need to.

Patsfanin Philly

Actually if you compare '07 to '08 they are similar in number of possessions.
----------2007 ----------2008
TD --------- 75-----------43
FG att -----24 ------------40
punts -----44------------ 50
Int --------9 --------------11
fumble lost 6 ------------- 10
--------------------------------
total possessions
------------158----------- 154

PATSYLICIOUS

IMO The team still has a chip on it's shoulder and they will until they win one post-spygate. You gotta believe those guys from '04 and prior are still pissed about everything that was said. If not for themselves they will want it for BB.

True, true

Pat the Pats Fan

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


A sarcastic Bill Belichick on Tom Brady's finger injury, "It's not life threatening."

miDeuce

I'm sure they are to some extent. But there's no substitute for constant faux outrage from ESPN, Senator Comcast, and uninformed fans to fuel the fire.

I do think this team is coming out with something to prove, but nothing could ever duplicate the spark that spyfake gave the entire organization to obliterate every team they faced.

KontradictioN

Dumbest quote ever. He's been there since mini-camp and has been working harder than anybody in a Pats uniform from what I've gathered.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


CREDIT - Sicilian

tombonneau

Not sure why all the eyerolling. All of his observations (save for the Lazy Brady one) are accurate and legit. There is no way the team duplicates it's record-setting 2007 campaign. That said, it should still be the best offense in the NFL.

spacecrime

Well, I read it all, but I rolled my eyes when I read that Brady would not be as good because he has a cameo on Entourage and did some photo shoots and that proves he has no work ethic.

Much as I dislike Peyton and all his commercials, I have to admit that he manges to be very good (second best QB in the league) even if he takes time off to shoot the commercials.

I mean, it isn't like these guys watch film 24/7.

They watch a lot, they work a lot, they train hard, and they are good at reading defense. None of that is changed by a photo shoot or a commercial or a cameo appearance.

__________________
“When we look at the board, based on everything we want in a football player at that particular time, we evaluate them and take the player that fits best for our football team. That’s what we always do, and I think the last nine years we’ve put a pretty competitive team out there on the field every year. I think that’s how you do it – you get good football players. Sometimes they are not always at the No. 1 position, but I don’t think you pass up good football players to get the guys who aren’t as good just because they’re at a position that somebody feels you need.”
BB on his draft philosophy, April 2010

captain stone

Nothing there with which to disagree, really.

__________________
Question Authority.

Patriot_in_NY

I feel the exact same........... By most accounts his rapid rebound and top notch rehabbing effort has been publicly addressed by all the medical people around him, as were the accolades that said most were "amazed" at his progress.

Didn't his surgeon last week come out and say that he expects him to be not only 100%, but possibly better since he is so much stronger due to his rehab effort.

The above quote from the crappy article seems to not jive with the other stuff we're hearing.