Fox Sports' Schein on Pats - New England Patriots Forums

BPF · 01-17-2010, 03:35 PM

A lot of people are kicking dirt on the Pats run of success and calling it the end of this "dynasty" while comparing it to others in the NFL that have come and gone like the Steelers, Cowboys and 49ers. Schein takes a different approach and compares the past to the Yankees.

Schein playoff rooting interest 011210 - NFL News - FOX Sports on MSN

Quote:

Have you ever seen the Patriots look so bad in a big spot? The answer is no.

Tom Brady was sacked three times and tossed three picks. He was awful. His surrounding cast was arguably worse.

Ray Rice embarrassed the Pats' run defense, right from the first play from scrimmage.

Bill Belichick's team couldn't block or tackle. It was downright pathetic.

But be careful calling this the end of the Patriots dynasty. Is the Patriots' dynasty finished? Yes, they jumped the shark. No, now is no time to overreact. You still have Bob Kraft, Brady and Belichick. I think the Pats of 2009 are akin to the Yankees after 2001. The Yankees lost their edge with the departure of Paul O'Neill, Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius. The same thing happened when the Pats lost their defensive stars, such as Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Richard Seymour and Mike Vrabel. But the Yanks still made a World Series two years later. Sure, the "edge" guys' departure opened the door for the well-built Sox, just like the Jets are still playing now and have a window of opportunity. But let's not write the epitaph on the Patriots for the next 10 years. That would be a mistake.

I agree, plenty of good pieces still here to build another solid team to compete for SB titles.

TriplecHamp · 01-17-2010, 03:39 PM

We have the peices but these next two seasons are going to determine what direction we are heading in.

PATSYLICIOUS · 01-17-2010, 03:46 PM

We have a few needs and a good set of draft picks in this draft. As well as cap space. This is an important offseason, a good one could put us right back on top in 2010.

***PittPatriot*** · 01-17-2010, 03:51 PM

Well, the big difference is that the Yankees went to a quarter billion dollar payroll and stayed "in contention." The Pats are need to live with a cap and that always makes it hard to keep the stable full.

Also, if the Patriots go the way of the Yankees (I think I just threw up in my mouth) then what is the NFL equivalent to blowing Game 4 up 1 run in the 9th inning with a 3-0 series lead...then systematically losing the next 3 games to go down as history's biggest chokers?

zoostation · 01-17-2010, 04:25 PM

The Patriots had to take a step back in order to move 10 steps forward. A massive reconstruction started last off season and the Patriots still managed to become the #3 seed in the AFC.

I look for a huge rebound next year. The younger players will have a full year under their belts and I expect big things from injured draft picks Tyrone McKenzie and Brandon Tate. And as far as I know Brady and Belichick will still be around.

The AFC is ours again. the Jets got a gift and will play a more difficult schedule next year, and Miami is always overrated. The Bills are ......well they're the Bills.

***muzz*** · 01-17-2010, 04:55 PM

McKenzie and Tate have proven absolutely ZERO at this level, so don't count on them.

BionicPatriot · 01-17-2010, 05:14 PM

Exactly. As long as you have the nucleus, you're still a threat. We aint dead until BB or Brady leaves, period. Until than we will be a constant thorn in the league's side.

***fgssand*** · 01-17-2010, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PittPatriot

The Pats are need to live with a cap and that always makes it hard to keep the stable full.

Except if the year is uncapped.............

TealSox · 01-17-2010, 06:22 PM

Those that thought that they watched the Patriot's dynasty end against the Ravens, might have been living in an illusion. I too, was optimistic that the team could survive the loss of Harrison, Bruschi, Vrabel, Samuel and Seymour, but there was no rational reason to be optimistic. Essentially, these players were replaced with less talented free agents and rookies, such as Butler, Chung, Merriweather, Guyton and Mayo.

The reconstruction has began and the Pats have done a great job at putting themselves in a position to stay on top.

1. Trading Cassel and Vrabel to KC for the 34th pick in 2009. I expected more from Cassel and hated to see a leader like Vrabel go, but 2009 (IMO) is the anchor to the Patriots reconstruction.

2. Trading Richard Seymour to OAK for a first rounder in 2011. Where collective bargaining will be this time next year is still a huge question, much like what the draft talent will look like, but the value of a first round pick will prove invaluable to a rebuilding team.

3. Trading out the first round in 2009 to get second rounder and two third round picks from the Packers. Hopefully Darius Butler, MacKenzie or Tate can produce, otherwise this will look like a huge mistake by Bill. He passed on Oher and Clay Matthews.

4. 3 picks in the second round in 2010. One was acquired (along with the 7th round pick used on Edelman) from Jacksonville for the 9th overall pick of the 2009 third round. Another was acquired from TEN for a third round pick in 2009.

I hope that 2009 is much like the rewards from 2003, when Warren, Wilson, Samuel and Koppen all produced in a way to carry the team for another 5 years. So 2010 and 2011 will determine how great this team will be in the future.

PowerAlley.com · 01-17-2010, 06:47 PM

How do you spell relief? "P-A-S-H R-U-S-H"

As we all know, what a difference that would make.