The Silver Lining

[maverick4]

Please add yours here:

- One of the more interesting and gritty Patriot seasons ever
- The Patriots watched their backup QB develop into a quality NFL starter
- We have seen multiple defensive rookies develop and blossom for next year
- This gives some much needed R&R for a team that has put on a LOT of miles by going deep into the post season the past few years
- Not making the playoffs will make it easier in the off-season to get rid of sentimental favorites who have long ago lost a step (Bruschi, Harrison, Vrabel on the way in two years)
- A TFB 2009 vengeance season on the way
- For the draft we have a 1st rounder, two 2nd rounders, 2 3rd rounders, a likely high comp pick for Asante Samuel along the way, plus whatever we get for trading a QB... in a draft year which is going to have tons of 1st-round-caliber non-senior college players declare for this year's draft.

Non-Pats related silver linings:
- Ratgini will likely be fired and hopefully not find another landing spot
- Favre destroyed his legacy and made everyone realize he is the all-time interceptions leader and aside from 1 Superbowl, has choked most of his other big career moments
- The Jets are in a mess. They wasted an upcoming draft choice for Favre, who is going to retire after the season and leave them with a horrible QB situation

 

[Real American Hero]

People were hoping that this season paralleled the 2001-2002 season with our vet QB going down only to have his backup step up.

I'm hoping this season parallels the 2002-2003 season in setting us up for the next 2 years

 

[NJPatsfan26]

Please add yours here:

- One of the more interesting and gritty Patriot seasons ever
- The Patriots watched their backup QB develop into a quality NFL starter
- We have seen multiple defensive rookies develop and blossom for next year
- This gives some much needed R&R for a team that has put on a LOT of miles by going deep into the post season the past few years
- Not making the playoffs will make it easier in the off-season to get rid of sentimental favorites who have long ago lost a step (Bruschi, Harrison, Vrabel on the way in two years)
- A TFB 2009 vengeance season on the way
- For the draft we have a 1st rounder, two 2nd rounder, 2 3rd rounders, a likely high comp pick for Asante Samuel along the way, plus whatever we get for trading a QB... in a draft year which is going to have tons of 1st-round-talent non-senior college players declare for this year's draft.

Non-Pats related silver linings:
- Mangini will likely be fired and hopefully not find another landing spot
- Favre destroyed his legacy and made everyone realize he is the all-time interceptions leader and aside from 1 Superbowl, has choked most of his other big career moments
- The Jets are in a mess. They wasted an upcoming draft choice for Favre, who is going to retire after the season and leave them with a horrible QB situation

- We played with more heart this year then the other teams in the AFC East combined.
- We will be prepared for a full run on next season and we will be back on top again.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Jets lost the final game of the season to a QB they threw in the trash.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

We also got to watch the development of the beast who is Mayo.

I like the Wilhite kid too and Meriweather took another step in his development.

 

[Real American Hero]

Jets lost the final game of the season to a QB they threw in the trash.

If the game didn't mean so much to us that may very well have been the highlight of the season.

 

[dtbrks]

People were hoping that this season paralleled the 2001-2002 season with our vet QB going down only to have his backup step up.

I'm hoping this season parallels the 2002-2003 season in setting us up for the next 2 years

^^^^^^^^^^ This..
winning the superbowl the next two years will be the silver lining for this year (when looking back)

 

[JSn]

Mayo, Guyton, Crable, AD, Wheatley, Tank, Woods, Hobbs, Meriweather

With a good FA grab or two and positive draft, next year looks downright hellified!!

 

[Jackson 2]

The Jests will not be heard from in a serious manner for quite some time. Too bad...

 

[okterrific]

- I'd rather have made the playoffs

 

[PushnPencils]

Please add yours here:

- One of the more interesting and gritty Patriot seasons ever
- The Patriots watched their backup QB develop into a quality NFL starter
- We have seen multiple defensive rookies develop and blossom for next year
- This gives some much needed R&R for a team that has put on a LOT of miles by going deep into the post season the past few years
- Not making the playoffs will make it easier in the off-season to get rid of sentimental favorites who have long ago lost a step (Bruschi, Harrison, Vrabel on the way in two years)
- A TFB 2009 vengeance season on the way
- For the draft we have a 1st rounder, two 2nd rounders, 2 3rd rounders, a likely high comp pick for Asante Samuel along the way, plus whatever we get for trading a QB... in a draft year which is going to have tons of 1st-round-caliber non-senior college players declare for this year's draft.

Non-Pats related silver linings:
- Ratgini will likely be fired and hopefully not find another landing spot
- Favre destroyed his legacy and made everyone realize he is the all-time interceptions leader and aside from 1 Superbowl, has choked most of his other big career moments
- The Jets are in a mess. They wasted an upcoming draft choice for Favre, who is going to retire after the season and leave them with a horrible QB situation

The Jets in disarray for a long time to come....

Mangini to be fired and now officially a leper (Although I can foresee Parcells taking him in an "advisory" position)

Great development of younger players.

Hopefully the last year we'll see Hobbs as a starting corner.

The Cassel/Brady situation will make for a great offseason.

Cassel should be worth nothing less a 1st and a 3rd should that situation present itself.

 

[Free_Pacman]

there really isn't any silver lining to a season where we miss the playoffs a year after going 16-0.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

- For the draft we have a 1st rounder, two 2nd rounders, 2 3rd rounders, a likely high comp pick for Asante Samuel along the way, plus whatever we get for trading a QB... in a draft year which is going to have tons of 1st-round-caliber non-senior college players declare for this year's draft.

It's the Pats third + the comp pick, not two + comp pick.

 

[PromisedLand]

I think the o.p. covered most of it.

For me, the minute Tom Brady went down (or at least the minute I heard it was season-ending) my expectations for the season went to zero. So from that standpoint it was a great and successful season. In all normal circumstances, 11-5 makes the playoffs.

Matt Cassel showed us, and more importantly (from the standpoint of silver linings) that he can not only play, that he can be a better than average NFL QB. Something tells me that BB and SP will figure out a way to turn that into future value for us.

Also, at least the J-E-T-S didn't make the playoffs either (unlike the last time Bret Favre failed to come through on the last day of the season in 2002).

And lastly, for the first time since 2002, BB has a full offseason to prepare for the next one. The last time that happened, we won the next TWO Super Bowls!

 

[PushnPencils]

there really isn't any silver lining to a season where we miss the playoffs a year after going 16-0.

After losing your starting HOF QB goes down in the 1st game and the season is riddled with other key injuries and you still go 11-5?

Do you think Cardinals fans are psyched about their team in the playoffs as we are about getting as close as we did?

 

[captain insano]

im to disappointed to be looking at silver linings. it just makes me puke that the pats dont get in with a 11 and 5 record but 8 and 8 is good enough for other teams to get in. now no pats football for 8 freakin months sighhhhhh

 

[blackglass3]

The Jets are not in the playoffs. That rules. Cheering for them made me feel dirty anyway.

 

[maverick4]

And lastly, for the first time since 2002, BB has a full offseason to prepare for the next one. The last time that happened, we won the next TWO Super Bowls!

I remember that 2002 offseason, Belichick was going around visiting all sorts of hall of fame coaches to get more tips or advice from them, not to mention probably doing an extremely detailed analysis of every single player on his team and every play from the season. He is going to use these next two months to make us a lot better.

 

[condon84]

Silver lining is that the Pats going forward have to fix their 3rd down defense and red zone defense. That was our biggest weakness this year and much like after the 2002 campaign where we had a horrible run defense, BB and Pioli need to bring in some bodies/talent to help us out where we are weak. Whether it's new players in the secondary, better pass rushers, or a more aggressive scheme, I believe BB will have this team much improved in that category.

It will be interesting to see what they do with Cassel. Can we really do a sign and trade with him? Franchising him is a HUGE risk and IMO the only way we can get something for him is if we can approach a team about a sign and trade and hope that that team is fearful that if Cassel hits the FA, he might go to the highest bidder. A part of me believes that Cassel MIGHT become a Jet if he hits FA.

It should be an interesting offseason. I'm looking forward to Brady getting back on the field and Maroney as well (I haven't given up on him).

 

[abejarano12]

The silver lining in all this is that this team showed that it can get back up and keep fighting when they het knocked down. Think about it this way. We go 16-0 and lose the super bowl last year. they could have gone 9-7 with Brady and not make the playoff. But no they lost Brady and while everyone though that the season was over they go one and win 11 game and miss the playoffs because of the RATS. All this dones is set up a great offseason and a awesome season.