For Long Time Fans: What stud player from the past did you most fear losing?

[JSn]

As we look at a year of significant players hitting FA next year, and most of us feel Vince is the most important one to retain, I wonder who are the Vince Wilfork's and Richard Seymour's of the past?

Are there players in the teams history that were still ballers but were considered a risk to move on that made you legitimately worried about how they would be replaced? Who? Why?

Looking forward to some retrospect from the guys and gals who lived through the lean years of Patriot's football.

 

[patsfaninpa]

As we look at a year of significant players hitting FA next year, and most of us feel Vince is the most important one to retain, I wonder who are the Vince Wilfork's and Richard Seymour's of the past?

Are there players in the teams history that were still ballers but were considered a risk to move on that made you legitimately worried about how they would be replaced? Who? Why?

Looking forward to some retrospect from the guys and gals who lived through the lean years of Patriot's football.

I felt like crying when we traded Mike Haynes to the Raiders. You just don't trade hall of fame talent when they can still play.

 

[MassPats38]

Curtis Martin.

 

[patsfan13]

Haynes and the Hannah/Gray holdout. Best CB in the league and the best OG.OT combo in the NFl.

 

[Tucker]

Curtis Martin.

x100


10 char

 

[Bring Back Antowain!]

Well, I haven't been around a long time, but I've been a Pats fan since birth (my dad made sure of that).

Growing up, my favorite player had been Curtis Martin. I remember actually meeting him at the team hotel the night before a game in 95 or 96 (so I was only five or six), and he really was an inspiration to me playing running back through out my youth years.

However, after 97, Curtis bolted to the Jets under Parcells. I remember being in the car with my dad. I was only 7 years old.

He was forced to explain to me that football was a business, like everything else in the world.

I was really heartbroken, and I'll remember that day for the rest of my life.

Kind of off base, but that is one player who I guess was considered a risk to move...

 

[mgteich]

I never knew how we would replace Coates, Armstrong or Law. We never did.

 

[Tucker]

this was way before my time, but what was the deal with Plunkett leaving town?

He was with the Pats before the Raiders, right?

 

[Patjew]

Not from so long ago, but my answer is Ty Law.

 

[jeffbiologist]

For all those Vince fans with short memories.....Ted Washington.....He left and we havent won a super bowl since.

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

Losing Ben Coates at the time really flipped me out.

And under the circumstances in which he departed, Curtis Martin made me want to throw every single TV set in my house out the window.

 

[Frezo]

Robert Edwards
So much talent

 

[JSn]

Chad Jackson for me. He's not a bust, he just needs guidance... BOOK IT!

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Curtis Martin was in his absolute prime, that one stung. Of course, Bill Parcells leaving for the J-E-T-S was a non-player, but that was even more angst-inducing. Honorable mention for how the Patriots would ever replace Earthwind Moreland. I'm also concerned that the secondary may not ever bounce back from losing Deltha O'Neal's combination of diminished athleticism and poor technique.

Seriously though the first two sucked.

 

[PatsChamp88]

Curtis Martin I remember from when I was a kid

 

[jmt57]

Nick Buoniconti
Mike Haynes
Curtis Martin

 

[JSn]

Nick Buoniconti
Mike Haynes
Curtis Martin

But we could probably get those guys to sign Vet Min contracts now, couldn't we?

 

[PATRIOT64]

For me its not even close - Ted Johnson's shocking sudden retirement absolutely killed me

He might have been the best sure tackling ILB I have ever witnessed as a Pats fan.

 

[TomBradyWoot]

For all those Vince fans with short memories.....Ted Washington.....He left and we havent won a super bowl since.

We won Super Bowl 39 without Ted Washington. Washington signed with Oakland after the 2003 season.

We also won our first Super Bowl without Ted Washington

 

[PATRIOT64]

We won Super Bowl 39 without Ted Washington. Washington signed with Oakland after the 2003 season.

We also won our first Super Bowl without Ted Washington

Keith Traylor was almost as good the next season