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- Apr 3, 2006
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It's only been one game post-Moss, and I'm sure there will be times when we all scratch our heads and wish Moss was still a Patriot, but I think it's clear what Bill Belichick has accomplished in trading him. The Patriots have now found an identity. The new face of the franchise is no longer the three-headed monster of Tom Brady, Wes Welker, and Randy Moss. The Pats are no longer fantasy football favorites driven by superstars.
Danny Woodhead is the best example of a player who embodies the new (actually, it's just the old reinvented) Patriots. With a guy like Moss, how can the Patriots seriously consider themselves underdogs, no-names, or overachievers when Moss embodies dominance, front running, and highlight reels? In fairness, it's not all Moss' fault. Much of it is created by perception... but to say it didn't exist is nuts. I'm actually a huge Moss supporter; I think he gave the Pats a lot of effort and his dedication is underrated. I think they won a lot of games because of him. But, just as several insiders said regarding Belichick's mindset at the time of the trade: it's time to move on. It's clear now what was meant by this.
Belichick is a master of motivation. He did not win Super Bowls with teams filled with statistical superstars, but rather with underdogs, guys like Vinatieri (undrafted), Brady (6th round), Vrabel (no free agent interest), Harrison (little free agent interest), and too many player to name that were considered washed up or not talented enough to play in the league. Along the way, he cut players like Milloy (at the time the team's best defensive player), benched guys like Glenn (thought to be the team's best offensive player), traded Bledsoe (at the time, the biggest name in franchise history). Those moves, which continued through the golden days, always led to the same conclusion: other guys needed to step up, and they did.
In the two games since Moss departed (I consider the Miami game a departure), the Patriots have played their best football since 2007, and I think this fan base feels the energy. I know I have not been so proud watching them in a long time. The players also feel the energy and excitement. You can see the younger guys stepping up into bigger roles, realizing that this is "their" team- not a chronically patched up version of a once dominating juggernaut trying to finish what it started three years ago.
Anyway, that is my nostalgic rant for the night. Had the Patriots lost to Baltimore, maybe I'd be singing a different tune, but when's the last time you felt the team got "lucky" and "got all the breaks"? Is it a coincidence? I seem to recall this theme from furious opponents, ala Terrell Suggs, from 2001-2004 (and perhaps beyond.) I don't think this team will go 14-2, and probably won't win the Super Bowl, but I feel like we have 53 guys to be excited about now, not three.
Danny Woodhead is the best example of a player who embodies the new (actually, it's just the old reinvented) Patriots. With a guy like Moss, how can the Patriots seriously consider themselves underdogs, no-names, or overachievers when Moss embodies dominance, front running, and highlight reels? In fairness, it's not all Moss' fault. Much of it is created by perception... but to say it didn't exist is nuts. I'm actually a huge Moss supporter; I think he gave the Pats a lot of effort and his dedication is underrated. I think they won a lot of games because of him. But, just as several insiders said regarding Belichick's mindset at the time of the trade: it's time to move on. It's clear now what was meant by this.
Belichick is a master of motivation. He did not win Super Bowls with teams filled with statistical superstars, but rather with underdogs, guys like Vinatieri (undrafted), Brady (6th round), Vrabel (no free agent interest), Harrison (little free agent interest), and too many player to name that were considered washed up or not talented enough to play in the league. Along the way, he cut players like Milloy (at the time the team's best defensive player), benched guys like Glenn (thought to be the team's best offensive player), traded Bledsoe (at the time, the biggest name in franchise history). Those moves, which continued through the golden days, always led to the same conclusion: other guys needed to step up, and they did.
In the two games since Moss departed (I consider the Miami game a departure), the Patriots have played their best football since 2007, and I think this fan base feels the energy. I know I have not been so proud watching them in a long time. The players also feel the energy and excitement. You can see the younger guys stepping up into bigger roles, realizing that this is "their" team- not a chronically patched up version of a once dominating juggernaut trying to finish what it started three years ago.
Anyway, that is my nostalgic rant for the night. Had the Patriots lost to Baltimore, maybe I'd be singing a different tune, but when's the last time you felt the team got "lucky" and "got all the breaks"? Is it a coincidence? I seem to recall this theme from furious opponents, ala Terrell Suggs, from 2001-2004 (and perhaps beyond.) I don't think this team will go 14-2, and probably won't win the Super Bowl, but I feel like we have 53 guys to be excited about now, not three.
