Really excited about next season!!!

[Snarf]

We lost because we weren't good enough. Plain and simple. The Colts beat us fair and square.

But I'm looking ahead.... and the future is damn good:

Brady ought to have time to gel more with the existing receivers. Gaffney could come out as truly a great receiver. Pats could draft a real #1 receiver to shore that bit up. Jackson? Who knows... if he puts in the work, he could become a major playmaker.

We'll keep an intact d-line, one of the best in the league. Seymour and co are just entering their prime.

We'll get some new LBackers, and hopefully Teddy will hang around to teach 'em what he knows.

Maroney's got a lot to learn, but we saw his talent early in the season when the playcalling for him wasn't moronic (i.e. when they were getting him out wide). Maroney truly can be a playmaker of the future.

Im really excited about Dave Thomas. Hopefully Dan Graham can hang around.

Hopefully Ben Watson will improve his technique. He has huge potential, and if he can fix a couple of glaring problems he can be a pro bowler.

We've got an AWESOME kicker in Gotkoswki. He played great all year, and truly has the potential to be one of the better kickers of all time in the years to come.

We could likely get a good trade for Cassel if we wanted to. We could get a good trade for Samuel if we wanted to.

We've got quite a bit of money to work with, and few show-stopping FA contracts to deal with. Good cap management.:rocker:

Two first round picks, a smattering of other picks.

We've got Bob Kraft, the best owner in the league (and the most entertaining speech giver).

We've got Bill Belichick, the best coach ever.

We've got Scott Pioli, the best manager ever.

We've got Tom Brady, the best quarterback ever.

I'm looking forward to an amazing year of football in 2007, Brady's best year yet, and a 4th superbowl! :rocker:

 

[BlitzFritz]

Dude, we're mourning right now. Nice try tho.

 

[pats1]

Dude, we're mourning right now. Nice try tho.

What's wrong with his post? He's correct.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

We could likely get a good trade for Cassel if we wanted to.

One minor point here: Cassel is under contract until 2008, so it doesn't make sense to trade him this year, unless there's a really good offer for him. Besides, who would hold for Gostkowski?

We've got an AWESOME kicker in Gotkoswki. He played great all year, and truly has the potential to be one of the better kickers of all time in the years to come.

Glad to see you've seen the light, too.

 

[Snarf]

<< Dude, we're mourning right now. >>

Disappointed, sure, I can understand.

But what are you mourning for?

The Pats ended the season ranked #3 or #4 in the league given some glaring holes on the team. It was a very impressive season.

 

[DarrylS]

This is the best and truest post of the day, the glass is way more than 1/2 full folks.. do not forget. This ship will be righted, trust in BB and SP.

 

[Fixit]

Damn optimists.

 

[denverpatsfan]

The Pats lost not because they weren't good enough, but due to injuries, the flu and playing a VERY tough west coast road game the week before. This team was out of gas playing with back-ups to the back-ups and only lost by 4-points.

Add in the mistakes and it wasn't enough to overcome a Colts team that was playing at home and at a high level.

The easiest road to the SB involves HOME FIELD advantage. Had this game been in Foxboro the outcome would have been different.

Could any other team in the league have gotten this far with the injuries and fatigue that hit this team for this game?

 

[pats63]

I agree totally.....We have a bright furture......We lost now we have to learn and move on.....All the new player and coaches will a year under their belts...Have a good draft coming.....

 

[Feep_FLA]

I felt this team, and I do MEAN team, performed magnificently all year and into the playoffs. To me, the glass is 4/5ths full. Look for this team to be even tougher next year........ 2 first rounders is gravy to BB and SP. Thanks for a great effort all year! My humble 2 cents.....:rocker:

 

[Snarf]

The Pats lost not because they weren't good enough, but due to injuries, the flu and playing a VERY tough west coast road game the week before.

It doesn't matter how many excuses you use, you've got to admit the Colts were the better team on the evening they played that game.

And really, that's all that matters in football.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

I just read a article in the Pro jo, thinking that was Brady's last chance.. I get more and more depressed the more I think about it.. I cant talk about it anymore..

 

[SoonerPatriot]

I just read a article in the Pro jo, thinking that was Brady's last chance.. I get more and more depressed the more I think about it.. I cant talk about it anymore..

Just got done reading it, and found it pretty amateurish.

He also broke one of the cardinal rules of sports journalism, reserve the use of the word "never" any time you can. It's okay to use it when you say "the Patriots defense was never able to recover in a 38-34 loss" but it's not okay to say "The Patriots and Brady will never have a better chance to get back to the Super Bowl than they did Sunday."

WHat is he, Nostradamus? No way to know that. None whatsoever. I'm sure it was written in 1985 and 1996 the Patriots would never get back to a Super Bowl or that was the best chance the organization ever had to win a Super Bowl. We saw how that turned out.

Furthermore, he clearly doesn't understand even the most basic elements of this organization's recent history and how it operates.

 

[RyanTheColtsFan]

The Pats lost not because they weren't good enough, but due to injuries, the flu and playing a VERY tough west coast road game the week before. This team was out of gas playing with back-ups to the back-ups and only lost by 4-points.

Add in the mistakes and it wasn't enough to overcome a Colts team that was playing at home and at a high level.

The easiest road to the SB involves HOME FIELD advantage. Had this game been in Foxboro the outcome would have been different.

Could any other team in the league have gotten this far with the injuries and fatigue that hit this team for this game?

It's just weird hearing things like this. In November, it was "We turned the ball over 5 times and ONLY lost by 7". Now it's "We were out of gas and playing with backups and ONLY lost by 4".

How about you lost period.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

It's just weird hearing things like this. In November, it was "We turned the ball over 5 times and ONLY lost by 7". Now it's "We were out of gas and playing with backups and ONLY lost by 4".

How about you lost period.

I think most fans here get that. I was one who thought, and still think, the 5 turnovers played a huge role in the Nov. loss. But upon reflection, the Colts have won the last three and there is a reason for that and it goes well beyond turnovers, poor officiating and the flu.

The reason for those three wins comes down to one thing -- the Colts have found enough personnel match ups they could exploit to make those wins happen. It's all part of the great chess match that is the NFL.

It's now up to the Patriots to correct that through the draft and FA.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I think most fans here get that. I was one who thought, and still think, the 5 turnovers played a huge role in the Nov. loss. But upon reflection, the Colts have won the last three and there is a reason for that and it goes well beyond turnovers, poor officiating and the flu.

The reason for those three wins comes down to one thing -- the Colts have found enough personnel match ups they could exploit to make those wins happen. It's all part of the great chess match that is the NFL.

It's now up to the Patriots to correct that through the draft and FA.

What he said!

Props to the Colts: no excuses. If your team can only win with the wind at its back you're in the wrong game.

 

[pats63]

I am really excited about next season...We are far from done...We have some hole to fill.....We are going to fill them through draft and fa...Retool or restock is only an offseason to go...I love our chances....