stinkypete
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2004
- Messages
- 3,387
- Reaction score
- 1,678
Remember the way the 2003 and 2004 seasons felt? Being a Pats fan came with a sense of swagger, a feeling of indestructability. It didn't matter how many injuries we had, or how powerful our opponent, you just know we would win.
Something changed around the time Bruschi suffered his stroke. It felt like someone let all the air out of the balloon. Ty Law. David Patten. Ted Johnson. Willie McGinnest. David Givens. Adam Vinateiri. Deion Branch. Our roster had a slow leak. Injuries suddenly became crippling.
Sure, we talked the talk. We talked three-peat in '05. We felt like world beaters for a week after coming back against San Diego. Those teams were solid, they might even have been contenders, but there was always a feeling of unease. We were no longer winning the physical games. Suddenly we couldn't beat Peyton Manning anymore. We winced each time the defense took the field in a big game. For all the brashness of the Pats fan, there was always a fear in the back of our minds.
With the signing of Thomas, I'm starting to get that old feeling back. Just imagine the first time this defense takes the field in September. Thomas and Colvin rushing the passer. The smartest pair of ILBs in the league. Rodney making his last stand. Samuel playing pissed. Wilson in his contract year. The best Dline in the game. An influx of youth from the draft. This team is going to be a monster!
The feeling is back. The Pats are once again the power of the NFL.
Something changed around the time Bruschi suffered his stroke. It felt like someone let all the air out of the balloon. Ty Law. David Patten. Ted Johnson. Willie McGinnest. David Givens. Adam Vinateiri. Deion Branch. Our roster had a slow leak. Injuries suddenly became crippling.
Sure, we talked the talk. We talked three-peat in '05. We felt like world beaters for a week after coming back against San Diego. Those teams were solid, they might even have been contenders, but there was always a feeling of unease. We were no longer winning the physical games. Suddenly we couldn't beat Peyton Manning anymore. We winced each time the defense took the field in a big game. For all the brashness of the Pats fan, there was always a fear in the back of our minds.
With the signing of Thomas, I'm starting to get that old feeling back. Just imagine the first time this defense takes the field in September. Thomas and Colvin rushing the passer. The smartest pair of ILBs in the league. Rodney making his last stand. Samuel playing pissed. Wilson in his contract year. The best Dline in the game. An influx of youth from the draft. This team is going to be a monster!
The feeling is back. The Pats are once again the power of the NFL.