Didin't you guys know, if the Pats go 15-1, their in a decline
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In addition to Samuel, the Pats lost #3 CB Randall G ay. These two losses have dramatically weakend the New England secondary.
Losing Samuel may hurt, but it wasn't as bad when Ty Law went down with a season ending injury. I like Samuel but he isn't Ty Law. Gay on the other hand, I'm glad he is gone. Ignorant people will think Gay was a signifigant loss just because he was on a 16-0 team. Gay was torched on a regular basis by the likes of Greg Lewis for 2 td's and Steve Smith catching first down after first down in the superbowl. I'm positive that Wheatley will be an upgrade at nickel if he isn't in the starting lineup. I'm also excited about Fernando Bryant getting a chance to start as well. This defense needs new blood and better athletes.
At linebacker, the Pats are essentially running a retirement home, apart from rookie Jerod Mayo (who they dramatically overreached for in the first round of the 2007 draft, taking him 10th overall).
Actually, Mayo's stock skyrocketed the night before the draft because teams were revealing who they wanted. The Lions really wanted Mayo at 19 and the draft was so weak that the Pats couldn't trade out again. Wasn't Mankins a reach too?
On the offensive side, the Pats aren't quite as old, but they aren't the youngest group, either. Tom Brady and Randy Moss (a pair of names we heard quite a lot in '07), are both in their 30s, and Moss especially will soon begin feeling the effects. RB Kevin Faulk is 34 and no doubt looking at retirement and Sammy Morris is 32, which creates a problem for the Pats because, frankly, Laurence Maroney has yet to impress me. The Pats also lost WR Donte' Stallworth, who, although he fizzled out late-season, was an integral part of the Pats pass offense. Their offensive line is aging rapidly, as well.
That is why they drafted Kevin O'Connell in the third round. Their recievers aren't that old. Welker and Gaffney are 3 years from 30 and Chad Jackson is 23. Maroney has yet to impress you? Watch the playoffs again. Look at his yards per carry during the season. He didn't get many touches but he made the most of them. Regarding Stallworth, I'm a big fan of his and he seems like a guy you want in your locker room. However, Chad Jackson should be able to fill his roll. Lastly, their O-line isn't that old.
In the end, I can't believe this person would actually waste their time writing this article. There are flaws in every arguement they make. I might be wrong, but the Pats will be a better team next season. They have more youth and speed with their LB's and secondary. Mayo is that sideline to sideline LB that the Pats desperately needed and may make a Patrick Willis type impact. Hobson provides more speed and Bruschi should benefit from that as well. Merriweather is in his second season and I believe he will contribute a lot more to the defense. I like the additions of Bryant, Webster (if he can stay healthy), Tank Williams (if he can stay healthy) and the drafting of Wheatley and Whilite. That sounds a hell of a lot better than relying on Randall Gay in the slot (who was average at best) and Asante Samuel who had his lapses like everyone else. On offense, I believe the Pats won't change a thing and won't miss a beat that Stallworth is gone. Watson will come back healthy, Gaffney knows the offense very well, Welker is a beast in the slot, David Thomas will be an excellent backup TE and Chad Jackson
will have a great season. Although some of the Pats backup RB's may be aging, Maroney is a stud in the making and the Pats may be able to sign Kevin Jones.
The Pats will finish 13-3 to 14-2, win the AFC East and win the AFC once again. Do you really think that the Bills, Titans and Browns are a threat to the Colts, Chargers and Patriots? Don't get me wrong, I like what the Browns are doing and their on their way up, but they don't stand a chance against the three best teams I listed above.
