So what if we have an off year

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

First off, I don't really care about the pre-season. It means nothing.

And not rooting for or am predicting a losing season.

But it really wouldn't surprise me if we have an off year. In fact, I said in March it would not surprise me if the Patriots had an off-year this year.

Have you ever been defeated, ever gone into a slump in your own life?

Last year was an exhausting year for the players and coaches. Everything from 16-0, to spygate, to the bogus sex assault charge against Moss.

BB is an amazing man. But there is no way he was able to watch the SB tapes with an "where do we improve" mentality, to the degree he did with the AFCCG loss to the Colts.

Brady decided this year, that spending time with his gf in the off-season, instead of preparing for the next year.

I got the real sense that the players ended 2006, fired up wanting revenge for the loss in the AFCCG, but ended 2007 depressed.

And although the score in a pre-season game is irrelevant. A great off-season of prep is vital.

That doesn't mean the team is in a downward cycle though.

Would not surprise me if the Pats went 8-8 or 7-9 or 9-7 this year, then after a "full" off-season, or one that began after the first wild card game, came into 2009 re-energized and win goes on to win the SB in Indy.

And if the Patriots have a bad year. It is not the end of the world. We all made it thru 1990, and there is no way it will be that bad.

I am not predicting a bad year, I am just saying it would not surprise me. I good year would not surprise me either.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Re: So what if we have an off year.

Barring an injury to one player that I will not mention, there is no way this team loses more than 6 games. With the corps of players and veterans the Pats have, IMO they faced much more adversity and a hangover following the '04 season upon winning back-to-back titles and Tedy's stroke, in which they could've won only after a horribly officiated game in Denver and which Pittsburg had the proverbial horseshoe up their arse. My prediction is 14-2, maybe 13-3.

 

[RayClay]

Re: So what if we have an off year.

First off, I don't really care about the pre-season. It means nothing.

And not rooting for or am predicting a losing season.

But it really wouldn't surprise me if we have an off year. In fact, I said in March it would not surprise me if the Patriots had an off-year this year.

Have you ever been defeated, ever gone into a slump in your own life?

Last year was an exhausting year for the players and coaches. Everything from 16-0, to spygate, to the bogus sex assault charge against Moss.

BB is an amazing man. But there is no way he was able to watch the SB tapes with an "where do we improve" mentality, to the degree he did with the AFCCG loss to the Colts.

Brady decided this year, that spending time with his gf in the off-season, instead of preparing for the next year.

I got the real sense that the players ended 2006, fired up wanting revenge for the loss in the AFCCG, but ended 2007 depressed.

And although the score in a pre-season game is irrelevant. A great off-season of prep is vital.

That doesn't mean the team is in a downward cycle though.

Would not surprise me if the Pats went 8-8 or 7-9 or 9-7 this year, then after a "full" off-season, or one that began after the first wild card game, came into 2009 re-energized and win goes on to win the SB in Indy.

And if the Patriots have a bad year. It is not the end of the world. We all made it thru 1990, and there is no way it will be that bad.

I am not predicting a bad year, I am just saying it would not surprise me. I good year would not surprise me either.

Another great thread

 

[dhamz]

Re: So what if we have an off year.

"So what" if we waste a year of Tom Brady's career? of BB's career? So what if the Pats don't compete for a title this year?

You do realize that both of those things are not going to last forever? That the Pats are unlikely to ever have this type of QB again? And they are unlikely to ever have this good a coach again? And it is a virtual certainty they never have both at the same time again?

Not to use the tired cliche but there is a window of opportunity. I want to see my team cash in on it as many times as possible before it closes.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: So what if we have an off year.

my hope is that since last season was so long and grueling that part of this preseason is getting these geared up for a long run. i think this is why a bunch of these guys aren't playing to save them for the back 9 of the season.

breaking this undiscipline mentality ASAP is the msot important.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Re: So what if we have an off year.

This team has played a lot more football this decade than any other team.

Why is everyone expecting total domination in pre-season?

 

[Rob0729]

I would be shocked if the Pats had anything less than 11 wins.

 

[Pats726]

Re: So what if we have an off year.

This team has played a lot more football this decade than any other team.

Why is everyone expecting total domination in pre-season?

Didn't you know?? Preaseason games MATTER!!! They are so important to the win column!!! lol lol

 

[JSn]

Do they start passing out free cocaine after you hit a thousand posts?

 

[blackglass3]

If they do I haven't seen any.

 

[WhiZa]

First off, I don't really care about the pre-season. It means nothing.

Would you still create this thread if we were 3-0 in the preseason?

 

[Sivy]

have the patriots even ever won a preseason game....(I know they have, I'm just making the point that IT DOESNT MATTER!)

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Re: So what if we have an off year.

"So what" if we waste a year of Tom Brady's career? of BB's career? So what if the Pats don't compete for a title this year?

You do realize that both of those things are not going to last forever? That the Pats are unlikely to ever have this type of QB again? And they are unlikely to ever have this good a coach again? And it is a virtual certainty they never have both at the same time again?

Not to use the tired cliche but there is a window of opportunity. I want to see my team cash in on it as many times as possible before it closes.

First of all, I agree with those who say it's way too early to even suggest that this will be an off year. In fact, given this team's proven resiliency it's almost ridiculous.

However, let's step back for a minute here.

I have many times compared this team to Montana's teams and reminded folks out here that it took Joe NINE seasons to get his four rings and three SBMVP's. His first was in 81/82, his fourth came in 89/90. So, if that comparison holds, TB's would come in 09/10. Tommy was also a year younger than Joe when he won his first, so you could correctly push the linear comparison out to 10/11.

Also, don't forget that Joe went through a really bad injury year in 86 and that the niners went 10--6 in 85/86 (out in the Wildcard round) and 10--5--1 in 86/87 (out in the Division round) after they won SB number two in 84/85. They went 13--2 (strike-shortened season) in 88/89 but went out in the Division round against the Vikings. When they won number four, they actually only went 10--6 in the Regular Season.

So, I don't know what's going to happen this year, but I'm sure not "writing it off."

I do think, though, that we need to appreciate how hard it is to climb the mountain to the AFCCG and Super Bowl and not be surprised if we don't do it three years in a row. We've also managed to climb the mountain in five of the last seven seasons, but couldn't finish the job in the last two. I think we need to realize that those are rare and hard-earned opportunities.

Whatever happens this year or over the next few seasons, the Brady/Belichick Patriots are and will always be one of the greatest teams in the history of the NFL and deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with the Paul Brown Browns, the Lombardi Packers, the Noll Steelers, the Walsh/Seifert Niners, the Landry Cowboys and the Gibbs Skins. Exactly where they belong in that storied company will be determined in the next two or three years.