When will "in Bill we trust" start to lose it's shine?
 

I'm a life long Pats fan and I have enjoyed watching what Bill and Scott have done with this team since taking over, but when will we stop with this "In Bill we trust" and start saying "In Bill we have some trust". I look at last season when Bill and Scott thought the system could replace Ty Law. They went and traded for Starks and we all know how that ended. Because of Bill and Scott's mistake the secondary was one of the worst secondary's in the league, and they still need to sure it up.
Now we jump to '06 They have let Givens get away, completely shut out Willie Mac, and insulted Adam V. If they let all 3 of these player go (we know that Givens is gone) and try and replace them with "system player" i.e. cheap players, we could be in for a very long season. Just look at the Bisell/ Brown experiment. If Bill and Scott don't replace or either upgrade those positions (including the secondary) we are looking at a 9-7 or 10-6 season at best and possibly missing the playoffs.

R u serious!? Our defense was dominant at the end of the year, when it matters. We held teams to about 10 pts a game down the stretch, held the Jags to 3, and the Broncos would've had about the same if the offense, special teams, and officials didn't conspire against the D. As for our offensive problems, we all know that we were a healthy Corey Dillon away from being a dominant offense. Perhaps there a few free agency moves that didn't pan out, but the success of the draft more than made up for it.

Oh, you're a troll, forget it then...

Maybe in 2015?

does this count towards the poll? Insulted Adam? Nevermind.

When we stop winning on a consistent basis I would imagine.

<<Now we jump to '06 They have let Givens get away, completely shut out Willie Mac, and insulted Adam V.>>

I can't believe I'm even dignifying this stupidity with a post, but here goes...

How did they "let Givens get away"? He signed for $24M with an $8M signing bonus. If you think he was worth that much money in the Patriots' system, you don't know much about football.

How did they "completely shut out Willie Mac"? McGinest KNEW he would never see the final phantom year of that deal. He wasn't going to get the money he was slated for, by the Pats or by anyone else. He's currently testing the waters. Depending upon what he gets offered, he may or may not be back.

How did they "insult Adam V"? He's been the highest-paid kicker for years now. They offered to make him the highest-paid kicker yet again. Adam, however, is being greedy, and wants to be the highest-paid kicker BY ABOUT A THIRD. Why does he deserve over $3M while other kickers are making $1.5M to $2M? Should the Pats overpay him for previous production? That's the mistake other teams make. Adam's already been WELL COMPENSATED for the Snow Bowl kick, and the SB36 kick, and the SB38 kick, etc.,. Stop looking at his past performance and look at what he is: an aging kicker who can't reach the end zone, and whose range is shortening from 50+ to about 45. Is he great under pressure? Yes. Is he good in bad weather? Yes. Which is why the Pats already offered him a huge salary (by kickers' terms). And, again, depending upon what he's offered, he may or may not be back.

However, if you'd like to jump off the bandwagon, don't break an ankle.

heh....what's the over /under on a "Bring Back Carroll!!" thread?

In Bill We Trust
 

I'm with you.

I can't see why the Pats haven't made a more concerted effort

to sign their own free agents. Outside of their exclusive rights free

agents, they have signed 4 guys. All received minimum salaries with a

couple receiving a very small signing bonus.

Are you 8 years old or something? It wasn't too long ago when we were the doormats of the AFC East. Enjoy the current ride. This is the golden age of the Pats.

As you know this, you should pass along some tidbits about what it was like to be sitting in on the negotioations. It must have been fun and it must be great to have had that inside info on how the discussions went.