Lombardi gets it!
 

New England Patriots:

I laugh when people say the Patriots' window is closing fast as Tom Brady gets older. Are you kidding me? The Patriots are a team in transition, but their window is not closing. In fact, it is getting wider as they keep surrounding Brady with young talent. However, the Patriots need their young players to get tougher -- they need their team to get tougher. Last season, New England allowed its opponents to score every time they were first-and-goal inside the 5-yard line -- every time. Last year, the Patriots had chances to win games in the final drive, but turned the ball over and finished 1-3 in games decided by three points or fewer. Their window is still open, but the youngsters better start to produce.

NFL.com news: Breaking down AFC picture has Dolphins making big jump

Re: Lombardi gets it!
 

We'll no *****! If their 2008,2009 and 2010 classes are a bust, the window will shut.

Re: Lombardi gets it!
 

It's a joke to me that anyone thinks the Patriots window is closing. Brady has another 6-7 years left in my opinion and there is so much potential and youth on this team. The way BB is stockpiling draft picks we are only going to get more valuable player in the years to come. If the youngsters we have now pan out then we are looking good.

It is ridiculous how much credit the Jets have gotten over the past year. I do not think they are a better team than the Pats but most people are rating them higher. We had a better record but got killed by the Ravens, who are a great team. The Jets wound up in the top 4 last year but that doesn't make them better. If anyone thinks the dolphins will top the Patriots this year the they need to rethink that.

Re: Lombardi gets it!
 

He still has the Pats as the #2 or #3 team in the AFC East, Lombardi just puts the Fish ahead of the Jets.

I expect that Chad Henne will be a decent QB for the Fish, and do not doubt the team has talent and potential, but the gimmick of the wild cat appears to be on the way out and the team appears to be moving toward a legitimate passing game, which is no small change. I am not sure they will transition successfully without the need for significant additional personnel moves. I don't question his assessment of last season, just his projection as to this season.

As for all 3 teams in the East (the Bills of course excluded from that discussion), there are plenty of moving parts that need to click, so any team could potentially take the division title. My money would still be on Brady and the Pats, and the notion a division title is held until someone takes it. And I do like Lombardi's read on the Jets and his caution on stockpiling egos.

Re: Lombardi gets it!
 

Agreed. This hinges more on the draft classes than Brady's age.

Re: Lombardi gets it!
 

I think he is partially right, the younger players do need to step up. The defense will be about the same as last year, pretty good solid with a bunch of glaring mistakes and missed assignments.

The close games will come down to Brady executing at a higher level, the Denver loss, Miami loss and even the loss against the Colts were all on the offense. I expect Brady to be better and he will have to be for the Pats to win the division.

Re: Lombardi gets it!
 

Not to be snide, buy exactly what is your opinion based on? Joe Montana may be one of Brady's heroes, but it is by no means a given that Brady will still be playing QB when he's pushing 40.

Brady is not the same person as the hungry, in-your-face, football-means- everything QB that helped us win three titles.

I believe he truly wants another ring, especially for Welker and Moss. I still wouldn't trade his attitude or talent for any other QB in the NFL. At the same time, it would not surprise me in the least if he were to leave after this year if there remains any impasse over his contract situation when this season is over.

Re: Lombardi gets it!
 

What gives you that impression the fact that he decied that hey i have a kid now maybe i should spend a little time with him

Re: Lombardi gets it!
 

Exactly, if the Pats had 2003-2007 Brady, the team goes 16-0 or maybe 14-2. However, with the ACL a two year thing, we will have to see. Do we get a Phillip Rivers or Carson Palmer redux?

Also, where exactly does it say the more experienced younger players will not get better? In today's NFL, the offense has to keep scoring. Experience and a better offense should help with the 5th scoring defense.

Re: Lombardi gets it!
 

I agree with the Brady thing from Lombardi, but I don't know how much he gets if he has the Dolphins as a blue chip team. I think they will be improved, but by how much is much debatable. Brandon Marshall will help the offense. I think people are assuming with the addition of Mike Nolan and Karlos Dansby are going to significantly improve the defense eventhough they still have major questions at both OLB positions (Misi is a rookie and Wake is more of a pure pass rusher who struggles against the run and in coverage) and NT, as well as, safety. Nolan could do a miraculous transformation like he did in Denver last year, but it isn't a given.

Miami could be a blue chipper when everything is said and done, but I wouldn't put them in that category now.