"Guess there's only one thing left to do..."

[richpats]

"...win the whole f**king thing." - "Jake Taylor", Major League

Alright, we're all in the dumps b/c we can't watch our SB DVD's anymore without trying to fast-forward through those clutch kicks BUT if you think about it, this will actually INCREASE our chances of winning the SB next year. What's happening this offseason is that we're letting go of the "fat and happy" players that showed they are content w/ their rings and are chasing the dollars. We need more hungry players on this team. Last year, we weren't hungry enough to get the job done and it showed. We need a "cleansing" and this is it.

Also, the loss of these players is sure to have the media declaring the end of the Pats as we know it, you know what - good. Last year everybody thought we were better than we actually were, thinking we were a sure bet to beat Denver - and then the Broncos used that to their advantage in beating us. The Pats NEED everybody to doubt them to play their best.

We're all hurt, and we should be. But it doesn't have to be the end of the world, perhaps the beginning of something new. BB is going to be coaching this team and Brady is going to be QB for a while, so we'll have to keep the faith and rally behind our 2006 Pats!

 

[flutie2phelan]

"...win the whole f**king thing." - "Jake Taylor", Major League

Alright, we're all in the dumps b/c we can't watch our SB DVD's anymore without trying to fast-forward through those clutch kicks BUT if you think about it, this will actually INCREASE our chances of winning the SB next year. What's happening this offseason is that we're letting go of the "fat and happy" players that showed they are content w/ their rings and are chasing the dollars. We need more hungry players on this team. Last year, we weren't hungry enough to get the job done and it showed. We need a "cleansing" and this is it.

Also, the loss of these players is sure to have the media declaring the end of the Pats as we know it, you know what - good. Last year everybody thought we were better than we actually were, thinking we were a sure bet to beat Denver - and then the Broncos used that to their advantage in beating us. The Pats NEED everybody to doubt them to play their best.

We're all hurt, and we should be. But it doesn't have to be the end of the world, perhaps the beginning of something new. BB is going to be coaching this team and Brady is going to be QB for a while, so we'll have to keep the faith and rally behind our 2006 Pats!

Hear, hear, richpats !

(But, say ... did you choose your username to emphasize your first point, above?)

 

[poppabear721]

" Win the whole f**cking thing"...


Love it. Just got through talking to my wife about the utter betrayal of AV. You're right. Aging players after the $$$$. Since when was this team built on that? Raiders, yea. But not the Pats. Man... today gave me a raging headache. Still makes me ill, but it shows me what AV was made of and what he thought of New England Patriots fans and the legacy. Could have had the legacy, but Ill take the cash instead. We build our teams in the draft. Bottom line. BB knows how to find the talent out there in the FA market without paying overpriced, complacent aging stars ridiculous contracts. Think you're right. Let the NFL doubt us again...

 

[SoonerPatriot]

"...win the whole f**king thing." - "Jake Taylor", Major League

Alright, we're all in the dumps b/c we can't watch our SB DVD's anymore without trying to fast-forward through those clutch kicks BUT if you think about it, this will actually INCREASE our chances of winning the SB next year. What's happening this offseason is that we're letting go of the "fat and happy" players that showed they are content w/ their rings and are chasing the dollars. We need more hungry players on this team. Last year, we weren't hungry enough to get the job done and it showed. We need a "cleansing" and this is it.

Also, the loss of these players is sure to have the media declaring the end of the Pats as we know it, you know what - good. Last year everybody thought we were better than we actually were, thinking we were a sure bet to beat Denver - and then the Broncos used that to their advantage in beating us. The Pats NEED everybody to doubt them to play their best.

We're all hurt, and we should be. But it doesn't have to be the end of the world, perhaps the beginning of something new. BB is going to be coaching this team and Brady is going to be QB for a while, so we'll have to keep the faith and rally behind our 2006 Pats!

I don't see how anything we've done to date so far this off-season has increased our chances of winning the Super Bowl next year.

- McGinest is gone

- Givens is gone

- AV is gone

Those are the top three loses. We've also lost servicable bench guys like Dwight, Fauria, Troy Brown and Andre Davis. We may also lose Neal or Ashworth or both.

We have added:

- Reche Caldwell, a player with potential that has proven nothing -- yet.

We have retained:

- H. Poteat, a decent backup and a sentimental favorite

- A. Hawkins, a kid who may end up being a pretty good player.

- Donnie Davis, a servicable ST guy.


You could make the argument that it has helped us in the long run -- in 2007 and beyond. But really what have we done to INCREASE our chances next season? Nothing yet. With more than $20 million in cap room and a dwindling FA pool, it's probably time to maybe at least start thinking about bringing in some replacements. Not super stars. Just Patriot type guys. Preferably young guys who can be developed like Vrabel.

The real gamble this off-season was clearing cap room to keep Branch and Seymour around for a long time. If those deals aren't reached, then it COULD be argued this off-season has been a failure.

But the bottom line is nobody knows. Not yet anyway.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that we've gotten allowed serviceable player to go, and we haven't made any significant additions yet. Your point? We'll see where we are in a month, in two and in three and in camp.

I don't see how anything we've done to date so far this off-season has increased our chances of winning the Super Bowl next year.

- McGinest is gone

- Givens is gone

- AV is gone

Those are the top three loses. We've also lost servicable bench guys like Dwight, Fauria, Troy Brown and Andre Davis. We may also lose Neal or Ashworth or both.

We have added:

- Reche Caldwell, a player with potential that has proven nothing -- yet.

We have retained:

- H. Poteat, a decent backup and a sentimental favorite

- A. Hawkins, a kid who may end up being a pretty good player.

- Donnie Davis, a servicable ST guy.


You could make the argument that it has helped us in the long run -- in 2007 and beyond. But really what have we done to INCREASE our chances next season? Nothing yet. With more than $20 million in cap room and a dwindling FA pool, it's probably time to maybe at least start thinking about bringing in some replacements. Not super stars. Just Patriot type guys. Preferably young guys who can be developed like Vrabel.

The real gamble this off-season was clearing cap room to keep Branch and Seymour around for a long time. If those deals aren't reached, then it COULD be argued this off-season has been a failure.

But the bottom line is nobody knows. Not yet anyway.

 

[richpats]

Just to address how this increases our chances of winning, I just think this gives the Pats a motivational edge that they were lacking last year. Now everybody thinks the Pats have lost their minds, the bandwagon is emptying, dynasty over, yada yada yada. We need to get back to the point where people don't expect jack out of us and thanks to AV we're a step closer. Maybe right now from a personnel standpoint we're not where we need to be, but it's March.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

I agree that we've gotten allowed serviceable player to go, and we haven't made any significant additions yet. Your point? We'll see where we are in a month, in two and in three and in camp.

Yep, and that's why I said so far this off-season...meaning there was still some time to fill the holes.