What we need is for Tom Brady to be at 100% to start the season. I there any doubt that, even with all the other injuries, we would be favored to be in the AFC Championship Game at this point with Tom Brady healthy.
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As always we have off-season priorities.
2008-2009
Going into this year, the priorities were at LB and corner. We had severe holes at those positions. We filled with Mayo, Guyton, Redd, Wheatley, Wilhite, O'Neal, Webster, and Lew Sanders. I'd say we did pretty well. With Brady healthy, we'd be talking Super Bowl. The school is out on our corners, but development sometimes takes time.
2009 offseason
A) A healthy Tom Brady
To repeat, I'm not trying to be funny. I think that we would talking Super Bowl right now with a healthy Tom Brady. We would think that we are the best in the AFC. Others would be debating. So, we do not need to rebuild. We just need to do what we have done every year since Belichick has arrived, look to the future, reload and go forward.
1) GUARD
This is a serious need. None of our guards are signed beyond 2009. We need to develop a guard or two or three. Mankins, Neal, Yates all have contracts through 2009, Hochstein through 2008. One also needs to be our backup center. Obviously, this need can be best solved through extensions of existing players.
2) DEFENSIVE LINE
The need depends on the prospects for extending Seymour, Wilfork, Green and Wright. The first three are signed through 2009, Wright through 2008. This is biggest open roster issue over the next year and a half.
3) TIGHT END
We'll draft the first tight end available to us in the draft that Belichick thinks fits our system. We need help.
4)SAFETY
We have Meriweather, Spann, Dillard and perhaps Tank Williams. Obviously this is a position of highest need. I would note that if we re-sign Sanders, this is still a need, but not a huge one. On further review, perhaps if need be we can find safeties in free agency.
5) #3 WIDE RECEIVER
I'm from the "just re-sign Gaffney" school on this one. In the alternative, we can sign a free agent or two to compete for the spot and perhasps with a late round draftee. We still have Aiken and Washington as fine #4 and #5. We also have Slater and Ventrone.
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Sure, we also need upgrades at corner and a backup ILB. Every team in the league could use a shutdown corner and an all-pro passrusher.