The Silver Lining

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Alot of younger players were able to develop this year, that's about it for me. IF we can tag and trade Cassel for a reasonable value that's another one.

It's hard to find a silver lining especially when our draft position won't even be all that great considering a playoff absense.

EDIT: This will add to Brady's legacy. From 16-0 to missing the playoffs w/o him. Even though they're still a good team in most eyes and we missed out on some lame tiebreakers, it is saying something.

 

[102 Pat]

How about a pretty good RB corps this year. Hopefully Jordan comes back and good health can be bestowed on the RB's.

 

[maverick4]

EDIT: This will add to Brady's legacy. From 16-0 to missing the playoffs w/o him.

How about adding to Belichick's legacy, to go 11-5 without not just Brady but Harrison, Adalius, Bruschi, Maroney, and about a dozen other key players? And with a QB who didn't start since high school?

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

As much as I want to remain the optimist, there are some sour notes to the season:

Colts made the playoffs
Hacklisberger goes down with a concussion - how far does that team go now?
Does Pioli leave?
How bad is Brady's knee - are recent rumours to be believed?
Colts made the playoffs
Does McDaniel's go?
What looked like a pretty high 2nd rounder from SD, now might be worse than our own
A Gaffney TD vs. Colts and we are in
A 3rd and 15 stop against the Jets in OT and we are in
and
Goober and his brother made the playoffs

anything else that I missed?

As BB would now say, we can only look forward - not back

Approx. 210 days to Training Camp!

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Silver Linings:

Matt Cassel.

The Jests will be mired in mediocrity for at least the next few seasons, or until they get a new Owner.

Matt Cassel.

Mangini is just playing out his string, even if they don't fire him this year. In fact, it's better for us if the dithering Woody (what's Football?) Johnson keeps him and waits another season to fire him.

Matt Cassel.

Bill Belichick, though the haters in the media will never let it happen, was Coach of the Year.

We start next season with a Mission, not with a record to defend.

And, I forgot to mention, "Matt Cassel."

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Silver lining is that the Pats going forward have to fix their 3rd down defense and red zone defense. That was our biggest weakness this year and much like after the 2002 campaign where we had a horrible run defense, BB and Pioli need to bring in some bodies/talent to help us out where we are weak. Whether it's new players in the secondary, better pass rushers, or a more aggressive scheme, I believe BB will have this team much improved in that category.

It will be interesting to see what they do with Cassel. Can we really do a sign and trade with him? Franchising him is a HUGE risk and IMO the only way we can get something for him is if we can approach a team about a sign and trade and hope that that team is fearful that if Cassel hits the FA, he might go to the highest bidder. A part of me believes that Cassel MIGHT become a Jet if he hits FA.

It should be an interesting offseason. I'm looking forward to Brady getting back on the field and Maroney as well (I haven't given up on him).

I agree with everything except Cassel going to the Jets. I don't think Cassel would want to play against his former team twice a year. Also, assuming Mangini stays, I don't think Cassel would want to play for that prick. I think Cassel will go to a team that has most of the pieces already in place. A lot of people think the 49ers is his likely destination but I don't think he would want to play for them. They don't have any WR's and their O-line is in shambles. Getting back to what this means for the Pats. I think this will be the year when the Pats make a big splash in FA through trades and signing like '03 and '07. BB realizes that his 3rd down defense is the reason why their home in January.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

How about adding to Belichick's legacy, to go 11-5 without not just Brady but Harrison, Adalius, Bruschi, Maroney, and about a dozen other key players? And with a QB who didn't start since high school?

True, the mediots and bitter fans that blasted him for Spygate are really looking stupid now IMO.

 

[maverick4]

As much as I want to remain the optimist, there are some sour notes to the season:

Colts made the playoffs
Hacklisberger goes down with a concussion - how far does that team go now?
Does Pioli leave?
How bad is Brady's knee - are recent rumours to be believed?
Colts made the playoffs
Does McDaniel's go?
What looked like a pretty high 2nd rounder from SD, now might be worse than our own
A Gaffney TD vs. Colts and we are in
A 3rd and 15 stop against the Jets in OT and we are in
and
Goober and his brother made the playoffs

anything else that I missed?

As BB would now say, we can only look forward - not back

Approx. 210 days to Training Camp!

I think similar to 2002, there are going to be massive changes in the off-season, including some shockers. In 2002 we cut Milloy and signed Rodney, not to mention a bunch of other moves. Don't be surprised if we see some big names moving around before all is said and done...

 

[Buchanty]

I can definitely add a few more:

Going out of the playoffs with heads held high....this years achievements will be remembered for the December wins and not for a playoff loss (I believe they could have won the wild card game and possibly divisional, but AFC and SB would have been a stretch). The last 3 outs have rankled (Broncs, Colts and Giants)

While I miss all those on IR, the second and third string have made the absence more tolerable (ie I was not yelling "d%#*!@t ***** would have thrown/stopped/caught/tackled/blocked/etc that one easily" as the regular season reached its climax).

The dynasty lives - as long as BB/SP and TFB remain at Foxboro. This year was pretty amazing given all the injuries - 11-5 is just one more achievement to add to the legend.

...and finally we should have expunged the calumny of Spygate. Losing the SB and the following year's playoffs should reduce some of the envy that other fans feel towards the Patriots, especially those who think we are favored and lucky.

I thought this was an amazing year, playoffs would have been icing on top, but its still a damn good cake without them.

 

[maverick4]

One silver lining was that even with a completely decimated/injured team, our last 4 weeks we were still completely destroying teams and were primed for a strong playoff run. So I guess that is both a positive, but also a regret as to what could have been had we got in the tourney.

 

[dtbrks]

here is my ultra negative silver lining:

This is nothing like last year. Last year hurt like no other season and I didn't watch sports for almost 4 months after it. I started to come alive during the draft but it was only a faint heartbeat.

This year is disappointing but something to build on for next year. That and the prospect of brady being back and healthy makes it easier to handle.

 

[Aldogg]

As bad as this is, there are plenty of good things

One, this is going to be the first time our guys will have their off season surgeries or any maintenance done on their bodies without an extra month of wear and tear. Let's not forget for the last few years, the guys who have been here for these super bowls have played almost an extra season of games. This extra rest will help the players.

Two, with the rash of injuries, we got to see our rookies, unknowns and younger guys, guys who normally might not get any burn, get time in key roles. So now we have a rough estimation of what we have, and what we need to get in the draft and in free agency and including the guys who are on IR who will come back. And now some tough roster moves will be made. I think some veteran players won't be back, I think Rodney will retire, Bruschi might retire too. There might be some surprising cuts as well.

Three, the best front office in the league now has more time to prepare for the draft and FA. When your breaking down film on opponents into Feb. almost every year, you don't have as much time to do draft and FA prep. An extra month to break down players, both our own, potential pick ups and draft picks will help us even more in building a roster which will fix the holes we had this year, like red zone defense.

It sucks to be 11-5 and see 8-8 teams getting in, but this, much like 2002, could be a stepping stone for a couple of more Lombardis coming out way.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

The Jets in disarray for a long time to come....

Mangini to be fired and now officially a leper (Although I can foresee Parcells taking him in an "advisory" position)

Great development of younger players.

Hopefully the last year we'll see Hobbs as a starting corner.

The Cassel/Brady situation will make for a great offseason.

Cassel should be worth nothing less a 1st and a 3rd should that situation present itself.

And only 5 teams in the entire league won more games than the Pats this year.................

 

[maverick4]

It sucks to be 11-5 and see 8-8 teams getting in, but this, much like 2002, could be a stepping stone for a couple of more Lombardis coming out way.

I think if we can either add Romeo or another more aggressive D.Coordinator next year, with our injured guys coming back plus the 09 rookies, we could be re-loaded very well by September

 

[Disco Volante]

It's the first season we've ended with a win since 2004.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

The Jets are not in the playoffs. That rules. Cheering for them made me feel dirty anyway.

Me too, and it's not in my nature to root for the Rats. When the crying man threw the pick late in the 4th, I actually laughed. Consciously, I knew it killed our season, but my subconcious took over....

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

It's the first season we've ended with a win since 2004.

There you go, we're already 4 games into our next LOOOOOOOONG WIN STREAK

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

here is my ultra negative silver lining:

This is nothing like last year. Last year hurt like no other season and I didn't watch sports for almost 4 months after it. I started to come alive during the draft but it was only a faint heartbeat.

This year is disappointing but something to build on for next year. That and the prospect of brady being back and healthy makes it easier to handle.

What he said....^^^^^^

 

[upstater1]

Can anyone explain Dom Capers to me?

I've been waiting all year for an explanation.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I'm sure it's been mentioned in one form or another.

- This team discovered and returned to the "hungry, gritty, tough" days of the early 00's that they had lost. Each game was a war and nothing was taken for granted. We lost a little of that over the past couple years. Last year was fun and all, but it did not feel like "Patriot Football" most of the time (Believe me, I wasn't complaining at the time). I think that is why this season was as fun to watch as a fan.

I think that this year wiped the slate clean and we will once again, be that team that played like it has a chip on it's shoulder, not like it was trying to live up to something.