NFL's "fake" season 2020

[IllegalContact]

It’s very simple

-we haven’t drafted a WR worth a damn since 2009

-we haven’t drafted a TE worry a damn since 2010.

-we relied on just picking up free agents to fill in holes at these positions but didn’t want to commit money to it. So when we had guys like Cooks and Amendola we ultimately cut bait. This also led to relying on risks like Gordon and Brown.

-for whatever reason our management felt that getting stuck with a declining QB on a contract for one year was the absolute worst thing in world..... so we pissed him off with one year contacts until he had enough and left

- on defense we’ve had more success drafting but our premier cornerstones are far older and more prone to opt out and are not as sharp as before.

-we lack depth on the offensive line and any adversity breaks it.

that recipe yielded 3 super bowls, 5 superbowl appearances, and 8 consecutive appearances in the conference championship......who are you to question how that was achieved?

 

[lancerman]

Teams go up and down every year. These teams are not evidence that tanking worked. The Browns have been rebuilding for 20 years. If the Patriots "tank" they are basically getting one extra pick than a normal year. Let's say it is #5. What player on any of those teams listed picked in the top 5 has made them true championship contenders? No one argues against needing a top QB but Mahomes was mid 1st round pick, LJ was end of first round. Neither of those teams tanked to get better. The Titans picked up a journeyman in Ryan Tannehill and made it to the AFCG and are top of AFC this year. Every team needs to do well drafting and talent acquisition but I have yet to see the evidence that teams need to have a top 5 pick to do that.

No they arent. If the Pats could get the first pick based off the last decade it’s almost like then getting two first round picks l. One at 1 and one at 33. You could also trade Thuney and Gilmore for first and second round picks which you could use to build capital. We also have a ton of cap space next season. We could unload the old guys, get the QB, get some high end rookie WR’s and TE’s. Then pick up some big free agents. You could have a fresh young team next year that can be cornerstone the next 5/6 years.

 

[moosekill]

Why don't you name some of those people who follow the players over the team? I don't see any. What I see are Pats fans that aren't happy with the level of poor play that we're seeing this year, even though we all knew there'd be a drop off without the GOAT. Many of us didn't expect it to be this bad.

Pats fans were disappointed when Seymour was traded. Many of them were devastated when Drew was traded. Same for Lawyer and Law. But we're all still fans of the team and always will be. Stop talking nonsense.

Bull ****. There are many people over on the other thread who would be rooting for Tampa over the Patriots if they played in the super bowl. My guess is you are one of them.

 

[lancerman]

that recipe yielded 3 super bowls, 5 superbowl appearances, and 8 consecutive appearances in the conference championship......who are you to question how that was achieved?

No it didn’t. The SB run starting in 2014 was really the fruition of draft picks and team building we had accomplished from 09-14

Edelman- 09
Gronkowski- 10
Hightower- 12
McCourty- 10
Chung- 09
Cannon- 11
Solder- 11
Ninkovich- signed in 09
Harmon- 13
Amendola- signed in 13
White- 14
Those were our consistent cornerstone pieces during the last SB burst. At the most you could maybe add Flowers and Andrews on as 2015 pick ups. L

But that’s really the core of the most recent part of the dynasty. We don’t have to use dumbed down logic and ignore issues that have been happening really since 2014 drafting wise. The team is in the position it is now because we haven’t adequately built on that while we were winning SB’s. If we hit on two WR’s or a WR and a TE and maybe hot one linebacker like Hightower or Mayo or Collins since 2015... we’d be having a different conversation

 

[Tunescribe]

They’d be a bit better on defense with Hightower and Chung, but they alone are not enough to get this team over the top. The offense is simply terrible. It’s been bad going back two seasons now. That has nothing to do with the pandemic. The Browns, coached by Kevin Stefanski, are 5-2 right now. Why? They have talent. The Patriots, coached by the GOAT, are 2-4. Why? They don’t. The excuses change from week to week. Last week it was no practice. This week, it’s the pandemic. The proof is in the pudding.

The sum is greater than the parts and the pandemic has taken a bigger toll on this Patriots season than most teams. The six opt-outs include Cannon who, if healthy, would have helped the OL's recent bout of musical chairs. Bolden is a solid reserve/ST contributor and who knows what Toran, Lee, Vitale, etc. would've offered. New England led the league in opt-outs exacerbated by a truncated preseason. Then the starting QB tests positive and misses a game they arguably could've won with him while the entire team misses about two weeks of practices. Hightower and Chung definitely would make the defense more stout. Minus concessions to the virus the Pats wouldn't be "over the top" but they'd be more competitive than they are now -- probably 3-3, maybe 4-2 and in play for the division. No excuses, just facts.

 

[Doctor DDS]

No it didn’t. The SB run starting in 2014 was really the fruition of draft picks and team building we had accomplished from 09-14

Edelman- 09
Gronkowski- 10
Hightower- 12
McCourty- 10
Chung- 09
Cannon- 11
Solder- 11
Ninkovich- signed in 09
Harmon- 13
Amendola- signed in 13
White- 14
Those were our consistent cornerstone pieces during the last SB burst. At the most you could maybe add Flowers and Andrews on as 2015 pick ups. L

But that’s really the core of the most recent part of the dynasty. We don’t have to use dumbed down logic and ignore issues that have been happening really since 2014 drafting wise. The team is in the position it is now because we haven’t adequately built on that while we were winning SB’s. If we hit on two WR’s or a WR and a TE and maybe hot one linebacker like Hightower or Mayo or Collins since 2015... we’d be having a different conversation

And not one of these players were acquired at the top of the draft. Talent acquisition is absolutely crucial for the rebuild. Needing to go 5-11 or worse is not needed.

 

[Kontradiction]

The sum is greater than the parts and the pandemic has taken a bigger toll on this Patriots season than most teams. The six opt-outs include Cannon who, if healthy, would have helped the OL's recent bout of musical chairs. Bolden is a solid reserve/ST contributor and who knows what Toran, Lee, Vitale, etc. would've offered. New England led the league in opt-outs exacerbated by a truncated preseason. Then the starting QB tests positive and misses a game they arguably could've won with him while the entire team misses about two weeks of practices. Hightower and Chung definitely would make the defense more stout. Minus concessions to the virus the Pats wouldn't be "over the top" but they'd be more competitive than they are now -- probably 3-3 or 4-2 and in play for the division. No excuses, just facts.

The Titans have been the most affected team in the NFL by a wide margin. Remind me again what their record is?

 

[Tunescribe]

The Titans have been the most affected team in the NFL by a wide margin. Remind me again what their record is?

How many starters/key reserve contributors have they lost to the pandemic for the season and individually for games, including quarterback? I'm sure you know.

 

[IllegalContact]

No it didn’t. The SB run starting in 2014 was really the fruition of draft picks and team building we had accomplished from 09-14

Edelman- 09
Gronkowski- 10
Hightower- 12
McCourty- 10
Chung- 09
Cannon- 11
Solder- 11
Ninkovich- signed in 09
Harmon- 13
Amendola- signed in 13
White- 14
Those were our consistent cornerstone pieces during the last SB burst. At the most you could maybe add Flowers and Andrews on as 2015 pick ups. L

But that’s really the core of the most recent part of the dynasty. We don’t have to use dumbed down logic and ignore issues that have been happening really since 2014 drafting wise. The team is in the position it is now because we haven’t adequately built on that while we were winning SB’s. If we hit on two WR’s or a WR and a TE and maybe hot one linebacker like Hightower or Mayo or Collins since 2015... we’d be having a different conversation

I disagree.......if you want to get down to it, it started in 2001 ..... 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2019 were the years the team did not at least get to the AFCC......it is likely not feasible to expect the team to get to at least the conference championship 20 years in a row........what you're doing is nitpicking

 

[lancerman]

And not one of these players were acquired at the top of the draft. Talent acquisition is absolutely crucial for the rebuild. Needing to go 5-11 or worse is not needed.

That took about 6 years to manifest. This team is worse than the 08-09 teams. We aren’t waiting 6-7 years. Time to just get higher percentage hits. Bill probably isn’t going to be here in 2026-27

 

[lancerman]

I disagree.......if you want to get down to it, it started in 2001 ..... 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2019 were the years the team did not at least get to the AFCC......it is likely not feasible to expect the team to get to at least the conference championship 20 years in a row........what you're doing is nitpicking

You totally misunderstood the discussion. Yes Brady at QB is part of that. We also need a QB. Guess where the best place to draft a QB is?

 

[IllegalContact]

The Titans have been the most affected team in the NFL by a wide margin. Remind me again what their record is?

no they haven't ...... take a look at the CoVid IR and opt out lists

 

[1960Pats]

Bull ****. There are many people over on the other thread who would be rooting for Tampa over the Patriots if they played in the super bowl. My guess is you are one of them.

If there are "many people" pulling for TB over the Pats on another thread it should be easy (even for you) to come up with a few names or examples without guessing. Btw, I thought you were done with that thread.

 

[IllegalContact]

You totally misunderstood the discussion. Yes Brady at QB is part of that. We also need a QB. Guess where the best place to draft a QB is?

nahhhhh.....I get it.....this team did offensive personnel things a certain way while brady was here........it was a long time ago where brady decided he didn't have the time to work with rookies........this kind of year was going to happen any year after brady left. it's called rebuilding

 

[moosekill]

If there are "many people" pulling for TB over the Pats on another thread it should be easy (even for you) to come up with a few names or examples without guessing. Btw, I thought you were done with that thread.

I know technology is hard for you old timers, but have you seen me post over there lately in all your time spent reading the thread? You Buc fans have a good team.

 

[XLIX]

You defy reason. I'd suggest you go find another team to root for but judging by your avatar it appears you already have.

How do I "defy reason". What part of the following is wrong? This team had Hoyer and Stidham all summer long then stumbled into Cam Newton at cheap dollars - and all 3 suck.

Either they had no plan at QB, or the plan sucked royally.

 

[Tunescribe]

How do I "defy reason". What part of the following is wrong? This team had Hoyer and Stidham all summer long then stumbled into Cam Newton at cheap dollars - and all 3 suck.

Because since all three "suck," as you've concluded, you stretch that into believing BB had no plan at QB. Beyond that, as a Bucs fan you seem to be wasting your time trolling a Patriots fan site and not basking in the glow of victory on your team's home board.

 

[borg]

I love these "the Patriots suck so here's my coping mechanism" threads.

Today's version intended to suppress the OP's night terrors: It's a fake season

My mechanism: just keep typing 4-12 > 8-8

 

[Bill Lee]

Reeks of excuses. The team just isn’t good right now.

Two things can be true at the same time: this team just isn't very good right now and we've had more than our share of negative impact from covid, more than any other team pretty clearly IMO.

Yes, the rules are the same for everybody, but we're the team that had six players opt out before the season including two starters and we're the team whose starting QB has lost time to covid so we're the ones seeing the impact.

Legit want to know what people here thought this NE team was. I’m finding it difficult to understand the level of desperation around here. Were expectations high for the 2020 Patriots ?

Maybe I’m alone in thinking they were - at BEST - a division winner with a first round loss.

My take entering the season was 8-8 once the opt-outs were known.

Cam is a streaky player, we just saw what things look like when he's in a down phase, and it's ugly. At least people now realize why he's not the answer.

I realized it was not going to be a strong offensive season all along, but losing Hightower and Chung before you played a single game with no realistic way to make up for that via draft or free agency meant we were not going to be good on defense. The league didn't care, the show must go on, Roger's got a bonus to collect.

This team is still one of the older teams in the league. There's even more turn over coming in the off season, IMO. The people who whine about not having great TE and WR are likely to be disappointed since this team will have so many fundamental holes I doubt we'll see BB make big moves in that space.

 

[IllegalContact]

How do I "defy reason". What part of the following is wrong? This team had Hoyer and Stidham all summer long then stumbled into Cam Newton at cheap dollars - and all 3 suck.

Either they had no plan at QB, or the plan sucked royally.

I think they planned on getting what they could out of a transitional year or 2.......if CoVid didn't happen, they might have gone a different route, but they were already strapped with 28M in dead money and making hasty decisions during transitions don't typically bode well