Were Pats Fans (and media) Unrealistically Optimistic About The 2020 Patriots?

[Thelonious]

I figured them for six or seven wins. I never believed in Cam, and there have been too many sub-par drafts in a row. I figured Bill to get the best out of this group as he has the others. The best in this case, though, is a losing season and no playoffs. They'll be back, but it'll be a while. Let the rebuild commence. You can begin by dumping Cam and N'Keal.

 

[Nikolai]

I had them .500. At best maybe winning 9 games.....the worse of my fears before the season began is what's happening right now

My worst fear was the team giving up on BB. After some rewatching of that last debacle, it almost seems like that's what happened. Hopefully, it's a one-time thing, but maybe it's just a necessary step in cleaning house like after 2009...except on a much larger scale.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

My worst fear was the team giving up on BB. After some rewatching of that last debacle, it almost seems like that's what happened. Hopefully, it's a one-time thing, but maybe it's just a necessary step in cleaning house like after 2009...except on a much larger scale.

IF they have given up on BB, it could be incurable and fatal. Most coaches even successful ones have a run of a few years before a team somehow tires of the coach's methodology & approach and tune him out. It can be deliberate or subconscious. If enough guys do this and there is not a pool of players who USED to play for the coach that he can bring in to force a culture like BB did in 2001 after purging the 2000 Patriots, then the situation remains bleak. I hope this hasn't happened. BB's few remaining vet leaders, McCourty & Slater are old and too few.

 

[mike_usagisan]

It appears that the Pats leaned a bit towards a 'win now' mode the last three years (based on TB12's age) in comparison to how they usually manage the cap, and now they are paying the price this seaso

I think this is the point that people keep forgetting. We overpaid on the cap to go “all in” on Brady’s last few years and it netted us one or two superbowls. But we had to pay and when Brady refused to take a one year deal, I think BB decided it was time to pay the piper this year.

we’ve been spoiled because BB has been so good at financial management and not overpaying for talent, but we clearly did the last few years.

it’s ridiculously common for teams to have a bad year or two to get out of cap hell. I’m not sure I understand why anyone thought we wouldn’t have to pay sooner or later.

 

[1960Pats]

I was optimistic at first because Bill didn't go after another QB when Brady was dumped/left. That had me thinking that Stidham was at least serviceable and that Hoyer would be an adequate backup.

Then they brought in Cam on the cheap and I was even more optimistic.

Then I saw all three of the QBs and my optimism dropped like a rock.

The best part now is that because of the idiotic 4 team division setup, they could get in at 7-9 or even 6-10 if they beat the Bills and the Fins don't go on a run.

 

[Triumph]

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I think this is the point that people keep forgetting. We overpaid on the cap to go “all in” on Brady’s last few years and it netted us one or two superbowls. But we had to pay and when Brady refused to take a one year deal, I think BB decided it was time to pay the piper this year.

we’ve been spoiled because BB has been so good at financial management and not overpaying for talent, but we clearly did the last few years.

it’s ridiculously common for teams to have a bad year or two to get out of cap hell. I’m not sure I understand why anyone thought we wouldn’t have to pay sooner or later.

I figured we'd have a couple of years where we shad to rebuild, we'll see what BB's plan is after next year. We can't complain after 6 super bowls,

 

[XLIX]

I said they'd go 5-11. I liked the symmetry of how that would bookend with the 5-11 season in 2000. So I can't really be accused of being too optimistic...

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I think most were pretty realistic about the expectations. THe optimistic fans such as myself seemed to be predicting 9-10 wins and that was the best case scenario. I'd think its still attainable with a win in buffalo sunday , but I'm leaning towards .500 or below right now unfortunately. Definitely far from giving hope altogether on Cam or the team, we'll see

 

[Wozzy]

My worst fear was the team giving up on BB. After some rewatching of that last debacle, it almost seems like that's what happened. Hopefully, it's a one-time thing, but maybe it's just a necessary step in cleaning house like after 2009...except on a much larger scale.

The team has given up on the offense because Cam looks like garbage, if you can't manufacture a first down hope is lost.

 

[sb1]

View attachment 29130

Pipe dream.

 

[Triumph]

Pipe dream.

The Jets are getting Lawrence guaranteed..

Anyone that believes that the Jets are trying to win needs to put the pipe down. The Jets are trying to trade at least 3 more players before the trade deadline. If the rest of the league has 2 or 3 win teams then, Yes the Jets might go all out and try to win 1 game.

 

[captain stone]

My worst fear was the team giving up on BB. After some rewatching of that last debacle, it almost seems like that's what happened. Hopefully, it's a one-time thing, but maybe it's just a necessary step in cleaning house like after 2009...except on a much larger scale.

Yep...And like 2009, more than a couple of players appeared to make "business decisions" on the field Sunday...

This game vs Barfalo could be a gut-check/wake-up call for the entire franchise...top to bottom...executives, coaches and players...

 

[captain stone]

I think this is the point that people keep forgetting. We overpaid on the cap to go “all in” on Brady’s last few years and it netted us one or two superbowls. But we had to pay and when Brady refused to take a one year deal, I think BB decided it was time to pay the piper this year.

we’ve been spoiled because BB has been so good at financial management and not overpaying for talent, but we clearly did the last few years.

it’s ridiculously common for teams to have a bad year or two to get out of cap hell. I’m not sure I understand why anyone thought we wouldn’t have to pay sooner or later.

Because that's not the only reason we are where we are...

 

[libra957]

Covid killed us.

 

[borg]

8 covid quitters
A bevy of productive LBs who fled to richer soil
Byrd as the WR solution
Neophyte TEs learning the ropes via zoom
A historically inaccurate new QB with minimal practice opportunities and no preseason

To quote Homer from Fanboyville, MA: "Yeah, cue the freakin duck boats and grab a case of beer and some smokes at the packie................

 

[Triumph]

Covid killed us.

Im glad folks are finally seeing how Brady was dragging BB down all this time.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I thought they were a 5 win team pre Cam Newton. I thought 9-10 wins with Cam. That's looking real bad right now.

A losing record this year would make it 2 out of 3 seasons without Brady at QB.

 

[amfootball]

IF they have given up on BB, it could be incurable and fatal. Most coaches even successful ones have a run of a few years before a team somehow tires of the coach's methodology & approach and tune him out. It can be deliberate or subconscious. If enough guys do this and there is not a pool of players who USED to play for the coach that he can bring in to force a culture like BB did in 2001 after purging the 2000 Patriots, then the situation remains bleak. I hope this hasn't happened. BB's few remaining vet leaders, McCourty & Slater are old and too few.

I agree. Brady was always the buffer. He was always on board with Bill and even then many players over the years had issues with Bill. I do think it is possible that he could lose the team and not get them back with his style.

 

[RIpats88]

I thought with cam newton we would be better than we are now. Especially after the seahawks game.

Prior to cam newton signing I had us as a horrible team