Are we back?

[TheRainMaker]

We'll know more by training camp/preseason, but with the off-season additions and 7 teams making the playoffs which is almost half of the conference, the excuses are running out for Drake Maye. On paper, their defense should be the best in the division. They have new faces on offense including a veteran in Diggs. He has a competent coaching staff. If he can't win at least 9 games and make the playoffs, it will be a bad look on him.

 

[denverpatsfan]

We'll know more by training camp, but with the off-season additions and 7 teams making the playoffs which is almost half of the conference, the excuses are running out for Drake Maye. On paper, their defense should be the best in the division. They have new faces on offense including a veteran in Diggs. He has a competent coaching staff. If he can't win at least 9 games and make the playoffs, it will be a bad look on him.

WTAF?
Give the kid a chance. He played (1) season with a **** show of a coaching staff and no NFL caliber LT or WR.

Happy that the new regime drafted players from actual big time programs. BB thought he was so smart he could coach up any Division 2 player to become a star. Glad that drafting strategy is over.

 

[mgteich]

They've certainly laid the foundation to being back. no longer does the roster look like a AAA team and in the near future they can be more targeted in free agency instead of trying to fill out a complete roster of starters. In terms of future drafts, they can draft like the best teams do - no need to reach, let the draft come to them and stock up on key positions like the Eagles do on the DL. I'm feeling much more confident moving forward.

Our biggest question mark this year, in 2026 and 2027 is the same. How well will Maye develop?

 

[TheRainMaker]

WTAF?
Give the kid a chance. He played (1) season with a **** show of a coaching staff and no NFL caliber LT or WR.

Happy that the new regime drafted players from actual big time programs. BB thought he was so smart he could coach up any Division 2 player to become a star. Glad that drafting strategy is over.

Stop babying him.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Possibly On our way pending a few things. We will find out alot this year, no they won’t be contenders right away. BUT if this offseason lives up to its hype and the team is at least in contention for a playoff spot this quick , it proves our front office knows what its doing and capable of getting us there.

The bigger key to the question is of course Drake Maye.

 

[Ring 6]

It appears that the Pats front office focused on high character guys who love football.

Vrabel changing the culture of the team. There may be hope for Polk. I would like to believe that the Pats are at least 4 wins better than 2024. 8 wins is only a couple three wins from the post season. I like to think that the Pats will be in the playoff conversation here and there as the season progresses.

We’ve been focusing on high character guys who love football for 25 years. We just gave them leadership that cared a lot other things last year.

 

[Ring 6]

We'll know more by training camp/preseason, but with the off-season additions and 7 teams making the playoffs which is almost half of the conference, the excuses are running out for Drake Maye. On paper, their defense should be the best in the division. They have new faces on offense including a veteran in Diggs. He has a competent coaching staff. If he can't win at least 9 games and make the playoffs, it will be a bad look on him.

Who made, or would need to make excuses for Maye?
He had a very good rookie year and appears to be a stud qb in the making.
There is nothing to excuse

 

[dliverey44]

I'm not letting myself take the cheese yet.

I will take enough for both of us




Training camp is going to be fun with all of the competition

 

[TheRainMaker]

Who made, or would need to make excuses for Maye?
He had a very good rookie year and appears to be a stud qb in the making.
There is nothing to excuse

Jayden Daniels won 12 games his rookie season for the Commanders with a bad roster. 9 wins in year 2 is not asking for much considering the additions the Patriots have had for coaching and personnel.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Our biggest question mark this year, in 2026 and 2027 is the same. How well will Maye develop?

Thats really the key to this franchise's revival. That and Vrabel's leadership and it's sustainability.

 

[sturmrider]

The one issue I can see with Drake is he will have to stop trying to be the hero in each game that we are behind. We have other weapons now and he should use them. This should cut down on the turnovers and potentially make him a much better QB.

 

[Ring 6]

Jayden Daniels won 12 games his rookie season for the Commanders with a bad roster. 9 wins in year 2 is not asking for much considering the additions the Patriots have had for coaching and personnel.

Anything less than 9 would be a huge disappointment.
Not sure what that has to do with claiming people are making excuse for Maye.

 

[Ring 6]

Thats really the key to this franchise's revival. That and Vrabel's leadership and its sustainability.

We’ve put a team around Maye that we can go as far as he can take it

 

[Boomer B]

the excuses are running out for Drake Maye.

 

[RobertWeathers]

The one issue I can see with Drake is he will have to stop trying to be the hero in each game that we are behind. We have other weapons now and he should use them. This should cut down on the turnovers and potentially make him a much better QB.

Super Bowl winning quarterbacks need a complete team around them. Defense. Skill position players. Special teams. Offensive line. Solid coaching.

Maye had Bledsoe -heroball moments last year no question.

Good coaching and more manageable games should get him in a more controlled playing style.

 

[Boomer B]

Jayden Daniels won 12 games his rookie season for the Commanders with a bad roster. 9 wins in year 2 is not asking for much considering the additions the Patriots have had for coaching and personnel.

Congrats, you just gave one of the worst takes ever on this site.

Troy Aikman: 0-11 his rookie year
Peyton Manning: 3-13 his rookie year
Steve Young: 2-14 his rookie year
Josh Allen: 5-7 his rookie year
Drew Bledsoe: 5-11 his rookie year

 

[JohnJH]

At present, I'd say that we're better. We also can't discount the possibility of another player or two being acquired via trade after June 1st. And, if the team manages to get through camp and the preseason healthy (and the same regarding the regular season), then we'll see what we have and in what direction we're headed. But yes, we're better than not just last year, but the previous few years.

 

[signbabybrady]

We'll know more by training camp/preseason, but with the off-season additions and 7 teams making the playoffs which is almost half of the conference, the excuses are running out for Drake Maye. On paper, their defense should be the best in the division. They have new faces on offense including a veteran in Diggs. He has a competent coaching staff. If he can't win at least 9 games and make the playoffs, it will be a bad look on him.

Excuses? He has to prove himself to be a good QB before anyone starts making excuses. He was a top prospect and despite the awful year the team had he managed to show why but he still has a very long way to go in his development. Excuses are for guys that have been around and haven't accomplished anything like Stafford he was great and as time told his excuse was valid and Detroit was the problem. Sometimes the excuses are just excuses but no one starts putting that on a player after one season. You're way out of line on this one.

 

[Triumph]

Focusing on high character guys does not mean having a roster where no one gets in trouble in 25 years.

There was trouble virtually every season.

Was AB high character? Josh Gordon?

Most of the latest draft picks were on video willing to do whatever asked.

 

[patfanken]

We’ve put a team around Maye that we can go as far as he can take it

TEAM is the key word there, Andy. We put a bunch of new players around Maye, but like I said they are NOT a team ...yet. Also, so many of those guys are SO Young. I sure hope we don't see the best of all those rookies, just like I hope we haven't seen the best of all those guys we saw last year.

Campbell has to prove he can overcome his physical limitations. Wilson has only one year as a full-time starting C, and that is why Bradbury is still important starting out.

Rookies will probably get some starts and rotational run, but you NEVER get to see the best of your draft class in their first year, so while there will be some up moments for them, there will be some painful ones as well there ALWAYS are.

But the thing that really dampers my optimism for playoff results for next year is the fact this is the 3rd different program for these players in 3 years. It takes time to build a program, culture, and roster. It just does. You know it does, Andy.

Do I have HOPES of a playoff run next season. You know I do. But that is NOT how I will judge the progress of this team going forward. So while I very much expect the overall quality of the play will take a leap forward, I do not know yet whether that leap will translate into actual wins. You can play well and still lose games the margin of victory is so small most of the time.

A good veteran team like the Chiefs knows how to win those close games, just like the Pats did back in the day. How many Bills and Jet games did the Pats win when they were outplayed or played evenly for the most part but won in the end. It happened a LOT. Plus you know you need some luck too. Injury luck, bounce luck, timely calls for and against luck. They all factor into the results of a game.

My when you are in a new rebuilding program after 2 previous years of chaos you shouldn't judge the progress of that process, simply by weekly wins or losses. You want the wins of course and hate the losses, but that is NOT the end all and be all of judging the progress.