Washington Times: Pats won't win Super Bowl because of 3 personnel loses

Mike Reiss had a link to this story:

http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20060721-121142-1478r.htm

EAST

• New England: The last time the Patriots entered a season not as defending champions -- in 2003 -- they won the next two Super Bowls. Such a repeat comeback won't happen without stalwarts Adam Vinatieri, Willie McGinest and David Givens, who haven't been replaced.

• Miami: The Dolphins won their last six games to finish 9-7 and they've added quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who was all-world (non-Peyton Manning version) in 2004 before tearing a still-healing knee in 2005. Is Culpepper his pre-injury self?

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The article quickly turns from "question marks" to "predictions."

Re: Washington Times: Pats won't win Super Bowl because 3 personnel loses

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Culpepper's pre-injury self "stink-out-loud" awful? What about the fact that Miami forgot to trade for Randy Moss to assist Culpepper? I can't wait until the Pats start mowing down these pretenders! Bring on camp!

Re: Washington Times: Pats won't win Super Bowl because 3 personnel loses

• New England: The last time the Patriots entered a season not as defending champions -- in 2003 -- they won the next two Super Bowls. Such a repeat comeback won't happen without stalwarts Adam Vinatieri, Willie McGinest and David Givens, who haven't been replaced.

We've decided to go without a kicker?

This is the funniest thing that I've read all day.I wonder what they're going to say once the Pats wins their 4th Superbowl and Brady gets his 3rd MVP award.

Yup, as well as no #2 WR or 34 year old OLB. Imagine this clowns chagrin when the 2006 Cinderella story unfolds....

It's amazing they actual pay people to write this half baked drivel.

Who cares, we've seen this quite a few times this off season as I recal...

"Vinatieri, McGinnest, Givens..." over and over again. If there is one loss I would say hurts us most out of the three it was Willie McGinnest, not majorly on the field since we still have 3 great linebackers out there. But he was really a leader in the locker room, not saying anybody else on the defense cant, but locker room yes it was Willie. Givens doesnt hurt. I'd think that the best WR in the draft and even if you want to say mediocore Caldwell, that still should make up for David Givens, I'd hope two people could. Plus we gained Thomas, Mills etc, it wont hurt.

NEM said:

Do all these experts forget that the reason the Dolphins won the last game of the season against the Pats is that the Pats played NO ONE.....cause the game was meaningless to them. Do they all forget that....and yet, the Pats could have won it.

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And that the Pats went 7-2 in their 9 games (not including Miami Jan. 1).

Yes they didnt play anyone, but Fins fans will deny it quickly, mention their winning streak that easily could have been broken by the Patriots backups last Winter.

I recall Brady throwing a pick early on then the next drive I believe he tosses a touchdown back of the endzone to Branch...easy. Culpepper will be confused when he faces the Patriots & BB, then we'll see the Dolphins excuses.

NEM said:

Do all these experts forget that the reason the Dolphins won the last game of the season against the Pats is that the Pats played NO ONE.....cause the game was meaningless to them. Do they all forget that....and yet, the Pats could have won it.

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correct. it seems that these experets forget very easily...
i am looking forward to play Miami this season.

Kdo5 said:

Who cares, we've seen this quite a few times this off season as I recal...

"Vinatieri, McGinnest, Givens..." over and over again. If there is one loss I would say hurts us most out of the three it was Willie McGinnest, not majorly on the field since we still have 3 great linebackers out there. But he was really a leader in the locker room, not saying anybody else on the defense cant, but locker room yes it was Willie. Givens doesnt hurt. I'd think that the best WR in the draft and even if you want to say mediocore Caldwell, that still should make up for David Givens, I'd hope two people could. Plus we gained Thomas, Mills etc, it wont hurt.

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BB has a plan for replacing all those guys - we all know that. Football is the easiest sport to replace a key player or at least mask the effect of the loss (except QB for us). But I don't tsee how you don't miss three of our best players last year. Just because they're gone doesn't mean they suck. AV is the greatest kicker in big situations (except for Denver last year, I'll give that) the NFL ever saw. McGinest was huge last season, his best ever IMO. Givens the least important of the three, but still hasn't peaked as a WR. The Pat's will adjust and win it all on Brady's back this year and this team is loaded and deep at most spots, but they'd definitely be better with those three.

Re: Washington Times: Pats won't win Super Bowl because 3 personnel loses

PatsDeb said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Culpepper's pre-injury self "stink-out-loud" awful? What about the fact that Miami forgot to trade for Randy Moss to assist Culpepper? I can't wait until the Pats start mowing down these pretenders! Bring on camp!

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Totally agree. I kept tuning in to Vikes games to get a look at the superstar QB there, and I kept seen a big guy who choked under pressure (Manning) and had no sense of the field until it was too late. He's about half of Brady, maybe less with the injury that will IMO, force the #2 to play lots of games. I can't wait to see Bruschi get sprung up the middle and wrap his mangled legs.

How soon they forget Lawyer Malloy.

This article is the definition of 'packing it in'. Did anyone get anything of value from this article. This guy did absolutely no research and just spit out a bunch of general thoughts. It amazes me that people like this have jobs as football writers, as they offer no insight or original thoughts.

Washington Times: 3 personnel loses deadly NO kicker, no 3rd LB no 2nd receiver....

I have to laugh at all this...a top notch kicker is gone..so we don't have A kicker??? PLEASE!!!!!! Sure there is a downgrade..but making it seem SOOO BIG!!! Givens is gone..yes..and Chad Jackson may not be as good the first year..OK..he may not be as strong..and polished OK OK..but between ChadJ and Reche..and others we may not come near what Givens did??? And then there's WIllieMcG..yes, he made some BIG plays at OLB..when they counted..there is NO doubt about that..and I agree he will be missed in the locker room..but the paper is making out like these are non-replacable parts.
One does remember that AdamV did miss kicks now and then..not many..but some..and Givens not only has dropped passes, ran bad routes and has missed games due to injury. WillieMcG is also in the twilight of his career..a GREAT career..but at some point..having a younger OLB was going to happen.
What I am saying is..that I think the post and many others are building up these players to be "perfect"...and that is not the case with these or any. What if a Jackson or even a Caldwell brings other things to the table that Givens did NOT have?? What if an one of the OLBs steps up and looks like a sure replacement and ready to step in in 07??? What if Guts is closer to a young AdamV??? We don't know what that delta is between the 3 and their replacements..and how it all comes out in the mix.. Greatly exagerated..just another Bulletin Board article.

Damn.

If these guys are right, then the 2001 team doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of making it to the Super Bowl - let alone win the thing.

Re: Washington Times: Pats won't win Super Bowl because 3 personnel loses

PatsDeb said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Culpepper's pre-injury self "stink-out-loud" awful? What about the fact that Miami forgot to trade for Randy Moss to assist Culpepper? I can't wait until the Pats start mowing down these pretenders! Bring on camp!

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Couldn't agree more! Well said. Bring it!

Re: Washington Times: Pats won't win Super Bowl because 3 personnel loses

RayClay said:

• New England: The last time the Patriots entered a season not as defending champions -- in 2003 -- they won the next two Super Bowls. Such a repeat comeback won't happen without stalwarts Adam Vinatieri, Willie McGinest and David Givens, who haven't been replaced.

We've decided to go without a kicker?

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That sucks. We're not staring anybody in Willie's position? Adam's? They didn't really draft Chad Jackson? We've been lied to!!!!!

Re: Washington Times: Pats won't win Super Bowl because 3 personnel loses

PatsDeb said:

What about the fact that Miami forgot to trade for Randy Moss to assist Culpepper?

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On a slight off topic, watch out for a Culpepper-Chambers combo if he can get back up to form.

Back to the question at hand. I am tired of hearing about all of this. We did replace McGinest - with players from our OWN ROSTER. Givens will be replaced by a tandem between Chad Jackson and Reche Caldwell, and some of the residue will be soaked up at the TE position by whoever.

As for Vinatieri, someone should be able to replace him between Gramatica and Gostkowski.

If you write a column about how each team in the NFL won't win the Super Bowl, your predictions will be right an astounding 97% of the time, making you the most accurate handicapper in sports.

I'll also remind some of you that, the year the Patriots won the Super Bowl, they were ranked #32 in the Sports Illustrated power rankings after two weeks. They were also projected as the team least likely to win a Super Bowl in the near future by Pro Football Weekly.