Idle thoughts - We are on to 2015

What I can guarantee is that come next year, when the Pats lose a game in September, everyone on this board, including me, will be convinced that the run is over, Bill is an idiot, Patricia has to go, and Brady's days are over. After which, the Pats will go 14-2 and have the #1 seed in the AFC. Again.

PFK - You always have great insights..

Just some things to consider:
1) You mention Green Bay taking a step back.. I would disagree with you there. They aren't as old as you make them out to be beyond Matthews, Peppers, and Rodgers. They have been quietly re-vamping their team.
2) I agree with you regarding Seattle. What you don't mention is that they are going to be dealing with the loss of coaching staff, starting with Dan Quinn, who was their DC and, who I believe, had more to do with that defense being as good as they were than Carroll.

3) The singular contract that needs to be taken care of immediately is that of Darrelle Revis. A reduction in his cap him by 10-12 million is needed..

4) Wilfork is going to have to make a decision before March 1st on whether he is going to retire or play on at a reduced cap hit. I mentioned in another thread that I'd love to see him brought back in an Asst. D-line coach capacity.

5) Much of the money freed up by the Revis contract will have to go to McCourty.

6) One player that is a must re-sign is Gostkowski. Barely anyone is mentioning him, but he's been damn near perfect on FGs and kick-offs.. Not to mention he became the Patriots leading scorer of all time this year.

DaBruinz said:

6) One player that is a must re-sign is Gostkowski. Barely anyone is mentioning him, but he's been damn near perfect on FGs and kick-offs.. Not to mention he became the Patriots leading scorer of all time this year.

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Agreed. 36 of 38 is pretty spectacular. It's hard to think that there wouldn't be at least a marginal drop-off if he didn't come back. Not having to worry about FGs is a big, big plus.

Sorry if this has been brought up but:

Hmm, wonder how badly Tom Brady would want to play in a Super Bowl 26 miles from where he grew up ...

https://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?encType=1&where1=Santa Clara, California&cp=37.3557395935059~-121.954986572266&qpvt=santa clara&FORM=MIRE#Y3A9MzcuNTUxMzIxfi0xMjIuMzE0MjQ3Jmx2bD0xMCZzdHk9ciZydHA9cG9zLjM3LjM1NTc0MF8tMTIxLjk1NDk4N19TYW50YSUyMENsYXJhJTJDJTIwQ0FfX19lX35wb3MuMzcuNTQ3MDMxXy0xMjIuMzE0ODI3X1NhbiUyME1hdGVvJTJDJTIwQ0FfX19lXyZtb2RlPUQmcnRvcD0wfjB MH4=

First off, I have barely thought about 2015 and I can honestly say I will die a happy man now that we have that elusive 4th championship and have shut up a bunch of the haters. I do feel redemption now from the losses in 07 and 11.

Now, I would love to re-sign everybody and keep this team together because next year I do think we could be right back in the Super Bowl. I think it all starts with the lines. We need to upgrade the protection for Brady and upgrade our pass rush. I love Wilfork but with his contract, he should actually retire and the Pats should hire him immediately as a coach, problem solved.

I want to keep Revis and maybe we should trade Dennard or Ryan in that case considering Arrington, Butler, and Browner are probably locks to stay. I'm interested to see what we do at RB and I can see that going either way but I think Vereen is more important than Ridley. Gostkowski has to stay of course, pay him whatever he wants.

I want to keep Mayo, unless there is another similar caliber player we can sign/draft but I do think we missed him this year even despite all of the success. Overall, a bunch of these guys need to restructure. I do hope we keep developing guys like Tyms, Dobson, Moore, Buchannon, Kline, Gray, etc. as I just like that sort of thing plus they are all bargains when it comes to $$. Keep developing the practice squad guys too, there could be some hidden gems there.

A lesser priority for me is Ayers. Though his playing time diminished after Jones came back, he was a great pick up and gives the Pats insurance at both the DE and LB position. If the Pats draft a LB early he may be gone because he may get more as a FA than the Pats will pay for the added depth.

Good stuff Ken.

I disagree with you about Indy. They are a soft, mostly talentless team. Without Luck and a soft division, that team would have about 3-4 wins. For the most part, Ryan Grigson has been a horrible GM. He has blown every first round pick he has had other than the gimme in Luck (drafted Bjoern Werner with one and traded for Trent Richardson with the other).

I agree with Denver taking a significant step back. I think Manning is close to being done. I think they will lose some free agents and they need to dedicate a high draft pick for the QB of the future.

I think the main focus of the Pats during free agency and the draft will be both lines. They need to find Big Vince's successor and they need to get guards. I expect Vince to renegotiate his contract and Connolly to sign for the veteran minimum, but both are getting long in the tooth.

I think Amendola will restructure to a performance based contract. He isn't going to get big money anywhere and he seems to have found a role in this offense now.

I expect Mayo to take a pay cut. No way is he going to get paid what he is getting paid. He will definitely improve the LB corp. One concern is his injury is not an easy one to come back from.

I think both Revis and McCourty will be back. McCourty will be franchised. I think Revis will go against his reputation and try to put his legacy over getting every last penny. He knows he has a shot at another Super Bowl or two with the Pats and cement his place as a HOF CB. I think he will stay with the Pats as long as they offer a competitive offer even if it isn't the best offer.

Barring injuries, the Pats should be the leading contender for the AFC representative in the Super Bowl. I still think they are the best in the AFC and #2 isn't all that close.

If Revis does leave in FA and goes to the Jets and the Jets don't get hit with penalties for tampering I guess we will know the commissioner's/NFL office's dislike for the Pats is real and not a conspiracy theory after the circus they created over the PSI of a couple of footballs.

denver - crashed and burned......new coach, QB question, endless list of free agents......the win now failed, and now it could be a fire sale
colts - they don't have the means to improve their defense enough. Luck is a great guy and a good QB, but the team does not have what it takes. I'd say Houston is a bigger threat if they find a decent QB
ravens - they have the most pieces to make it tough on the pats, but they're getting a little old on their defensive front and need to address some free agency issues on offensive skill
bengals - maybe......and that's a huge one.....they are playoff doormats and dalton is a playoff clown until proven otherwise.

I'd say the biggest threats in the AFC will be Houston, Baltimore, and KC

In the NFC, Seahawks, Cowboys, Packers.........and the Rams

I also disagree on GB taking a step back and on the Colts being a soft team. The Colts to have 32M in cap space though. If they were smart they would make smart moves and solidify their OL and DL and not the flashy moves Denver did last year.

Just watch through somebody will win the first few days of free agency and be the hot pick to win it all.