The chuckles started when I read the thread title.
Okay, reality check:
You can blame the Krafts, blame Belichick, blame Pioli, blame Brady, blame etc., for the unspeakable horror of two straight losses, and a 6-3 record.
And I for one think there actually is trouble in paradise, and the record could end up 10-6, by the way.
But for Christ's sake, get a clue. Let's work out the simple logic:
Kraft [Belichik, Pioli, Brady] has caused bad play to happen.
Kraft [etc.] has been behind this team since last decade.
Kraft [etc.] has been in charge of similar decisions for that length of time.
Therefore, we can conclude the Patriots' standard of play has been poor for the length of this decade.
However, the Patriots have excelled beyond the dreams of most NFL fans during that span of time, winning 3 out of 4 super bowls, still in recent memory.
Who do you believe was in charge of the team then? Mangini? Crennel?
If that is the case, I disagree. Belichik, Pioli, and the Krafts were behind that run, and Brady was the field general of that run.
Is your argument that Kraft [insert others here] have suddenly come down with a case of bad judgment so severe that the lamest amateur analysis is superior to their calls?
Or is it just possible that a 90% success rate is still a 10% failure rate?
I'd like to say I have the answers people are so desperately foundering around for. I don't. I think there's a combination of a Brady slump, a Seymour slump on the other side of the ball, and a new wide receiver corps, all combining to create something short of a 9-0 team. But I'll also say they're playing okay football. Not great, but okay. Where in the past the "magic" would kick in, now protection breaks down, the QB throws to the wrong colored jersey, or the opponent's lead is greater than our (admittedly diminished) capacity to overcome. Everything's not perfect.
But this team's not headed for skid row, and the guys that took us to the heights are still the guys we need to back.
I'm seeing senseless panic on the boards lately, and it's irritating. Call me when the Pats are under .500 -- until then realize that a great organization can make a call that causes a challenge for a season, but is not catastrophic; that a great coach can make a call that looks great if the execution is right, but looks idiotic if the execution falters; that great players have bad days, and even slumps; and that great offenses sometimes need time to all get on the same page.
I'm spoiled too. I don't like the downturn. But football's not some kind of game of Madden set on the "easy" setting. There's a bunch of really fast, strong guys on the other side, and a really smart other guy tells them what to do, and they are trying to do it to us. That's why it's called competition.
One more thing... I hope when the Pats make it to their next Super Bowl the doomsayers realize how ridiculous it is to whine and complain when everything's not perfect. Branch wanted to be here, the Pats wanted him back, but at a price they thought he was worth. I was actually surprised a deal didn't get done. But it didn't.
However, we've got the pieces assembled for a downright scary team. So let's move on.
Keep the bloody faith, will yas?
PFnV