R_T26 said:
Sorry, i never called anyone an idiot or a moron, I just think we should call a spade a spade. The best fan bases consist of fans who give their opinions weather its positive or not. Nothing about Boerichter tells me he's a good player. Terrell was a better player and couldnt even make this team. The Pats have bombed 2 in FA 2 of the last 4 years, what kept them going was a solid core and good drafts, that solid core is now losing pieces and the 2004 draft was horrible outside of the 1st round. Im sure people thought the celtics would live forever and that Red could just replace McHale, Bird, Parrish etc., but they were never replaced and we have had 20 years of mediocrity since.
R_T - This is not basketball. Also, lets not forget that the Celtics had 2 major keys to their future DIE. Len Bias and Reggie Lewis. They also weren't helped by players who never played to their potential, but that is neither here nor there.
you keep claiming that the Patriots core is losing pieces. Yet, you refuse to even think that maybe the "CORE" has changed some. Why should we believe your theory when you refuse to consider that the core is changing and always has been chaning since BB got here. Or do you need to be reminded about "CORE" players such as Max Lane, Drew Bledsoe, and Lawyer Milloy. When do the players that the Pats have drafted become part of your "CORE"? I ask because, at some point, the "CORE" you are holding on to so tightly will be gone. Whether its been 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years.
Also, I understand that, to try and exaggerate your point, you have to ignore the fact that the 2 bad years of free agency that the Pats had (at least bad in YOUR eyes) were spaced apart with 2 good years in between. But not everyone here wears the blinders that you do.
Yes, BB and Pioli have had some misses in the draft and in free agency. Donald Hayes and Steve Martin come to mind. Last year, Brown and Beisel didn't work out great, but can anyone honestly say that they believe that Brown in Beisel were brought in to be starters in year 1? Chad Scott played well until he was injured. Yes, David Terrell was a bust, but Tim Dwight wasn't. He was the 4th receiver. He did decently enough.
Lets look at reality. Since BB has been here, the Patriots have drafted 51 players. Of those 51 players, I count 37 of them still in the NFL with 24 of them still being on the Patriots. Don't you think that is doing a pretty good job of replacing the core?
Reality is that the wars are won and lost in the trenches. BB has done a very good job of building up a great defensive line with Seymour, Wilfork and Warren backed up by Green, Hill, Klecko and Wright. It was only last year that he started focusing on the O-line with the additions of Mankins and Kaczur. Of which both have proven to be more than adequate starters. Particularly in the face of adversity. This year we could very well see Light, Mankins, Koppen and Kaczur as 4 of the 5 starters.
The Patriots also have a great QB in Brady and Cassel looks like he is going to be a solid back-up.
The questions the Pats have are at ONE LB position (either OLB or ILB depending on what they do with Vrabel), one OL position (Either RT or RG depending on where they feel Kaczur will be best utilized) and the WR spots behind Branch. They also have a question at Kicker. But Adam really wasn't that great a kick-off man and that actually hurts special teams.
YOU make it sound like this team is in disarray, has no direction and no plan. And that is the farthest thing from the truth. Many of the people on here have a wait and see attitude with FAITH that BB and Pioli know what they are doing and can only plan for so much. You can't plan for 6 of your 10 DBs getting injured by week 9. You can't plan for your Starting ILB to retire the day before TC starts. All you can do is react and persevere.
