- Joined
- Jul 11, 2005
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I haven't been contributing the last several months for a few reasons. I have had to deal with some health and personal issues, and the board had become so negative and predictable. But I have been lurking and since the Pats are starting a new era, I have a overload of thoughts and opinions that need to be expressed or my head will explode. So here I am. Hope you find it worth the read since it might be long. (what a shock) 
'
1. Bill Bellicheck - Bill the coach is STILL an excellent HC. You only had to see how hard the players kept playing and how close most of the games were with a subpar roster DESPITE the adversity of playing on a bad team. to clearly see that. However , Bill has to also take the full responsibility FOR that subpar roster too. All teams go through a draft drought. In the end it;s a crap shoot and teams spent an enormous amount of time and money to lower those odds, and STILL pick more losers than winners. Most teams usually have 6-9 picks each year and their ideal outcome that they hope to get is 2 starters and 2 rotational players THAT's a great draft by any measure, EVERY team misses on about 50% of their picks and EVERY team bypasses guy who turn out to be great players elsewhere.
Make no mistake about it Bill can STILL coach and game plane at an elite level. But I have come to terms with him leaving because of the drafting, player acquisitions, and staff mistakes have become too obvious to overlook. I would have been OK to keep him, IF he was agreeable to giving up his final say on the draft and FA decisions and having a GM. I believe that's the issue that is holding up him getting another job.
In conclusion, I believe Bill is the GOAT HC in the NFL. He fielded a Championship contender for close to 20 years, in a league that was designed to make that impossible with players and coaches constantly moving, and the cap. He DID the impossible. This is the first year we have had a pick inside the top 10 since 2001. Don't forget even in the last 4 seasons since Tom left, the Pats, on the last game of the season, either were in contention to get into the playoffs or got in, in 3 of them. The nitpickers and 2nd guessers can shout away the fact that literally had a GENERATION of great, competitive teams to root for. That CANNOT be wiped out by one horrible season.
2. Mac Jones. We broke Mac Jones. The universal wisdom is that Mac Jones sucks and the last 2 years are proof of that. But I cannot get out of my head the QB I saw back in 2001 who was smart, accurate and tough. The guy who had great numbers without a great supporting cast. The guy who NONE of us didn't think he had a great future going forward. THAT guy is still there and IMHO will be a capable NFL starter some day, but likely not here.
However there are a few scenarios where I can see him being on the roster nextt season. If last season proves anything, you better have a quality back up at QB because you are going to need him at some point in the season. So even if we draft a QB at #3m, IF Mac has a good camp, he could end up being that quality back up. In an ideal situation, Mac gets a chance to show he is the guy he was in 2021 and we can get a decent pick or player for him. Remember he's only played 3 seasons. The Packer QB was in his 4th when he broke out.
3. Who of OUR free agents to sign.
I think there are guys I'd LIKE to resign and guys that I think are priority signings and we NEED to keep. You can't keep them all
a. Owenu - quality performer at 2 positions. He WILL get some offers in the 18-20M range
b. Duggar- is a top 3 safety in this class. He too will have to get a market deal
c. Mills - Mills played an important role in our 7th ranked D and his versitility brings flexability and depth to the D
d, Henry - Henry was solid again and we need to keep something at a depleted TE position. But I wouldn't break the bank for him
e. Uche - He's a solid Robin to Judon's Batman, but he isn't a batman alone. I'd like him on the team but I wouldn't break the bank for him
f. P Brown- I liked what I saw for him. He's a solid #3 or #4 TE. He seemed to catch everything thrown to him and was decent after the catch
g. Wilson- Mac was much improved this season when he got his chance and we need speed at the LB spot.
h. Bryant- the kid has improved every year he's been here and 2023 was his best yet. He's a great guy to have around as secondary depth
I think the first 2 are MUST signs and as for the last six I would like to see at least 4 comming back. Your list my have different rankings, I look forward to your thoughts
4. FA's to sign in Feburary
The first thing we have to realize is that we are not the FA destination that we have been the last 25 years. We have a rookie HC, a losing season, and a LOT of holes to fill. Players want the money of course, but they also want to win. With the kind of money players make these days, it doesn't take a career to become financially independent, they can do now in a season. So it might take 2 years to rebuild the roster to the point where we are ready to compete for the playoffs constantly. So if we want to sign any February FA's we are going to have do overpay.
I was looking at a list of FA's and there was only ONE OT in the first 20 (T Smith at 14) he's the only lock LT available and HE has a long history of injuries and missed games) The next OT on the list was TBrown at 22 with Owenu the next at 25. So clearly the BEST option is to sign our own guy as our OL FA signings. Unfortunately this isn't a great OT FA class and I have mixed feelings about Trent. He's great when he plays and is motivated, but he is a guy who seems to play when he feels like it. I'm not sure I want that kind of selfish guy on my team. But maybe Mayo HAS a connection to him that will get to be the guy we saw in 2018 again.
The WR group looks decent, but our current QB situation again doesn't make us a destination for any true #1 WR's However there is a deep class of DL/Edge guys who I think would be an upgrade over Uche. Guys like Allen, Burns, and Huff. Guys who would be #1s on most teams. Signing one of the make our pass rush simply DANGEROUS.
'1. Bill Bellicheck - Bill the coach is STILL an excellent HC. You only had to see how hard the players kept playing and how close most of the games were with a subpar roster DESPITE the adversity of playing on a bad team. to clearly see that. However , Bill has to also take the full responsibility FOR that subpar roster too. All teams go through a draft drought. In the end it;s a crap shoot and teams spent an enormous amount of time and money to lower those odds, and STILL pick more losers than winners. Most teams usually have 6-9 picks each year and their ideal outcome that they hope to get is 2 starters and 2 rotational players THAT's a great draft by any measure, EVERY team misses on about 50% of their picks and EVERY team bypasses guy who turn out to be great players elsewhere.
Make no mistake about it Bill can STILL coach and game plane at an elite level. But I have come to terms with him leaving because of the drafting, player acquisitions, and staff mistakes have become too obvious to overlook. I would have been OK to keep him, IF he was agreeable to giving up his final say on the draft and FA decisions and having a GM. I believe that's the issue that is holding up him getting another job.
In conclusion, I believe Bill is the GOAT HC in the NFL. He fielded a Championship contender for close to 20 years, in a league that was designed to make that impossible with players and coaches constantly moving, and the cap. He DID the impossible. This is the first year we have had a pick inside the top 10 since 2001. Don't forget even in the last 4 seasons since Tom left, the Pats, on the last game of the season, either were in contention to get into the playoffs or got in, in 3 of them. The nitpickers and 2nd guessers can shout away the fact that literally had a GENERATION of great, competitive teams to root for. That CANNOT be wiped out by one horrible season.
2. Mac Jones. We broke Mac Jones. The universal wisdom is that Mac Jones sucks and the last 2 years are proof of that. But I cannot get out of my head the QB I saw back in 2001 who was smart, accurate and tough. The guy who had great numbers without a great supporting cast. The guy who NONE of us didn't think he had a great future going forward. THAT guy is still there and IMHO will be a capable NFL starter some day, but likely not here.
However there are a few scenarios where I can see him being on the roster nextt season. If last season proves anything, you better have a quality back up at QB because you are going to need him at some point in the season. So even if we draft a QB at #3m, IF Mac has a good camp, he could end up being that quality back up. In an ideal situation, Mac gets a chance to show he is the guy he was in 2021 and we can get a decent pick or player for him. Remember he's only played 3 seasons. The Packer QB was in his 4th when he broke out.
3. Who of OUR free agents to sign.
I think there are guys I'd LIKE to resign and guys that I think are priority signings and we NEED to keep. You can't keep them all
a. Owenu - quality performer at 2 positions. He WILL get some offers in the 18-20M range
b. Duggar- is a top 3 safety in this class. He too will have to get a market deal
c. Mills - Mills played an important role in our 7th ranked D and his versitility brings flexability and depth to the D
d, Henry - Henry was solid again and we need to keep something at a depleted TE position. But I wouldn't break the bank for him
e. Uche - He's a solid Robin to Judon's Batman, but he isn't a batman alone. I'd like him on the team but I wouldn't break the bank for him
f. P Brown- I liked what I saw for him. He's a solid #3 or #4 TE. He seemed to catch everything thrown to him and was decent after the catch
g. Wilson- Mac was much improved this season when he got his chance and we need speed at the LB spot.
h. Bryant- the kid has improved every year he's been here and 2023 was his best yet. He's a great guy to have around as secondary depth
I think the first 2 are MUST signs and as for the last six I would like to see at least 4 comming back. Your list my have different rankings, I look forward to your thoughts
4. FA's to sign in Feburary
The first thing we have to realize is that we are not the FA destination that we have been the last 25 years. We have a rookie HC, a losing season, and a LOT of holes to fill. Players want the money of course, but they also want to win. With the kind of money players make these days, it doesn't take a career to become financially independent, they can do now in a season. So it might take 2 years to rebuild the roster to the point where we are ready to compete for the playoffs constantly. So if we want to sign any February FA's we are going to have do overpay.
I was looking at a list of FA's and there was only ONE OT in the first 20 (T Smith at 14) he's the only lock LT available and HE has a long history of injuries and missed games) The next OT on the list was TBrown at 22 with Owenu the next at 25. So clearly the BEST option is to sign our own guy as our OL FA signings. Unfortunately this isn't a great OT FA class and I have mixed feelings about Trent. He's great when he plays and is motivated, but he is a guy who seems to play when he feels like it. I'm not sure I want that kind of selfish guy on my team. But maybe Mayo HAS a connection to him that will get to be the guy we saw in 2018 again.
The WR group looks decent, but our current QB situation again doesn't make us a destination for any true #1 WR's However there is a deep class of DL/Edge guys who I think would be an upgrade over Uche. Guys like Allen, Burns, and Huff. Guys who would be #1s on most teams. Signing one of the make our pass rush simply DANGEROUS.
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