Poll: Patriots future

[JackBauer]

Say you want to get faster and more explosive so you cut KVN and let DH walk, but then you resign Bentley for $9m when he has no market?

This to me is one of their less questionable recent decisions.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

Yes, because most dynasty’s go on forever. They don’t have to rebuild after the GOAT leaves and most of the teammates are gone. As an example just look at how well the Cowboys have done since the Aikman/ Irvin/ Smith dynasty ended( the last dynasty before the Patriots.

I have to head out, so it will give you plenty of time to list all of their achievements since then,

I really scratch my head at the reading comprehension I come across from some on here sometimes. That had literally 0 to do with my point or what I was saying. If anything, the comment I responded to was insinuating the argument you are trying to make. If anything, what you said was more along the lines of the point I was trying to make. The old normal is not the current normal. The dynasty is over. The "pencil them in for another great season" is over. You seem to agree even though you didn't realize it at the time of your response.

Looking back at my comment I can tell you took me stating facts as some kind of "complaint" about not being a dynasty or great anymore. It wasn't. It was just me saying the old normal isn't reality anymore.

 

[Salsalife]

Lost 3 starters on the O-line, our best corner left, starting defensive players cut, fullback and pass catch RB gone. Yeah, where doing great.... Just gonna shuffle some chairs on our Titanic boat, see if that helps.

 

[zipster9]

PREDICTION:

AFC EAST for the next 2yrs --> Patriots will end up in 2nd or 3rd place....

 

[Pape]

The old normal is over because Brady isn't here. The new normal so far has been, miss playoffs, first round exit.

so in the two years after ab ... 7 wins with cam newton (we saw how a mortal coach did with him this year: 0-5)... y2ab, a rookie qb takes us to the playoffs ...

that doesn't indicate to you that we are moving in the right direction?

hell yes there are things to fix, players to add, coaches to replace, f.o. personnel to replace/bolster with new hires...

we talk about the players because they make the plays that win or lose games... but someone has to put the team in that position... over the past two decades, has there been a team with a greater annual brain drain than the Patriots? Not one that I can think of... yet, we are still remarkably consistent... EVEN including the cam newton debacle of a season...

 

[borg]

Too many fruitless drafts
League-wide player price tags exceeding BB's (and Kraft's) comfort zone
A "friends of Bill / offspring of Bill" over reliance...

My unwavering faith in Bill is wavering

Factor in....
Loss of impact players this offseason without comparable replacements (as of this date)
2021 defensive deficiencies yet to be addressed except with a budget signing & a swap of ineffective players
The likely reliance of 2022 draft picks in starter roles
A rehauled OL
The massive AFC talent infusion

This organization is at a crossroads

Bill has secured more power within an NFL organization than any person since Don Shula four decades ago......and curmudgeon Don, with all his NFL knowledge, could not elevate his Dolphins to glory despite possessing the greatest passer of that era.
I would argue Shula failed because he had blind spots he was incapable of correcting (incorporating a running game into the Marino-led offense)

Bill has his own blind spots and an organizational structure staffed by loyalists more likely to obey than challenge

I'm less encouraged than any time since 2000
My post-Brady grace period has one year left before it expires

 

[mgteich]

so in the two years after ab ... 7 wins with cam newton (we saw how a mortal coach did with him this year: 0-5)... y2ab, a rookie qb takes us to the playoffs ...

that doesn't indicate to you that we are moving in the right direction?

hell yes there are things to fix, players to add, coaches to replace, f.o. personnel to replace...

we talk about the players because they make the plays that win or lose games... but someone has to put the team in that position... over the past two decades, has there been a team with a greater annual brain drain than the Patriots? Not one that I can think of... yet, we are still remarkably consistent... EVEN including the cam newton debacle of a season...

I don't think that 2020 was a debacle of a season. 7 wins was a miracle for a team that lost the GOAT and tried to succeed with one of the very worst starters in the NFL. The team accomplished its primary goal in the first year after Brady: get rid of dead money, and set up for the offseason where they would need to find a QB.

Of course, in 2021, the team secured a QB, drafted well, spent more in free agency than any team in the NFL (cheap? NOT), and reached the playoffs.

Again, of course, this is nowhere enough for so many of our posters.

 

[Patnation21]

PREDICTION:

AFC EAST for the next 2yrs --> Patriots will end up in 2nd or 3rd place....

I think it will be like that for at least 3 years. I hope I'm wrong. Buffalo has only gotten better and has a fairly young team and is well managed. It will depend greatly on how Mac progresses.

I expected regression next year but wasn't expecting so many AFC teams to make massive trades and signings. Denver, Cleveland, San Diego all missed playoffs last year and all of them have greatly improved from last year. Unless you win the division its going to be extremelly hard to make playoffs with only 3 spots available.

It almost seems like were going to stay quite this off season and let things play out how they are with only a few minor moves. I imagine this will be a year to let Mac grow and improve with the thought to make some big moves next year.

 

[PWRxWLF]

This thread is gonna age real well.

 

[Ross12]

"Yes, If Kraft sells team".​

Now it's probably not my business.

But.....to include that option is just straight disrespect.

Come on.

He made one mistake. But...

The man hired Belichick.
He let Belichick do his job
His teams were top spenders
He saved the team from St. Louis
He stuck by Belichick during Spyware & Butler benching.

Again. It's a Pats forum. But that just ain't right lol.

The team won 6 SB's. 9 trips. They became an iconic franchise.

it’s depressing when a Chiefs fan has more respect for our owner and franchise than many regular posters here lol

 

[Tunescribe]

We see this alot these days.

Wandering aimlessly, confusion.

Have your sister cover the mirrors with something, that should help.

 

[Ross12]

Team wins a Super Bowl 3 seasons ago with a bunch of veterans.

Team begins a rebuild period 2 years post-Super Bowl victory which starts with a losing season.

Team’s second season in that rebuild consists of drafting a rookie QB, starting him from week 1, finishing 1 game behind the leader in their division and making a wild card spot.

@Sam Bam Cunningham makes a poll asking if said team can manage to win two further playoff games within 5 more years of this process with potential answers of:

A) Yes

B) Not a chance

C) Fire the coach

D) Get rid of the owner

Bruh

 

[Patriot Missile]

Wow, those are some pretty bleak choices there. Not a .500 or maybe they are clearing cap for next year? No one in their right mind is going to say this has been an offseason for the ages but your outlook pretty much stinks.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This teams run was unprecedented and has warped the thought patterns of many NE fans. We’re rebuilding, get over it, All teams have to go through this stage and some of the fans were still in elementary school when the run began so all they know is winning and not dealing with it very well now.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Ray Lewis killed a guy, maybe two guys!

When in doubt, add this, it will win every time.

 

[hornetfb85]

FFS

 

[TheRainMaker]

It’s the Bills division for now. We had 20 years of watching the Pats dominate, so it’s not that bad they have fallen back down to earth. They were erratic last year and that’s probably what we’re going to see more often. There were 2-4 with the season looking like it was over. Then they win 7 straight and on the brink of getting the #1 seed, only to collapse at the end. Finally, the Bills finish them off in an embarrassing fashion.

And as the current roster stands now, they will be lucky to make the playoffs.

 

[50-yard-line]

We see this alot these days.

Wandering aimlessly, confusion.

Thinking "alot" is one word...definitely signs...

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Reminder - it is only March!