This was never going to be a great season

[ZotZot]

I find it interesting that people laugh at the destiny the Pitt is locked into with how Tomlin keeps them at 8-9 wins but are upset that Pats have bottomed out and hope on Maye becoming something

 

[TheRainMaker]

"I'm OK with losing, we weren't supposed to win this year anyway." "I was fine with losing last year." "I had plenty of winning over 20 years." "Maybe next year we can at least be mediocre." Blah, blah blah ...

Seriously, WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE??? The Patriots have been severely mismanaged to the point of becoming a league doormat and THIS is how you feel? It's sad to see fair weather fans in the making, truly sad.

Losing sucks, it never should be considered "acceptable" regardless of circumstances. Elliot Wolf has done a crap job making this roster competitive and should be held accountable along with the Krafts and everyone else. SMH.

I've already stated I hated the Mayo hire. In fact, there wasn't anything that warranted his promotion and I got tons of resistance from the board for stating this. Back when I grew up watching football in the 90's, most HC's were hired because they were an outstanding coordinator and/or had some hype surrounding them. Take Bill Belichick for example, he was hired in Cleveland and eventually NE due to his achievements as a DC. In today's game, you're hired for just existing. It's an insult to Bill and guys who paved the way that Mayo gets hired when he really isn't known for anything. But I have no choice but to see how it plays out.

Elliot Wolf on the other hand, has done a horrible job and I also got resistance for saying Wolf is laying the blueprint out on how to get fired quickly.

However, the biggest turn off for me is the current state of the game. It's just not the game I loved when I was growing up. The rule changes have inflated stats to the point it makes players better than they really are. And there's way too many overpays for mediocre players which is very insulting to the NFL greats that paved the way for these guys. Lastly, there's no hype. The best storyline we have is a potential Chefs 3 peat. Aside from that, there's very little compelling teams around the NFL.

 

[maust]

You have expectations after last night?

It's awfully crowded out there on the ledge right now. My expectation is that I'll remain inside for now. But I do hope you guys are careful out there.

Truth is as much as I appreciate what Belichick brought us, he rode it into the ground here the past few years. The organization is not a few years into its rebuild. It's starting over after a failed attempt at retooling. Belichick earned the slack he got cut post Brady. It just didn't come together, I'm not hating on him for it but the time had come for the team and fans to move on. Not put a gun in our collective mouth, just move on.

The first steps have been a bit puzzling but they are just that, first steps. Losing my ish any doesn't change that. And not losing it sure as hell doesn't make me less of a 'fan.' It didn't in 2000 and it doesn't now. I don't give a rat's ass about how anyone else wants to define their fandom and they can piss off with judging mine

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

It's awfully crowded out there on the ledge right now. My expectation is that I'll remain inside for now. But I do hope you guys are careful out there.

Expectations sneak up on you from both sides. One day at a time eliminates the need to be careful.

Truth is as much as I appreciate what Belichick brought us, he rode it into the ground here the past few years. The organization is not a few years into its rebuild. It's starting over after a failed attempt at retooling. Belichick earned the slack he got cut post Brady. It just didn't come together, I'm not hating on him for it but the time had come for the team and fans to move on. Not put a gun in our collective mouth, just move on.

At the beginning of this year we had the most cap room in the NFL for years to come, a very good defense, and the #3 pick in the draft with a good crop of QBs available. Pretty ideal spot for a rebuild or a retool.

The first steps have been a bit puzzling but they are just that, first steps. Losing my ish and doesn't change that. And not losing it sure as hell doesn't make me less of a 'fan.' It didn't in 2000 and it doesn't now. I don't give a rat's ass about how anyone else wants to define their fandom and they can piss off with judging mine

Puzzling is appropriate. Except for Maye, definitely puzzling.

Your post was very light at the beginning and dark at the end. I hope you are OK.

 

[VrabelJr]

you hoped to see marked improvement after 3 games? Give it time. Perhaps we list might some items that we want to see on this 6 win team (hopefully).

This will be a very long season. We'll see a few good games, but mostly not. It isn't JUST about the QB, but switch QB's and I think that we would have had a decent chance of winning against the jets. Next year, our QB will have real growing pains as he tries to lead us to a possible playoff spot.

We have a good chance of ending the season with

OFFENSE
1) a very solid running game, two runners led by excellent run blockers and a solid starting TE, and 6th jumbo OL when needed. CHECK
2) a starting RT, or at worst a solid backup RT who can also be our 6th jumbo OL.
3) solid guards (since we likely have 4 solid guards that is any easy one) CHECK
4) a more experienced set of WR's. I like Bourne, Pop and Polk as a solid group, needing a #1. Anything out of the rest is gravy.
5) a QB with a bit of experience under his belt. As all teams, we will need a #2 QB. I doubt that Milton is the answer. He is likely to be #3 again. and the answer is NOT Brissett again.

DEFENSE
Other than health and experience, I don't look for much other than perhaps some development at #4 CB. There could be a player or two who surprises especially on the DL, but we will need a couple of front six additions next year in addition to dealing re-signing or replacing Wise, Uche, Jones and Hawkins.

Imagine wanting BB to be fired so bad, getting that wish, and then writing things like this.

News flash: this team needs to identify a core. Usually you need a nucleus of at least 8 players to build and attract. Right now we have Barmore and that’s about it. Perhaps Gonzo and Maye but the verdict is still out.

 

[VrabelJr]

Sure, a team like the Steelers give you a little bit of a sugar high, then back down into the dumpster. Blah blah they haven't had a losing since since...whatever. They are the definition of NFL purgatory.

So the Pats have the 15th draft place back in April. What then? When you are bad, you are bad. Yeah, let's try to get lucky, and you would be watching the same damn stuff right now. Also the slander against Wolf is terrible. Terrible. No LT out there was worth the money they asked for. None.

I would rather them be where they are right now, than be the Steelers. No questions about it.

That’s some first class copium.

 

[VrabelJr]

it’s week 3. Thats not enough for a trend like that.

That’s 17.6% of the season. The good news is it’s very hard to look worse than we did against the Jets

 

[VrabelJr]

"I'm OK with losing, we weren't supposed to win this year anyway." "I was fine with losing last year." "I had plenty of winning over 20 years." "Maybe next year we can at least be mediocre." Blah, blah blah ...

Seriously, WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE??? The Patriots have been severely mismanaged to the point of becoming a league doormat and THIS is how you feel? It's sad to see fair weather fans in the making, truly sad.

Losing sucks, it never should be considered "acceptable" regardless of circumstances. Elliot Wolf has done a crap job making this roster competitive and should be held accountable along with the Krafts and everyone else. SMH.

People on this board are so invested in their “Post-fire BB” ways and dying on that hill that they have lost all sensibilities. This team and franchise is looked at as a joke by free agents and coaches across the league. Sixteen OC interviews and we got AVP who is on the payroll of Cleveland.

$40 million dollars that nobody wanted is all you need to know. BB was the Patriots. He simply needed more time and for the suits to back the **** off. I give it 3 more seasons before there are brown paper bags and calls for the Krafts to sell the team.

 

[VrabelJr]

I don’t think that makes me a fair weather fan? Look Tune. The product isn’t good and I agree with you there. If anything I was more disgusted last season because it felt like there was no plan and Mac Jones was not a quality starter imo. At least now there feels like there’s a plan? I hope? If Maye strikes out though then we’re in deep trouble

Maye will bust because it was a consensus pick. Consensus is usually wrong because it shows a lack of critical thinking. 2025 QBs will out perform 2024. We should have drafted Alt or Bowers, or traded down.

 

[Dec54]

She looks wide awake to me.... LOL

I shall have to have a word with the wife about this.

 

[Real fan 02]

People on this board are so invested in their “Post-fire BB” ways and dying on that hill that they have lost all sensibilities. This team and franchise is looked at as a joke by free agents and coaches across the league. Sixteen OC interviews and we got AVP who is on the payroll of Cleveland.

$40 million dollars that nobody wanted is all you need to know. BB was the Patriots. He simply needed more time and for the suits to back the **** off. I give it 3 more seasons before there are brown paper bags and calls for the Krafts to sell the team.

We have to all step back and really understand that what we sustained for 20 plus season will NEVER, I can confidently say NEVER will be replicated in sports history again. Therefore we are a 4-13 team with the 3rd overall pick. This is what it will look like. Yes Thursday was a terrible game. However I believe the team is more of who they showed to be the first two games of the season. I don't really want to live in the could've, should've world. I believe the team is heading in a better direction now than the past few seasons we're we worsened each season. We know we have to get this line right and some pieces on offense and defense. Personally I feel Drake is the guy. Teams were willing to give up so much to us for him most notably Kevin O Connell who I believe is probably the 2nd best offensive minded coach in the league.

 

[Real fan 02]

I've already stated I hated the Mayo hire. In fact, there wasn't anything that warranted his promotion and I got tons of resistance from the board for stating this. Back when I grew up watching football in the 90's, most HC's were hired because they were an outstanding coordinator and/or had some hype surrounding them. Take Bill Belichick for example, he was hired in Cleveland and eventually NE due to his achievements as a DC. In today's game, you're hired for just existing. It's an insult to Bill and guys who paved the way that Mayo gets hired when he really isn't known for anything. But I have no choice but to see how it plays out.

Elliot Wolf on the other hand, has done a horrible job and I also got resistance for saying Wolf is laying the blueprint out on how to get fired quickly.

However, the biggest turn off for me is the current state of the game. It's just not the game I loved when I was growing up. The rule changes have inflated stats to the point it makes players better than they really are. And there's way too many overpays for mediocre players which is very insulting to the NFL greats that paved the way for these guys. Lastly, there's no hype. The best storyline we have is a potential Chefs 3 peat. Aside from that, there's very little compelling teams around the NFL.

Let me ask you. Would hiring a coach that you think would have been better or more experienced have suddenly changed the teams direction from rebuilding? No matter who came here to coach the team was going to have to be rebuilt. Also that coach would have to agree to what mayo has with wolf having final say. Most experienced coaches aren't going to want to endure that. They want to win! I believe Mayo's a great hire. I believe he's also doing a great job. Yeah Thursday was a ass kicking however I believe this team is more of who they showed to be that previous 2 weeks. Let's support our team.

 

[PaulThePat]

Ok, fine, I'm not 18-1 pissed when we lose, but I'm still irritated. This whole "we had 20 years of winning" etc is peachy if you were here for that. What about new/younger fans? Just because you had it good they should just accept it being bad? We are the Pats. The day we get comfy losing is the day I stop watching or caring.

ps. I get the "rebuild" take but last time I looked the "rebuild" started several years ago and we're getting worse, not better, to a point where we are literally scared to play a particular player in case they get hurt.

 

[Thelonious]

If the team makes significant progress in developing and evaluating the present roster. identifying core players and seeing to Maye's development, I'll regard this as a successful season. I don't care what the record is except insofar as it might demonstrate progress in these areas. Progress to date has been disappointing, but with so many new elements in the situation, and given how dismally low the team had fallen under a failing GM and HC, maybe that's not surprising, so I suppose patience is justified. The matter on which there has been a clear failure calling for immediate action is the utter failure of Wolfe and his group properly to develop a rational strategic approach to player acquisition, resulting in an offensive roster so lousy that Maye's development and the development of the offense overall has been crippled. Wolf has played a significant role in developing the roster over the several years during which that roster has declined. Keeping him on was a lazy mistake on the Kraft's part, one which they ought to remedy asap. Absolutely nothing is gained by waiting on this.

 

[sb1]

Bill had 4 seasons after Brady left to rebuild a contending team. It didn’t work out.

No he didn’t need more time. 4-13 says time was up.

 

[Real fan 02]

Bill had 4 seasons after Brady left to rebuild a contending team. It didn’t work out.

No he didn’t need more time. 4-13 says time was up.

Yes sir! I've posted that this year's team is closer to what they showed the first two weeks than the other night. I still think the direction we are going is better than the last few seasons..

 

[sb1]

Yes sir! I've posted that this year's team is closer to what they showed the first two weeks than the other night. I still think the direction we are going is better than the last few seasons..

Agreed. I don’t mind losing if there’s a plan.

Yeah teams have stinkers it happens once in a while. Also Thursday wasn’t nearly as embarrassing as BB’s defense getting de-pantsed 47-17 in a wild card game to another division rival.

 

[Real fan 02]

Agreed. I don’t mind losing if there’s a plan.

Yeah teams have stinkers it happens once in a while. Also Thursday wasn’t nearly as embarrassing as BB’s defense getting de-pantsed 47-17 in a wild card game to another division rival.

Absolutely correct! Oh boy was that a terrible game. Felt like they didn't want to be there. I just don't understand the post some are putting up on mayo.. I mean the guys been reversed by his players. That's the sign of a good coach.

 

[PaulThePat]

still think the direction we are going is better than the last few seasons..

Maybe. Certainly feels like we had a better car in recent seasons but kept crashing it or going down one way streets. This season were in a clown car where the doors blow off and everyone laughs, but perhaps we're at least heading in the right direction, even if slowly and painfully. Still need to be better because Thursday night was a flat out embarrassment.

 

[Real fan 02]

Maybe. Certainly feels like we had a better car in recent seasons but kept crashing it or going down one way streets. This season were in a clown car where the doors blow off and everyone laughs, but perhaps we're at least heading in the right direction, even if slowly and painfully. Still need to be better because Thursday night was a flat out embarrassment.

Your not wrong. Thursday was absolutely an embarrassment. As sb1 pointed out that 47-17 ass kicking at Buffalo was in my opinion the most embarrassing lost in recent patriots memories. The Jets scored 24 points.. it's not like they dropped 40 on us. But I see your point. This team is closer to what we saw the first 2 weeks where they competed for 60 mins Tham the Jets game.