**** The Official New England Patriots Thread ****

[.aeterna]

We gotta find a way to get younger and faster, and that's gonna be tough with so few draft picks. There's only so much we can do with a mishmash of castoffs. Works out pretty well every year but it would be nice to see an influx of youth.

Agreed but im excited to see what the new defensive head coach (whoever it is) will do.

[HoganIsGOAT]

Agreed but im excited to see what the new defensive head coach (whoever it is) will do.

I’ve heard a rumor that there won’t be one - that the line coach will call defensive plays as well.

I hope that’s not the case. We need a strong defensive coach with leadership and an attitude.

Tom’s window is short. **** it, get me Rex Ryan.

[drbaig]

Yeah, it's Flores calling the defensive plays with Bill supervising.

Just like it was Matt's first year.

[AreolaBorealis]

Dan Amendola will go down as one of the most under appreciated players of my generation. He always made big plays in big moments i will always love him. Today is a sign the patriots are going through a transition period and it’s going to be a bumpy ride i am glad i jumped ship off the patriots bandwagon hope some of you do too it’s not too late yet

[GarthVader]

Noooooooooo! Not playoff Danny!

[HoganIsGOAT]

Noooooooooo! Not playoff Danny!

This one hurts a bit. Danny really became an important part of the team and culture. He became super clutch in the playoffs and on third down, and he could even return the ball. Not only leaving but to a division rival.

That pretty much leaves us with Edelman in the slot, who is coming off of a torn ACL and about to turn 32. It doesn't look like Bill is making any big plays for what could realistically be Brady's last season and that sucks.

[Twerk4it]

We lost Danny, will lose Butler, might lose Dion Lewis and Solder...this off season is hitting me in the feels. Dola was so ufcking clutch when it mattered, good insurance for Edelman too.

Hopefully we get Moncrief or someone else with that type of skillset

[Twerk4it]

Danny Shelton trade might be underrated too, guy's a solid replacement for Branch and a great run stuffer and we got him for next to nothing.

[Vhagar]

Chit off season so far

[HoganIsGOAT]

We lost Danny, will lose Butler, might lose Dion Lewis and Solder...this off season is hitting me in the feels. Dola was so ufcking clutch when it mattered, good insurance for Edelman too.

Hopefully we get Moncrief or someone else with that type of skillset

Although I'd hate to lose any of them, Soldier is probably the one guy in that group we can't afford to lose. I really hope we can keep him.

We need another slot receiver, and preferably another catching tight end on offense (Graham is available). On defense, I think Shelton was a good move but we need a lot more than that if we're going to put forward anything other than a ****-tier defense.

[Twerk4it]

Although I'd hate to lose any of them, Soldier is probably the one guy in that group we can't afford to lose. I really hope we can keep him.

We need another slot receiver, and preferably another catching tight end on offense (Graham is available). On defense, I think Shelton was a good move but we need a lot more than that if we're going to put forward anything other than a ****-tier defense.

Right,
and Garcia, the guy we drafted who's supposed to replace Solder was injured for all last season, would hate to lose our decent LT and have to start an unknown.

Graham's going to the Packers btw, I wish we tried to get Trey Burton but he's going to the Bears. Surprised we haven't really tried to get another TE who's a threat in the passing game since Hernandez, maybe Ebron is worth a look?

[GarthVader]

Pack released Jordy Nelson. Thing the Pats would be interested?

[Tyler2106]

We lost Danny, will lose Butler, might lose Dion Lewis and Solder...this off season is hitting me in the feels. Dola was so ufcking clutch when it mattered, good insurance for Edelman too.

Hopefully we get Moncrief or someone else with that type of skillset

Losing Amendola isn't a huge lose with Edelman coming back. Only reason Amendola saw spot light was because of Edelman's injury. I assume they are going to get Dorsett more involved and his skill set is plenty good to replace Amendola. Not to mention they picked up Britt's option. I think offensively we will be fine especially when those guys get an entire off season to learn the system.

Losing Butler isn't that big of a lose. Sure he played a lot, but I was never impressed with him. There was one game that Romo was calling and he showed two plays of the exact coverage and exact WR route. Gilmore played the route perfectly while Butler bit hard on the in route and got burned for a TD pass. All you have to do to replace him is find someone who can tackle.

Lewis will more than likely be gone this off season. He's going to get offers that the Patriots won't match. That's fine though, RBs are a dime a dozen. We have Burkhead, Gillislee, and White. Burkhead is more than capable of playing a White role, which he did when he was healthy. Gillislee is a much better runner than we saw this season and White is a great passing back.

Solder is a tough one to lose. I wouldn't be surprised if they paid him to stay.

Plus, ya'll can't get upset about the off season. It doesn't officially start until tomorrow.

[HoganIsGOAT]

Graham's going to the Packers btw, I wish we tried to get Trey Burton but he's going to the Bears. Surprised we haven't really tried to get another TE who's a threat in the passing game since Hernandez, maybe Ebron is worth a look?

Was bummed out when I saw that. We need another tight end for sure. I believe Gronk will do one more year and retire.

[HoganIsGOAT]

Pack released Jordy Nelson. Thing the Pats would be interested?

I would take him in a heartbeat with a low price tag, since we've lost 'Dola.

[HoganIsGOAT]

So apparently the Titans are becoming Patriots Lite.

[camaleom]

cant pay everybody and Dola got a NICE big check from Miami.

btw: did u guys watch the last tom vs time?

gisele: "he just want to have fun and feel appreciated..."

[midcoastking33]

wonder if they'll take a voucher on woodhead

[Tyler2106]

I would take him in a heartbeat with a low price tag, since we've lost 'Dola.

Rumors are is that Nelson is very interested in joining the Patriots. Nelson, Cooks, Edelman, Gronk....hhhhnnnnnggggggg

[Tyler2106]

cant pay everybody and Dola got a NICE big check from Miami.

btw: did u guys watch the last tom vs time?

gisele: "he just want to have fun and feel appreciated..."

I've been seeing a lot of "analysis" on that last episode. I'm not sure I would take them too seriously. From what I learned in that series is that Brady goes 100% football mode all the time when he's playing. When you put so much time and effort into something and make so many family sacrifices, losing in the biggest game of the year is very humbling and puts things into perspective. I also think it's natural to want a mental break from something so exhausting. These guys need a few weeks off to get that fire back.

[Negatron617]

Solder, Dion, Butler, Amendola, Burkhead all gone

We got a bit lucky to make it to the playoffs last year....going to be much tougher this year

That being said he will be regaining Hightower and Edelman....I think we will look to trade Cooks for maybe a defensive player or lineman and look to pick up Jordy

So far so bad for the Pats

[.aeterna]

Welp, "next man up."

has worked pretty well for the past 17 years. Trust in Big B

[HoganIsGOAT]

Solder, Dion, Butler, Amendola, Burkhead all gone

We got a bit lucky to make it to the playoffs last year....going to be much tougher this year

That being said he will be regaining Hightower and Edelman....I think we will look to trade Cooks for maybe a defensive player or lineman and look to pick up Jordy

So far so bad for the Pats

Let's be honest, it's still early but this has been a brutal off season so far. Brady's days are numbered and Belicheck isn't going for any big signings and has let key players walk who didn't want to play for less. The Patriots must improve their team to win a Super Bowl next season. From where I'm sitting, the Patriots are fielding a worse team at the moment than they did last season.

Meanwhile, AFC teams like the Jaguars are improving, the Titans are becoming Patriots Lite and the NFC is completely loading up.

Again, it's still early, but I just don't see us recovering from replacing Solder, developing a pass rush and all of the other missing pieces.

This could be the end of the Patriots dynasty fellas. It was a hell of a run, if so.

[Twerk4it]

Welp, "next man up."

has worked pretty well for the past 17 years. Trust in Big B

The guy who's supposed to replace Solder is a rookie coming off a season ending illness and is very underweight atm for the position.

[HoganIsGOAT]

As much as I hate the guy, I think the Patriots need Ndamukong Suh. I really hope they'll make a play for him.

[HoganIsGOAT]

The guy who's supposed to replace Solder is a rookie coming off a season ending illness and is very underweight atm for the position.

Yep - He is most certainly not a day 1 starter who can fill the role.

[camaleom]

I've been seeing a lot of "analysis" on that last episode. I'm not sure I would take them too seriously. From what I learned in that series is that Brady goes 100% football mode all the time when he's playing. When you put so much time and effort into something and make so many family sacrifices, losing in the biggest game of the year is very humbling and puts things into perspective. I also think it's natural to want a mental break from something so exhausting. These guys need a few weeks off to get that fire back.

I totally agree on that but u also have account from where that comment came from... Brady will never go on the radio and bitch about BB but when he is home with his wife... that is when u know (or at least can assume) something is up.

How many times Wes complained about Bill? never until he left the patriots and started talking about how hard was to work with Bill the last two years.

u don't win or lose SB in the off season but so far our off season is not looking pretty.

[Twerk4it]

Rumor has it we're interested in McCarron,

I swear to god if this is where our unused cap space goes....

[HoganIsGOAT]

Rumor has it we're interested in McCarron,

I swear to god if this is where our unused cap space goes....

I heard that as well. Talk about a head scratcher.

[midcoastking33]

annnnnd solder's gone