New England Patriots: Why the Albert Haynesworth Experiment Was Always Doomed to Fail

When the New England Patriots traded a fifth round draft pick to the Washington Redskins for Albert Haynesworth, the now-waived defensive tackle reworked his contract as part of the deal. The Patriots were only on the hook for $1.5 million this season.

So the general consensus was that the move was a low-risk-high-reward move for the Patriots. He wasn’t a need, he was a luxury and if he played well that would be icing on the cake for the Patriots. However if he didn’t play well or more importantly he acted out of line the Patriots management could cut their very small losses and just get rid of him.

There is where Haynesworth was doomed from the beginning. The Patriots seemingly acquired him only with the caveat that they could easily dispose of him if and when he did not live up to the team’s expectations.

It was a self-fullfilling prophecy.

Haynesworth’s tenure with New England started off on the wrong foot both on and off the field.

The defensive tackle missed a number of practices after being traded and much of the speculation was because that he failed Bill Belichick’s conditioning test and did not come physically fit. Making it an even bigger issue was the fact that it was not the first time this had happened in Haynesworth’s career.

Off the field, Haynesworth was charged in two separate incidents and he was in the midst of taking care of both when he changed squads.

The 10-year NFL veteran was already behind the eight-ball in a number of ways. Not only was he facing his own legal and physical issues but he was not very high on the depth chart. Vince Wilfork was always going to be the starter at nose tackle, the team was high on youngsters Ron Brace and Brandon Deaderick and veterans Gerard Warren and Shaun Ellis were also in better standing than Haynesworth was.

There was almost a bit of hypocrisy in Haynesworth’s situation: the team needed him to turn around his play on the field and his attitude but there weren’t going to be many opportunities for him to do so.

Things never got better for Haynesworth. He registered only three tackles and zero sacks in six games (out of the team’s eight). He was abused by the Giants offensive line in Sunday’s game, at one point on his back on three straight plays which led to an unsavory interaction with coach Pepper Johnson on the sidelines.

So with the Patriots slumping and needing to make an example Albert Haynesworth was the obvious choice. Cheap, ineffective and possibly insubordinate made him very expendable.

The heated discussion with Johnson will make more of the headlines in the coming days, but don’t be fooled. Haynesworth’s days were numbered as soon as the trade with Washington was made. It seemed like everyone was just waiting for it to happen.

This isn’t the first time the Patriots have unceremoniously dropped a player and the season will churn on for the team, experiment abandoned and just as quickly forgotten.

But for Haynesworth does his failed tenure in New England put the final stamp on his career now too?

Photo Credits.
Albert Haynesworth: AP Photo/Stew Milne

Patriots vs. Jets: BenJarvus Green-Ellis pushes Patriots to Big Win

For one game BenJarvus Green-Ellis turned the pass-happy New England Patriots into a power running team, and the result was a winning one.

“The Law Firm” had a career-high 136 rushing yards to go with two touchdowns en route to a 30-21 victory over the rival New York Jets.

It was only the fourth time he had eclipsed the 100-yard plateau in his career, but it came at a good time. He became the fourth running back to rush for over 100 yards against a Rex Ryan-led Jets defense.

The attack for New England was a more balanced one than usual, throwing 33 passes and running the ball 35 times, and they had only one passing touchdown compared to both of Green’s rushing ones. Green-Ellis had 27 carries and averaged five yards a carry. He also had one catch for 13 yards, bowling over a couple Jets defenders in the process.

The Patriots held the ball on offense for 33:55, over seven minutes longer than the Jets. Green-Ellis pounded the ball up the middle effectively and wore out the Jets defense, which looked tired and sluggish as the game went on.

On the Patriots' last drive they ran 13 plays for 69 yards and took up 6:12. Of those 13 plays 11 were running plays with the ball going to Green-Ellis 10 times for 59 yards. The drive ended in a field goal, which put the Patriots up by two scores and the game just out of reach for the Jets.

With the Patriots never trailing it was easy to hand the ball off and work to kill the clock. But Green-Ellis made sure to put his mark on the game. The dreadlocked back had given way to rookie Stevan Ridley the past two weeks, with the new guy leading the team in rushing yards both games. But today Green-Ellis not only was the leading rusher, he was the team leader.

Photo Credits.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis: AP Photo/Elise Amendola

NFL Draft 2011: New England Patriots' Plan All About Flexibility

AP Photo/Winslow Townson

When the New England Patriots entered the 2011 NFL Draft the team held six picks in the first three rounds. The fans and the media expected the team to really cash in.

The most publicized need for New England was a pass rush. Lucky for them, with so many top picks, this year was a deep class of defensive ends and outside linebackers. Names like Ryan Kerrigan, Muhammad Wilkerson, Cameron Heyward and Cameron Jordan filled the Big Board.

When all was said and done the Patriots didn’t draft any of those names. In fact, they didn’t select someone that plays in the front seven until they selected OLB Markell Carter out of Central Arkansas in the sixth round.

It’s not to say the players they drafted won’t be any good or that they don’t fill needs or depth. But why ignore a supposed glaring hole? It’s become the theme of the draft, possibly the theme of the Patriots, was not, in fact, address need but rather flexibility.

Flexibility and the mantra of the New England Patriots explain what happened during the draft. The Patriots are notorious for “putting the team first” and not overpaying for talent are ways the ownership manages the team, and has also helped make them as successful as they have been in this century. Randy Moss, Richard Seymour, Ty Law and Willie McGinest all experienced it. It’s the business.

So the first round selection of OT Nate Solder puts Matt Light on notice. Light has started at the left tackle position when he was drafted in 2001 and is looking for a new contract. But history and the draft tell us that if Light wants to be a Patriot he should temper his demands.

Solder may not be ready in Year 1, but he’s a promising prospect. Give Light one more year, develop Solder, and if Light’s contract demands are too steep to merit giving to the 32-year-old, let him walk and you have a capable player ready to step in.

Depth along the offensive line was something that needed to be addressed and Solder gives them flexibility at this position currently and moving forward.

Skip down to when the Patriots select running backs with their second pick in the second round and their first in the third round. Again, current starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis is coming upon free agency. Maybe his productive 2010 priced him out of the Patriots range.

People speculated the Pats would take one running back at some point because they like having a lot of depth at that position. But two back to back? Green-Ellis may be on his way out of Foxborough.

So if they were planning on going running back, why trade down in the first round and let the Saints select former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram?

While it’s no certainty he’ll be a successful player, he does have a higher profile. As a first-round pick his salary would be much higher than backs drafted in later rounds. So why pay him more for backs that, while they may not have the hardware Ingram does, could be successful in the system?

With the trade, the Patriots also picked up an extra first-rounder next year. Will they trade down like in most of the drafts in recent years? Possibly. But having two picks gives New England flexibility in making decisions. They can package the two to move up, or trade down again, gaining more picks and more future flexibility in potential trades.

As for the pass rush? The front office must be confident that last year’s draft picks Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes will continue to develop and free agent signings Eric Moore and Gerard Warren will step up. As we’ve seen before, the Patriots aren’t afraid to take a chance on an older free agent.

So while many fans were left scratching their heads, there is a plan in place. And flexibility is a vital part to it.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Who Do the New England Patriots Pick with First 3 Picks?

AP Photo/Dave Martin

After playing to the best record in the NFL this season, the New England Patriots crashed-and-burned in the playoffs. They one-and-done for the second year in the row and will watch the Super Bowl from snowy New England.

The attention now goes off-the-field as the team prepares for the offseason. The source of great interest for the Pats fans is the 2011 NFL Draft. The Patriots hold three picks within the first 33 selections (Nos. 17, 28 and 33) in the draft.

The draft has some good offensive lineman and is loaded with talent along the defensive line. Coincidentally enough both will be positions the Patriots will look to upgrade this season.

Rushing the passer and helping Vince Wilfork along the defensive line are necessary. Also, the futures of Logan Mankins, Stephen Neal and Matt Light are questionable right now; whether any or all of them return to the team is up in the air. The team will need replacements immediately, and if they do return it can’t hurt to groom them because they are closer to the end of their careers than the beginning.

Who will the team consider to grab with one of their three top picks?

Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue

Kerrigan had a monster senior-year, leading the nation with 26 tackles for losses and recording 12.5 sacks. He also shows a tireless work ethic.

His stats prove that he can get to the quarterback. He does that through a number of different styles of moves along the line and gets at the quarterback from many different angles, something the Patriots defense in the years of the Super Bowl champion teams did very well.

Some believe he won’t put up outstanding numbers at the combine, but that shouldn’t stop teams from realizing what Kerrigan has done on the field, and what he can still do.

Brandon Harris, CB, University of Miami

When Leigh Bodden went down with an injury in the preseason, many youngsters were thrust into the position, possibly too soon. The position had some guys who did well, but overall the group wasn’t good or deep enough.

Bodden should be coming back, but that would give another youngster—hopefully—the proper time to develop.

Harris is rated as one of the top corners and could be available. In 39 games with the Hurricanes, he started 32 times. Two years ago as a sophomore he was named First-Team ACC and Second-Team All-American.

Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

It’s well known that the Patriots like guys with strong football bloodlines, and Heyward has that. His father is former Falcons fullback Craig “Ironhead” Heyward. But he’s more than just a nice pedigree.

He’s another big 3-4 end (6’5” 255) who is an explosive playmaker. In his junior and senior seasons combined he made 94 tackles and 10 sacks. He’s played in a BCS Bowl game each of his four seasons at Ohio State, including an extremely strong Sugar Bowl against Arkansas in 2011.

Nate Solder, T, Colorado

Solder is a mammoth tackle, standing at 6’9” and weighing in at 315 pounds. Many scouts say he could start immediately, which may be a necessity if the offensive line is as depleted as it has the potential to be. Solder had a good showing at the Senior Bowl.

He’s got solid athleticism for his size and scouts say he has a lot of potential.

Allen Bailey, DE, University of Miami

For the past couple of years, the Pats have had difficulty rushing the passer. He would be a nice big end in the 3-4 defense that is powerful enough to create pressure.

The 6’4”, 288-pound end has increased his tackle totals each year and has sacked the quarterback seven times in each of the past two seasons.

Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

Clayborn is known as a good pass and run-stopper. He’s very strong and is a good rusher from the edge.

He amassed 50 or more tackles in each of his final three seasons, and last year he was First-Team All-Big Ten and a consensus First-Team All-American by the NCAA, AFCA, and Walter Camp. His junior year he was also named the Orange Bowl MVP, showing he shows up and performs in big games.

Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin

Carimi, the Outland Trophy winner, is another lineman with plenty of size. The tackle is 6’7” and weighs 327 pounds.

The Badgers had one of the best running games in the nation. Part of that success is thanks to the strong offensive line anchored by Carimi. The team also allowed only 11 sacks to starting QB Scott Tolzien.

Carimi dominated all defensive ends he faced and would be a nice addition.

Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB, Oklahoma

Beal led the Big 12 in tackles for losses and was second in sacks. He was named the 2010 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.

He’s got decent speed, but he really just knows how to get to the quarterback. He started every game as a sophomore in 2008 and registered 11 sacks last season.

He hustles all over the field and creates some turnovers. When he can’t get to the quarterback he has good awareness and quick enough hands to deflect passes.

Cameron Jordan, DE, California

The son of former Vikings Pro-Bowl tight end Steve Jordan, Cameron is athletic and has a high-motor. He’s known for his speed rushing ability and drew a lot of double teams in college. If he were to go to the Patriots, teams would have to figure out how to defend Jordan (after some seasoning), Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo.

Jordan constantly improved at Cal, and he isn’t done yet. He had a great Senior-Bowl, which increased his value.

Stefan Wisniewski, G/C, Penn State

Scouts say he doesn’t have great size or upside, but that he does have good technique, a strong work ethic and a high football IQ. He also plays multiple positions, which is always a good thing for depth purposes.

Scouts say he would be a good fit for the Patriots at the position because of his intelligence and awareness and ability to compete against top competition.

Ben Ijalana, OL, Villanova

Rumor has it that Pats scouts have visited Villanova a few times this season and Ijalana could be the guy they were looking at.

He’s got good size—6’4” and weighs 320 pounds. He is known to have a mean-streak and good footwork. He can play either tackle or guard and does each well.

J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

He’s big (6’6”, 292 lbs) and explosive. Last season, Watt’s junior year, he made 62 tackles and 21 tackles for a loss. He does a good job of getting to the ballcarrier and plays with a lot of energy.

The belief is that Watt gets better every year and should make a good transition to the pros. Part of that reasoning is because he is fairly new to the position, moving there once he transferred to Wisconsin after spending his freshman year as a tight-end at Central Michigan.

He won the 2010 Ronnie Lott award Defense IMPACT Player of the Year, given to a player showing great off the field characteristics—such as maturity, integrity and community service—in addition to accomplishments on the field. His character won’t be an issue.

Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida

His twin-brother Maurkice was drafted by the Steelers last year, and he has stepped into the starting center role immediately, helping Pittsburgh reach the Super Bowl. Many feel that Mike can also step in and start right away.

He’s got good size (6’4”, 310) but is also very athletic.

He’s versatile, something that a lot of these lineman, especially the interior lineman, have in common. He started at right guard for the Gators his sophomore and junior seasons before replacing his brother at center senior year.

New England Patriots: Story Lines to Watch in the New Year

AP Photo/Don Heupel

The New Year has come and gone. Every year is different, and the team faces new challenges every season.

In the immediate future the New England Patriots will prepare for their playoff matchup against the New York Jets on Sunday. The winner moves on to the AFC Championship.

However, with the New Year so fresh, what does the entire year of 2011 hold for the Pats?

Here are the biggest story lines and questions for the Patriots in the upcoming year.

Will the Patriots Win the Super Bowl?

The Patriots have not been to the Super Bowl since the New York Giants ruined their perfect season in Super Bowl XLII in the 2007 season. They haven’t won it all since the 2004 season.

Many feel, however, that this year’s team has a fantastic chance at bringing another trophy home to Foxborough.

The Pats finished the season with a 14-2 record and earned the top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

They ended the season on an eight-game winning streak and did so in impressive fashion, scoring at least 31 points in each game. Over the course of the season they’ve beaten six teams that qualified for the playoffs (Jets, Ravens, Steelers, Colts, Packers and Bears), and in consecutive weeks they outscored the Jets and Bears a combined 81-10.

They’re spreading the ball around on offense, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis was the first Patriots player in six years to rush for 1,000 yards, also the last time the team won the Super Bowl. The defense features a lot of young players, but they have learned on the fly and improved. In the past five games they have only given up more than seven points once.

They’re confident and playing their best football. Their chances are as good as, if not better than, anybody’s.

Will Anyone Unseat the Patriots in the AFC East?

Many consider the AFC East to be one of the more competitive divisions in football. More times than not, however, the Patriots are the class of the division.

The team has finished as AFC East champions in eight of the past 10 seasons, finishing second the other two. Will anyone be able to stop their reign?

The top contender is obviously the New York Jets. They have a talented roster fueled by a coach that believes his guys are the absolute best. They’ve finished second the past two seasons and have made the playoffs. Last year they went to the AFC Championship Game.

The rest of the division may not be as flashy, but they usually put up a fight. The Bills have been non-factors for years but were competitive at least this season and never quit. The Dolphins have lots of talent on their roster but severely underachieved this year.

New England has come out on top time and time again, but they do have a rather large target on their backs. Will someone be able to unseat them as division champs?

Who Will the Patriots Draft?

New England holds six picks in the first three rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft. Over the past couple seasons the team has worked hard to infuse young talent into the roster, especially on the defensive side.

With so many top picks, the team has a chance to really bolster its lineup. The biggest areas of concern are getting younger on the offensive line and getting better pass rushers. Luckily for New England, the draft is loaded with these two types of players.

Who will they target? Will Bill Belichick trade down again like he notoriously does? Will they go after a different position? With so many picks, anything can happen.

What Will Happen to Patriots Free Agents?

Matt Light, Logan Mankins, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kyle Arrington will be free agents. All have played important roles on this Patriots team, and big paydays will also be in order.

Along with Green-Ellis, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor will also all be free agents, destroying the depth at that position—not to mention Faulk is such a fan favorite.

Mankins held out the majority of the season and was displeased with how the team handled his contract situation. Is all of that a precursor of what is to come?

The Patriots' free agency philosophy tends to be to take care of the in-house guys, and then once they’re in the fold, the team can bring in some additional, complementary pieces. There are a lot of valuable pieces the Patriots will need to make happy.

Who will they bring back? What direction will the team go in? How will negotiations go?

Will There Be a 2011 Season?

The Collective Bargaining Agreement is expired, so a new one needs to be in place before the start of next season. However, there is a labor dispute between the players union and the owners.

Things like an 18-game regular season schedule and a rookie wage scale are disagreed on, and a lockout is looming.

Until the two sides reach an agreement, no football will be played, so all the previous questions will be moot.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Who Do The New England Patriots Pick With First Six Picks?

AP Photo/Dave Martin

With the help of trades, the New England Patriots have six draft picks in the first three rounds of the 2001 NFL Draft.

There are so many variables to the draft this far away: final draft position, the Patriots tendency to trade picks and whether juniors will enter the draft or return to college for their final season.

Anything can happen in the draft. Sure things become busts (Ryan Leaf) and unknowns grow into legends (Tom Brady). Still there are some positions the public knows the Patriots need to shore up. With so many picks so early in the draft the Patriots could really add some young firepower to a team that already holds the best record in the NFL.

Having that many picks also means the team can gamble on a player or two. Also working in favor of the Pats is that there is a glutton of offensive lineman and pass rushers, two things the team could really use.

Who are some potential targets?

Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

The rumor mill has it that Bill Belichick wants to draft a running back. The team has a lot of free agents at the position (as well as players at the end of their careers), so they could grab someone for depth purposes. If they want a new starter though, they should take Ingram early.

The former Heisman Trophy winner is a bulky runner who runs hard and efficiently. He also is solid in the passing game too—although his blocking could improve. He has a good skill set and is strong enough where he can step in and be productive immediately.

Many liken him to Maurice Jones-Drew or Ray Rice. He would be an added weapon to the Patriots offense.

Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue

Kerrigan’s senior-year campaign—leading the nation with 26 tackles for losses and had 12.5 sacks—may have jumped him on the big board just out of the Patriots’ reach, but if he’s around he is a player that they need to seriously look at.

His stats prove that he can get to the quarterback. He has an array of moves and can come at the quarterback from many different angles, something the Patriots defense in the years of the Super Bowl champion teams did very well.

Kerrigan is applauded for his non-stop motor. He may be a little small for the end position in the 3-4 (6’4”, 263 pounds), but he has the skills New England needs.

Brandon Harris, CB, University of Miami

It seems like the Patriots have taken a corner early in the draft for the past few years, but you can’t stockpile enough players at the position. The Patriots learned that the hard way this year. When Leigh Bodden went down with an injury in the preseason, many youngsters were thrust into the position, possibly not yet ready.

Some of those players have struggled (i.e. Darius Butler). The unit as a whole has been good enough to bend but not break.

Bodden should be coming back, but that would give another youngster—hopefully—the proper time to develop.

Harris is rated as one of the top corners and should be available in the middle of the first round.

Nate Solder, T, Colorado

The futures of Stephen Neal, Logan Mankins, and Matt Light are up in the air. Even if they do return, it would not be wise to not groom eventual replacements, akin to how the linebacker corps was depleted when Teddy Bruschi, Junior Seau and Willie McGinnest left.

Solder is a mammoth tackle, standing at 6’9” and weighing in at 315 pounds. He is a finalist for the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and many scouts say he could start immediately, which may be a necessity.

Allen Bailey, DE, University of Miami

For the past couple of years, the Pats have had difficulty rushing the passer. He would be a nice big end in the 3-4 defense that is powerful enough to create pressure.

The 6’4”, 288-pound end has increased his tackle totals each year and has sacked the quarterback seven times in each of the past two seasons.

Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin

Carimi, the Outland Trophy winner, is another lineman with plenty of size. The tackle is 6’7” and weighs 327 pounds.

The Badgers had one of the best running games in the nation; they are the only team to have three players rush for 800-plus yards. Part of that success is thanks to the strong offensive line, which Carimi is the anchor of. The team has allowed only 11 sacks to starting QB Scott Tolzien as well.

Carimi is extremely durable, starting every game this season.

Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB, Oklahoma

Beal led the Big 12 in tackles for losses and was second in sacks. He was named the 2010 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.

He’s good decent speed, but he really just knows how to get to the quarterback. He started every game as a sophomore in 2008 and registered 11 sacks last season.

He hustles all over the field and creates some turnovers. When he can’t get to the quarterback he has good awareness and quick enough hands to deflect passes.

Stefan Wisniewski, G/C, Penn State

Wisniewski’s flexibility on the line could come in handy for the Patriots.
Scouts say he doesn’t have great size or upside, but that he does have good technique, a strong work ethic, and has a high football IQ.

He is quick and has quick hands. His father and uncle played in the NFL.

Many say he would be a good fit for the Patriots at the position because of his intelligence and awareness and ability to compete against top competition.

Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple

He is a huge end, listed as 6’5” and weighing 305 pounds, so he has the ideal size for an end in the 3-4 defense.

He is known for being good at getting through blockers and getting to the quarterback and also takes on double teams well. This season he registered 10 sacks.
Wilkerson played on a team that went undefeated, so he knows what it takes to win which is a valuable intangible.

Some project him to go in the second or third round.

Ben Ijalana, OL, Villanova

Rumor has it that Pats scouts have visited Villanova a few times this season and Ijalana could be the guy they were looking at.

He’s got good size—6’4” and weighs 320 pounds. He is known to have a mean-streak and good footwork.

He also plays both tackle and guard, and does each well.

Clint Boling, OL, Georgia

Boling is another lineman that is capable of playing every position on the line except for center. He has good footwork and is strong, but not necessarily quick.

Still, his versatility and awareness are qualities that would fit well with the Pats.

Casey Matthews, LB, Oregon

The brother of Packers sack-sensation Clay Matthews, he is a little under-the-radar. His brother didn’t come into the draft with an extensive amount of hype, but he’s performed.

Matthews has a strong football pedigree and has started the past three seasons. This year he ranks fifth in the entire nation in fumble recoveries.

He’s a smart player who showcases strong leadership and he could develop into an important piece to the Patriots defense in the years to come.

Home Improvement: New England Patriots Offseason Needs

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

The New England Patriots are tied for the best record in the NFL right now at 11-2, but there is always room for improvement.

It’s important to let the season play out, but it’s never too early to start planning ahead on what areas of the roster the team could improve in.

With age, depth and potential free agents it would definitely be good for the Pats to beef up their roster.

Here are the areas of biggest need:

Corner Back

Leigh Bodden’s season-ending preseason shoulder injury really exposed the lack of depth at the position. They have a number of young inexperienced guys that they liked, but that need to go through trial by fire rather than take time to develop.

They have grown a little and some guys like Devin McCourty and Kyle Arrington have done some solid work. However, they have gone through considerable growing pains and coverage has been spotty.

Again they have gotten a little better as the season has gone on, and they have done enough lately, but it could certainly help to bring in a solid veteran to add depth. The return of Leigh Bodden should help with that.

Safety

Patrick Chung has really stepped up this year and played well. He’s been a nice surprise. Brandon Meriweather has been up and down though this season, not even a starter the first couple weeks of the year.

The team will have three safeties enter free agency this offseason: Josh Barret, Jarrad Page and Brandon McGowan.

Adding someone not only to give depth in the position, but who could also be an improvement over the current starters, most likely Meriweather.

Offensive line depth

The Patriots let their defensive unit, specifically their linebackers, get old without developing young talent underneath them. So when guys like Junior Seau and Teddy Bruschi retired the unit was left depleted.

The Patriots can’t let that happen to their offensive line, especially with the impending free agencies of Logan Mankins and Matt Light.

Sebastian Vollmer and Dan Connelly have filled in nicely when Light and Mankins have missed games so it’s a good start. But it would help to add guys behind Nick Kaczur and Stephen Neal. Kaczur will be thirty next season and was on the PUP list for most of this season. Neal will be 35-years-old next season and in the last year of a two-year deal he signed this offseason.

It’s time to start grooming the next generation that will protect Tom Brady.

Running back depth

BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead have been extremely underrated this season. No one expected much from them this season—Woodhead wasn’t even on the opening day roster—but they have been extremely productive. They have complemented each other well and their skills have really balanced out the offense.

The situation is that BGE, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor will all be free agents at the end of the season. BGE has earned not only an extension, but a shot at competing for the starting job, but does the front office believe he’s the long-term answer? Especially if other teams are willing to pay him for his services?

Faulk and Taylor have battled injuries this year and are nearing, if not at, the end of their careers.

It’s hard to believe that all of them will return, so depth will be an issue. And the team could look to go in a different direction with their starting running back, regardless if they bring back BGE or not.

Defensive line

The pass rush has been average, but needs to be more potent. You get what you expect from Vince Wilfork, but that’s about it. Again, injuries have hurt this unit as Ty Warren was placed on the IR and Myron Pryor has missed the previous five games with a back injury.

Ron Brace, Mike Wright and Brandon Deaderick—not the most famous or impactful of players, but certainly play a part in the depth of the team—have all missed games this season.

Gerard Warren will be a free agent at the end of the year, but the team may be looking to replace him anyway.

Improvements in this unit, specifically a good rusher off the edge, would be welcome.

Jets vs. Patriots: 5 Reasons the Winner Will Go To Super Bowl XLV

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Monday Night Football between the archrival Patriots and Jets, both with the best record in the AFC has the feel of a championship game.

In many ways it is. A victory in this game would put the winner in pole position for the AFC East division title. It would also do the same for the team’s standing as the best team in the AFC.

And with the stakes extremely high, and some of the fiercest competition on the field, this game could go a long way, both logistically and mentally, to the victor reaching the Super Bowl.

The two best teams in the conference will duel it out, mano a mano, to see who has all the advantages.

Home Field Advantage

Both these teams have shown—this season, last season and in the recent past—that they can win anywhere. However, home field advantage would be big.

The Patriots finished last season undefeated at home (although it didn’t help them in the playoffs), and are 5-0 this season. The Jets aren’t perfect—their only two losses this season came at home—but they still have a winning record at home at 4-2, including a Week 2 win against the Patriots.

Also, the playoffs will be played in the winter, and in New York and New England that means adverse conditions. The only potential playoff team that is used to that type of weather would be Pittsburgh, and so far this season the Patriots have already beaten them, so it’s possible.

History

The number one seed in the playoffs, and the home field advantage that comes with it, was awarded to the team with the best record. The winner of the game Monday night will own the best record in the AFC. It may not end that, way, but they’re in good position to do so.

In the AFC, 18 of the 35 top seeds have reached the Super Bowl, and in the NFC 21 of them did that. It may not seem like an impressive number, but it is more than half. And that is one seed against the field. Break it down individually by seed number and the No. 1’s have the advantage.

Bye Weeks

With a win and having the best record, the winner will be one step closer to getting a first round bye. Every team would relish an extra week, but these two teams would absolutely make the most of it. Not only would they get an extra week to regroup and rest their weary bodies, but do you want to give Rex Ryan an extra week to rally the troops?

Do you want to give Bill Belichick an extra week to prepare and game plan?

The Patriots are 10-1 in the regular season after a bye under Belichick.

Battle Tested

The playoffs are when the best teams go up against each other. If a team isn’t at the top of its game or isn’t used to playing in the pressure-filled environment, then they usually wilt and their playoff trip is short.

This game pits two of the best teams duking it out against each other, for the second time this season. They are already playing the best competition and they know what it takes to win. They’ve played the two best teams already, and the Pats have also beaten the Ravens and Steelers. The Jets learned from their loss against the Ravens, and will look to establish dominance over the Steelers in two more weeks.

This game is nationally televised in primetime. The media markets are huge. The competition is fierce.

This is playoff football, and whoever wins will be better prepared for everything the postseason will have to offer.

Confidence

A win for the Pats would be their fourth in a row, and it would be the Jets sixth in a row. Both teams have gutted out victories this season, even when they didn’t have their best stuff.

The Jets survived overtime scares from Detroit and Cleveland, then came from behind in the final seconds to beat the Texans.

The Jets are finding ways to win, no matter the cost.

People have doubted the Patriots all season, and this isn’t the most talented Patriots team they’ve had, especially when they traded away Randy Moss. A win against the Jets would mean that they would have beaten the three teams with the best records in the AFC.

It’s cliché, but if you can go into the playoffs playing your best football, you’re in good shape. The winner here would have the psychological advantage over teams, fully believing that they can and will beat anyone.

Jets vs. Patriots: You Look Familiar

AP Photo/Winslow Townson

Players and coaches in the AFC East are notorious for rotating amongst teams in the division. Especially prevalent is subjects switching sides in the heated rivalry between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets.

In 1997, after the Jets were a league-worst 1-15, they were able to bring over Bill Parcells from the Patriots (not after sending them third and fourth round draft picks in 1997, a second in 1998, and a first in 1999).

Parcells switched benches and brought a number of coaching staff and players with him. One year later, the New York team signed running back Curtis Martin away from New England. Martin went on to be selected to three Pro Bowls and win one rushing title.

Now in 2010, the two teams meet on Monday Night Football, in a dead heat atop the division at 9-2. The winner of the game could go a long way to winning the division and possibly earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

So let’s take a look at those involved in the matchup that have been on both sides of the battle.

Matt Cavanaugh, Quarterbacks coach, Jets

Cavanaugh spent the first five of his 14 NFL seasons with the Patriots. He played in 52 games, but not as a starter until his third season with the team (1980). He had a 54 percent completion percentage, 3018 yards passing, 19 passing touchdowns, 23 interceptions, and three rushing touchdowns.

In 2009, Rex Ryan brought Cavanaugh in from the University of Pittsburgh as his quarterbacks coach.

Shawn Crable, LB, Jets

Crable was another 2008 third round pick by the Patriots. He was placed on injured reserve in 2008 and 2009. At the beginning of this season he was signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the 53-man roster September 25. He played in six games, made four tackles and half a sack, and was released November 16.

Three days later he was signed to the Jets practice squad.

Kevin O’Connell, QB, Jets

The Patriots selected O’Connell in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the highest they took a quarterback since Drew Bledsoe in the first round of 1993.
He played in two games, completed four of six passes for 23 yards, and was waived the following offseason.

He was picked up by the Detroit Lions on September 1, but was traded five days later to the Jets for a seventh round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

When the Jets played the Patriots on September 20, O’Connell was named a team captain. Although he didn’t play, it was said he provided inside information to the Jets on how the Patriots pick up opposing blitzes.

With a new two-year contract, O’Connell is currently on injured reserve after surgery on a torn labrum in his throwing arm.

Damien Woody, OL, Jets

Woody was a Pats first-round pick in 1999. He started in 76 games for the Patriots and was a member of the 2001 and 2003 Super Bowl champion teams, although he didn’t play in the 2003 Super Bowl because of a knee injury. He was also a Pro-Bowler in 2002.

He left the following offseason, signing a free agent deal with the Detroit Lions, started every game in 2004 and 2005, then missed most of 2006 while on injured reserve.

Woody signed a five-year contract with the Jets in 2008 and has started every single game for the Jets since (43 regular season games).

Corwin Brown, Defensive Backs coach, Patriots

Originally drafted by the Patriots as a player in 1993, he played with the Patriots through 1996. In 1997 he followed Bill Parcells from the Pats to the Jets, where in two seasons he recorded 29 tackles and one interception.

Brown began a coaching career in 2001, when he joined Virginia as a special teams coach. In 2004 he joined the Jets as a defensive backs coach for three seasons. After three more years at Notre Dame, Brown came back to where his professional career began, joining the Patriots staff as a defensive backs coach for Bill Belichick, who also coached him during his time with the Patriots and Jets.

Pepper Johnson, Defensive Line coach, Patriots

Famous as a player for his time with the New York Giants, with whom he began his career, Johnson—a Parcells and Belichick guy—rejoined the two with the other New York team, the Jets, for the final two seasons of his playing career.

He played 24 games as a Jet, registering 68 tackles, one sack and one interception.
In 2000, Johnson joined the Patriots coaching staff as an assistant linebackers coach. He’s moved up from there to inside linebackers coach to his current position of defensive line coach. Over the offseason, he was a possible candidate to become the new defensive coordinator before Belichick assumed the responsibilities.

Danny Woodhead, RB, Patriots

Woodhead was signed by the Jets in 2008 as an undrafted rookie out of NCAA Division II Chadron State College, and spent the season on injured reserve.

In 2009 he was put on the practice squad, shifted to wide receiver, and was promoted to the active roster. He played in ten games, carrying the ball 15 times for 64 yards and catching eight passes for 87 yards.

On the Jets installment of Hard Knocks, Woodhead endeared himself to many as the typical underdog story because of his size (only 5’7”) and the fact that he did not play at a Division I school. However, he was cut by the team.

Then, one day before the Pats-Jets matchup in Week 2, New England signed Woodhead to the roster. He was inactive for that game, but with the Pats lack of depth at running back with the injury of Kevin Faulk, Woodhead started in Week 3 and has been a great producer for the Pats.

He has 64 carries for 344 yards and three touchdowns, and 24 receptions for 230 yards and two more touchdowns. New England signed him to a two-year contract extension.

Bill Belichick, Head Coach, Patriots

Starting his coaching career with the New York Giants, Belichick became a Bill Parcells guy when he was named the team’s defensive coordinator in 1985, where they won two Super Bowls. Belichick was Browns head coach for five years before rejoining Parcells with the Patriots in 1996. One season later he left the Pats to move to the Jets with Parcells. He was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 1997 to 1999. Parcells stepped down as head coach and the Jets tabbed Belichick as his predecessor. He was to be introduced to the media, but instead, he resigned from the position that day.

He accepted an offer from the Patriots to be their head coach. The Jets demanded compensation, so the Pats gave them a first-round draft pick. Since then, Belichick has guided the Pats to three Super Bowl wins, four AFC championships, and an undefeated regular season in 2007.

He has a record of 121-50 in the regular season with the Pats, and 14-4 in the playoffs.

Tom Brady: Is He the NFL's Most Underappreciated Player?

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was in destroy mode Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the team’s 39-26 victory over a team that has a strong defense, and who many opine is the best team in the NFL, Brady led the way. He went 30-for-43 for 350 yards and three touchdowns, as well as one rush that earned him another touchdown.

For his career, Brady 6-1 against the Steelers—4-1 at Heinz Field—and has 14 touchdowns against the Steelers and only three interceptions.

Part of it is game planning: New England throws the ball against Pittsburgh 73 percent of the time and only rushes on 27 percent of the plays, as opposed to throwing it 55 percent of the time and rushing it 45 percent against every other team in the league.

Still, in order to continue that trend, the Pats need to be successful throwing the ball. That comes down to Tom Brady taking charge.

It isn’t just against the Steelers, though. New England, especially the way it is currently constructed, places all of its burdens on Brady.

It’s cliché to say the team will go as far as he does, but there is no better way to describe it.

Which begs the question, is Tom Brady underappreciated?

Many would say it’s impossible for a quarterback to be underappreciated. That they get all the attention, and Tom Brady and his hair get more airtime on ESPN than all the players in the league not named Brett Favre.

But do people realize how important Tom Brady is to this team? And does his team undervalue him?

Take last week’s loss against Cleveland.

The loss wasn’t Brady’s fault; the team was bad in all phases of the game. But Brady was certainly not on his mark.

He completed only 19-of 36 passes. Although he had two touchdowns compared to zero interceptions, one of those TDs he was bailed out by Aaron Hernandez, who was able to make an amazing play off a deflected pass.

Brady was out of sync with his receivers and just didn’t have it going for him that day.

It happens.

It’s difficult to play at top level for the entirety of the season. But the Patriots are hard-pressed to find anyone to pick up Brady’s slack.

The running game is at its worst in recent memory. The defense is extremely vulnerable, with a lacking pass rush and a very inexperienced and inconsistent pass defense.

If Brady has a bad game, then the rest of the team is doomed. Even if you point to the Week 4 thrashing of Miami where special teams were the focus, Brady was still very accurate, going 19-for-24 and a touchdown.

Brady is the emotional leader of this team as well.

Look at the barking he did on the sidelines against Pittsburgh. He knows what the team needs to do to be successful.

If it isn’t getting done, he’s going to tell everybody what they need to be doing. He’s competitive, he’s tough (he missed a practice this week with a foot injury) and he’s fearless.

With an elite player like Brady on the roster, most teams would do whatever it took to put the best team around him and maximize his potential to take them to the Super Bowl.

The Patriots organization, however, insists on getting rid of its top players. Major weapons on offense and defense (Randy Moss and Richard Seymour come to mind) have been traded away for draft picks.

The Patriots have placed around Brady a bunch of journeymen, retreads and rookies.

While there was a definite need to make the defense younger, the Patriots waited too long. Instead of bringing guys along, they are throwing players into the fire now.

That’s not to say guys like Brandon Spikes and Devin McCourty won’t be good pros—because they do have a lot of potential—but as long as Tom Brady is on the roster, they should be trying to win now.

People will say Peyton Manning does a lot with a mostly unknown cast of players, but the Colts don’t trade away all their best players—they just all get hurt.

Brady will do everything he can to win games and put the young guys on his shoulders. But there will be days where it will be too much, and the Patriots haven’t put together a team ready to win without his heroic efforts.

He’s the ultimate team player. But for a team that believes the player is a part of a system, Brady seems to be getting the short end of the stick.

By not getting the best possible players, are the Patriots really undervaluing Brady? Are they wasting the remainder of his productive seasons?

New England Patriots: Has Tom Brady Ever Fully Recovered from His Knee Injury?

AP Photo/Amy Sancetta

No matter how much Bill Belichick preaches that no one individual is greater than the team, Tom Brady is the face of the New England Patriots.

His talent, leadership and determination have led the Pats to three Super Bowl victories, in which he was rewarded the game’s MVP twice. He was the NFL regular season MVP when he led the Patriots to an undefeated regular season.

But has Brady ever really recovered from his ACL and MCL injuries suffered in 2008?

Brady can still play, and New England is still a good team, but is either elite anymore? Sometimes Brady just doesn’t have it—like against Cleveland yesterday—and the team cannot bail him out.

The overall passing stats will have you believe that nothing has really changed. He is on pace to throw 27 touchdowns, right around his season average, and he hasn’t thrown an inordinate amount of interceptions. His passer ratings for the past two seasons are the highest in his career, excluding the magical 2007 season, and his completion percentage is actually higher post-injury than pre-injury.

But there may still be an issue.

Mentally, Brady wasn’t always at his best last year. He looked uncomfortable and timid in the pocket last year, especially early in the season. Brady isn’t as mobile as he used to be, and when defenses send strong pass rushes at him he doesn’t do a good job evading them. Rather, he takes a good beating nowadays. And at 33-years-old, he isn’t getting any younger.

While the numbers may not be as noticeable long term, this season—despite the team’s successful record—his numbers show a significant drop-off.

Brady has not thrown for 300 yards yet this season. In the four games since the bye week, Brady has pass completion percentages under 60 percent in the past three games, and they get lower each week, bottoming out at 52.8 percent this past weekend.

He was exceptionally poor against the Browns. The team was out of sync all game, and while his receivers, namely tight end Rob Gronkowski, dropped a number of balls, Brady was terribly off the mark all game.

There are a lot of factors other than the injury that are causes for concern and make Brady look not as sharp. First, since the bye week this year where a real difference is seen, there is no more Randy Moss. Moss is a future Hall of Famer, and he does make things easier, as far as throwing to him and taking attention and coverage away from other players. But Brady didn’t have Moss early in his career.

The running game is pretty bad, probably the worst it has been in Brady’s entire career, so they can’t alleviate the pressure off of Brady. Injuries and holdouts have weakened the offensive line and they don’t block as well anymore.

All of these reasons allow the defense to crank up the pressure.

As for defense, this Pats defense is not nearly as good as the units of the Super Bowl teams, so they aren’t keeping teams at bay. The way the defense is playing now (since Brady’s injury) they don’t have a good pass rush and the coverage is poor. They allow big plays, a good amount of points and Brady needs to be "on" in order to keep New England in the game.

Maybe it was just a bad game for Brady; it’s tough to be "on" for all 16 games in a regular season.

But something wasn’t right. Defenses are pressuring Brady and he isn’t responding well. He can’t get away from the pressure like he used to and he doesn’t have the help to cover any mistakes or deficiencies in his game.

With such a bad running game and the shaky knee, Brady could get to be more like former Miami Dolphin Dan Marino—a legend, but declining in production towards the end of his career without sufficient help, namely a strong running game to balance out the offense so he doesn’t have to play at the highest level every game.

Is Brady’s knee still an issue? Is it, even slightly, hampering him? Are the team’s weaknesses elsewhere shortening Brady’s career?

One thing for sure is that he will never tell us the whole truth.

Bill Belichick Saw Something We Didn't When He Traded Randy Moss

AP Photo/Winslow Townson

When the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick traded away Randy Moss, many were up in arms.

The best deep threat in the game was gone. Could any young receivers step up? Defenses didn’t have to double Moss anymore. How would the different coverage affect the receivers? Wes Welker? The running game?

The Patriots went out and picked up Deion Branch to add to the wide receiver depth chart. But really, how could the Patriots be a better team without Moss?

The Pats faithful responded differently however. They just said that Bill must have seen something and they were cutting ties before it affected the team.

But what did Belichick see? In a non-scheduled press conference, he told everyone Moss’ contract situation and off-field attitude were not reasons for the move. So what was it, other than getting a third-round pick, which was seen as below value for the future Hall of Fame receiver?

Maybe they just saw a decline in production; in four games Moss had nine catches for 139 yards (no more than 59 yards in one game) and three touchdowns, not to mention not catching a single pass in the Miami game and didn’t play in the second half yet the team winning 41-14 anyway.

So he went to Minnesota. Four more games, 13 more receptions, 174 yards (declining each game), and only two touchdowns later Moss was released.

Meanwhile the Patriots won three games without the enigmatic wide out. They’ve seen Branch and Brandon Tate step up and have big games. They haven’t been the prettiest games offensively, but they’ve gotten the job done and now have the best record in the NFL (6-1).

The Vikings are a bit of a mess right now, and the decision to let Moss go after giving up a third-round draft pick (maybe low for Moss, but still having value) only a month prior speaks volumes of the mismanagement going on.

However, reports have (again) surfaced of Moss’ mouth and attitude off the field being reasons for his dismissal from his team. Head Coach Brad Childress apparently told his team, when referring to Moss’ release, “We want good people who are good football players. This just doesn't fit,” according to Yahoo! Sports.

And once again, Moss had a poor game before his departure, catching only one pass for eight yards.

So is Moss a cantankerous individual unhappy with his stability with teams in the league and a disruptive force in the locker room? Is his production just not good enough?

And if Moss doesn’t get claimed by anyone, he can re-sign with New England for the rest of the season for a fraction of the cost (if money was the issue for the Pats).

Whatever the case with Moss, whatever teams he winds up on and how the Pats play their hand, Bill Belichick looks like an extremely smart man right now.

And those Pats/Belichick faithful look even better.

Patriots Pass Rush Key Against Vikings

AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

In the New England Patriots’ Week 8 showdown against the Minnesota Vikings, all eyes will be on Randy Moss, who makes his return to Gillette Stadium after being traded in Week 5.

Will he want to make his old team regret not giving him a contract extension and trading him? Will he outperform his replacement, Deion Branch? How will the young secondary, which has struggled this season, cover him?

While the Patriots will have to focus on their defense this week, specifically their pass defense, the man they will be most focused on is quarterback Brett Favre.

Yes, Favre has been in a boot all week and everyone has questioned whether he will play. Do you really buy it though? Favre loves the attention, loves having people talking about him and what he’s going to do, so he stirs up the controversy.

Much like his “retirement”, don’t believe Favre won’t be on the field until the whistle has blown and he isn’t in uniform. There is a reason he has a 291 consecutive games played streak (315 including playoffs).

Bill Belichick said the team would plan for Favre playing.

However, while the talk of him playing or not is questionable, what isn’t up for debate is that Favre is severely banged up.

Shoulder, elbow, and ankle injuries have plagued Favre this year. He is also 41-years-old. His body is suffering from the wear-and-tear of the league and he isn’t as mobile as he used to be.

What the Patriots need to do is pour on the pass rush. They need to let him know they will be coming after him, they need to hit him and make him uncomfortable, and they need to force him to throw those awful interceptions that he was called out for by head coach Brad Childress.

The Pats rank 30th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game, giving up an average of 282 yards. Part of that is because of a young and inexperienced secondary. But part of the blame also goes to the pass rush.

New England is in the bottom half of the league in sacks, tied for 19th overall with 12. Defensive lineman Mike Wright leads the team with a disappointing three sacks. Thirty-five different players have more sacks than New England’s top guy.

The Vikings are in the middle of the pack in the NFL, allowing 14 sacks. Even worse, however, is that they are tied for fourth in the league with 10 interceptions.

The Patriots really need to have a strong pass rush in this game. Not only would it continue to have a negative effect on Favre’s play, it will also make life easier on the secondary, which will have its hands full with Moss, Percy Harvin, and Visanthe Shiancoe.

If the Pats can beat up Favre and force him into mistakes, it will be a long day for Minnesota.

If not, then Moss may have the field day he’s been hoping for.

Vindicated

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Yes, the most die-hard of New England Patriots fans have put their entire trust in Bill Belichick over the years and do not question him.

But they aren’t in the majority.

Last year the Pats got beat down in the first round of the NFL Playoffs by the Baltimore Ravens, leaving many to comment that the dynasty was dead. Many opined that Belichick was a control freak when he took over the defensive coordinator position, along with the offensive coordinator position rather than hiring people to fill those spots. And all hell broke loose when Randy Moss, arguably a future Hall-of-Famer, was traded away for the bargain-price of a third round draft pick.

Belichick must be laughing right now.

Avenge the playoff loss as best as they possibly could? Check.

Win without Randy Moss? Check.

Win using his preferred style of offense, spreading the ball around? Check.

New England’s 23-20 win over Baltimore has some people trumpeting the Patriots as one of the top teams in the NFL.

Deion Branch, the man the Pats traded for after dumping Moss—which seems to constitute a shift back in time in both offensive philosophy and personnel—caught a game-high nine passes for a team-high 98 yards and a touchdown.

He and Tom Brady seemed to have lost no chemistry regardless of the four-year layover. He made Patriot fans, for the moment, forget about Moss. And he earned a postgame hug from Belichick.

For the rest of the offense, three players caught five or more passes, and four had 50-plus yards receiving. They also had two players rush the ball at least 10 times.

The defense, criticized for being young, inexperienced and far from polished, bent but did not break. The Patriots beat the Ravens in yards gained. The Ravens running game was kept to less than 99 total yards, mostly thanks to the 10-plus tackles from Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes and Patrick Chung.

The Patriots executed well on offense against one of the premier defenses in the NFL, and the defense kept a Ravens offense with eight former Pro-Bowlers at bay.

Bill Belichick was vindicated Sunday afternoon.

The on-going soap opera will now be whether he really is the best coach in the league or whether this will make him so full of himself that he thinks he can do anything and continue to walk the fine line between genius and crazy.

The "System" Won't Be Able To Replace Randy Moss

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

In-season trades involving high-profile players are pretty typical. Contending teams pick up big-time talent from teams with no shot in exchange for draft picks and/or prospects.

Have you ever seen a team tied for first in the division get rid of one of its top players? Only to get a mid-round draft pick in return?

The New England Patriots did just that when they traded star wide receiver Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings for a third-round draft pick in 2011.

No, the Patriots aren’t giving up on the season, at least not literally. Instead it is one of the most arrogant moves ever made.

With this move, Bill Belichick is emphasizing his famous philosophy that they can plug anyone into their system and succeed.

Many people may be able to point out examples that they trust in Belichick, but the evidence is strongly misleading.

People will look to the 2008 season when Tom Brady suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the first quarter of the first game, thrusting Matt Cassel into the spotlight.

Cassel lead the team to an 11-5 record, was franchised after the season, traded to the Kansas City Chiefs and signed a six-year deal worth $62.7 million and was not even remotely close to matching his success.

Cassel was a product of the Patriots system, yes. He had a good year. But he did not get the Patriots into the playoffs. This was a team one year removed from an undefeated regular season and Super Bowl loss. The system did not save them then.

Some people have pointed out that when the Patriots dynasty was at its highest peak, they won championships without true No. 1 wide receivers.

While Deion Branch, Troy Brown, and David Patten were not star receivers, they had plenty of experience under their belts, specifically Patten and Brown, and had developed a good working relationship with Tom Brady.

Other than Wes Welker, the guys expected to fill in for Moss are Brandon Tate (six career games 11 career receptions), Julian Edelman (14 games, 41 receptions, and most of his damage came in three big games), rookie Taylor Price (no stats) and rookie tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski.

Moss was Brady’s favorite target. He loved throwing downfield to the tall and speedy receiver, sometimes to a fault. Brady is also without his favorite target out of the backfield, the injured Kevin Faulk, and now has Welker as his only safety blanket, the only guy he really has any working relationship with. Everyone else is unknown to him.

Can Brady work these brand-spanking new guys not only into the system, but into the NFL, fast enough?

Also, those championship teams were dependent on and anchored by strong defenses. The Patriots defense now is also young, inexperienced, poor at rushing the passer and poor in coverage.

Teddy Bruschi, Richard Seymour, Willie McGinest, Lawyer Milloy, Troy Brown and Mike Vrabel aren’t coming through that door anytime soon.

But what about Monday night’s bashing of the Dolphins, when Moss didn’t have a single catch?

The offense played well, but the Patriots had a kickoff returned for a touchdown, a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown and a blocked punt. Chad Henne also threw three interceptions, one of which was a pick-six. Special teams won that game.

It’s no secret what Moss did on the field.

He stretched the field and created space, space for Welker to run his slant routes and, although the Pats didn’t use it too much, space for running lanes. He forced teams to double team him, and even then he would pull off amazing leaping catches and one-handed grabs.

Without him, there is no more double coverage on the field, which means more attention on everyone else. The safety doesn’t have to worry about playing deep, because there is no downfield threat, so he can sit in the box and clog the running lanes, making life difficult for BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead.

That third-rounder New England got won’t help them this year. It may not even help them next year.

Randy Moss would’ve helped them this year, regardless of whether the team was going to bring him back next season. He would’ve helped a lot.

This is not a case of addition by subtraction.

The Patriots, as currently constructed—not past versions of the team, not thinking ahead of any moves to be made—are worse off without Randy Moss.

The system will not be able to replace the thing Moss did on the field and the wins he helped provide.

Prime Time for Rookie Tight End Aaron Hernandez

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

It’s no secret that New England Patriots quarterback loves throwing to Randy Moss and Wes Welker. This season, however, Brady has found a new toy in rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez.

The Patriots do spread the ball on offense and a lot of guys get their share of touches, but Hernandez is not only gaining more targets per game (two in Week 1, six in Week 2, and seven in Week 3), he is also encroaching on the balls that Moss and Welker are getting their ways. Last week the former Florida Gator even led the team in targets.

Hernandez is earning Brady’s trust. He has led the team in receptions the previous two games (six) and yards (101 against the New York Jets and 65 against the Buffalo Bills). Even though he only had one grab in the opening weekend, he made it count for 45 yards.

He hasn’t caught a touchdown pass yet and isn’t a prime look on goal-line situations, where fellow rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski gets the nod, as will running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Hernandez also isn’t expected to do much blocking, but he does create a lot of matchup problems.

He’s a tad undersized but extremely athletic. He has good speed and can make big plays in the open field. He has good hands and can get to some awkwardly thrown balls. He also has a good vertical leap. And when he gets the ball he does a good job of evading defenders and getting yards after the catch.

He even got into the running game against Buffalo with one carry for 13 yards.

With Moss and Welker demanding a lot of attention, rightfully so, Hernandez can take quite a bit of pressure of them and really open up the field.

Hernandez has been exciting to watch and his growing chemistry with Brady couldn’t come at a better time as the Pats head to Miami to take on the Dolphins.

The Dolphins rank ninth in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. However, they have been weak guarding tight ends.

In Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, VIsanthe Shiancoe had a game-high of six catches for 83 yards. In last week’s loss to the Jets, Dustin Keller found all the seams in the Miami defense, leading the Jets with six catches for 98 yards and adding a game-high two touchdowns.

With the Dolphins inability to contain the tight end and Hernandez’s big play ability—akin to Keller—Brady should look his way quite often in the Monday Night divisional showdown.

"The Law Firm" at Work

AP Photo/Stephan Savoia

New England Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is known as “The Law Firm” because of his multi-part name. Could he also adopt the identity of “The Answer” for the Patriots running-game woes?

Currently, the Patriots rank tenth in the league in rushing yards per game at 123.3 yards. The majority of that is thanks to Green-Ellis’ 16 carries for 98 yards against Buffalo. Prior to the game the Pats were only averaging 85 yards per game.

As commonly noted, running back has not been a stable position for the Patriots due to retirement, injuries, and inconsistent play. Since 2006, the Patriots have seen three different players lead the team in rushing yards for the season.

The Patriots have 370 yards rushing in the first three games. The top-two rushers in the NFL, Arian Foster and Adrian Peterson, have more yards than that by themselves.

As long as Tom Brady is the quarterback, the Patriots will always be a pass-first team. However, New England has had well documented problems closing and finishing out games in the past two seasons. Part of the reason could be due to the lack of balance on offense.

Green-Ellis could provide the perfect punch.

He is a very physical player, a downfield-style runner that likes to go through people rather than around them. He is also very efficient on his carries, averaging four yards a carry over his short career.

He also has six touchdowns in the 24 games he’s played, including a stretch in his rookie season where he scored in four straight games, and five out of six, when he was the team’s starting running back.

Since Laurence Maroney was traded away, Kevin Faulk was lost for the season due to injury, and Fred Taylor—always an injury risk—banged up his toe, there are a lot of positives to make Green-Ellis the permanent starter.

As stated earlier, he is a productive player when given the ball.

With the team struggling to close out games, Green-Ellis provides a solution. Instead of forcing passes, Brady could just hand off to Green-Ellis and let him pound the football up the middle of the field and kill the clock, giving the opponent less time to even attempt a comeback.

The more Green-Ellis can pound the ball for positive yards, the more attention he’ll garner from the defense, and the easier the passing game will be.

He was an undrafted free agent who climbed the depth chart, so you know he is willing to work and make the most of his opportunities.

And since the Patriots are a passing team, they won’t be going out and spending big bucks on a top-notch running back. Green-Ellis provides a cheap alternative.

He will face another test in Week 4 against a Miami Dolphins’ defense stronger than the one the Bills trotted out, but do the Patriots have any better options?

It may be time to let “The Law Firm” go to work permanently.

Running in Place

AP Photo/Alan Diaz

The weak link gets weaker.

Coming into the season the New England Patriots running backs posed the biggest question on the team, at least for the offense.

A group plagued by injuries, turnovers and inconsistency made the position a revolving door of inadequate performance.

After Week 1, the Patriots finally gave up on Laurence Maroney. The former first-round pick showed flashes of good play, but for the most part he was either putting the ball on the ground or not even making the active roster.

He never ran for 1,000 yards in a season, never played all 16 games, and he fumbled quite a bit in the red zone.

So he was cast off to Denver in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Instead of giving the ownership justification for trading away Maroney, the rest of the group—Kevin Faulk, Fred Taylor and BenJarvus Green-Ellis—ran for measly 52 yards on 20 carries. Faulk, was the leading rusher with 22 yards on five carries, yet was put on IR after the game because of a torn ACL.

The Faulk loss will be hard-felt. While the running game has not been a stable form of production for the Pats, Faulk has been a bright spot, if you will.

Faulk ran the ball efficiently. Over his career he has averaged 4.2 yards per carry and in his 12-year career—including the two games this season—he has only rushed for less than 3.5 yards per career for the season twice.

He also was a great receiver out of the backfield, blocked, and returned kicks and punts on occasion. He was a do-it-all back who earned Tom Brady’s trust, especially as a receiver.

He’s been a great teammate in the locker room, and he is a three-time Super Bowl champion.

So how do you replace him? How do you strengthen such a depleted group?

As it does when any team needs players, the rumor mill is circling. Willie Parker and Larry Johnson are available, and Brandon Jacobs has requested a trade away from the New York Giants. All have baggage and productivity concerns, but the Patriots did succeed with the cast-off Corey Dillon at running back.

Available names are nice, but the Patriots are currently focused on the people currently on the roster.

Brady pointed out Sammy Morris as someone who will get the opportunity to step up.

Morris has only seen the field for 16 offensive plays this season, but that could, and very well should, change.

Morris led the team in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2008 and can line-up at running back and fullback.

Why has he fallen so far down the depth chart?


Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Because he can never stay healthy. In 2007, after six games in he suffered a chest injury and was placed on IR. In 2008, even though he was the team’s most productive rusher, he didn’t get the role until after Maroney went on the IR, and Morris only played in 13 games. Last season, he injured his knee in Week 6, didn’t return until Week 12, and didn’t start until the final two games of the season.

Another name that is causing a stir is newly signed Danny Woodhead.

Woodhead was signed before the Jets game, possibly as part of a continuing battle between the teams that sees players and coaches going from one team to the other much like Larry Izzo and Bill Parcells.

He is a fan favorite because of his underdog status; he is only 5’9” and played Division II college football. However, what makes him an intriguing replacement for Faulk is his similarity to the injured back.

Woodhead is very quick and has good hands—he actually originally made the Jets roster as a wide receiver. He’s also very tough and knows that he has to work that much harder to keep a job.

Still, the bulk of his play time has been on special teams. It’s not a devalued position, but the Patriots problems are larger than help on special teams.

Can Morris stay healthy?

Will Woodhead get a chance to play more running back and display a skill set similar to Faulk’s?

The Patriots need a more balanced offense. The running game is virtually absent. The Maroney trade and Faulk injury may have finally fully exposed the glaring hole at running back.

Someone needs to step up, but who will it be, if anybody?

How the Patriots Failed their 10 keys to success

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Prior to the New England Patriots matchup against the New York Jets, I wrote up 10 keys to success for the Patriots.

One thing I overlooked: the Patriots needed to show up for both halves.

The first half ended with New England up 14-10, and although the lead was slight, it was a solid showing. Then the Patriots were a no-show in the second half.

The Jets outscored them 18-0 after the break, scoring a total of 21 unanswered points, and just completely dominated in front of the home fans.

Coming into the game, it was the Jets that people were concerned about coming to play. The Patriots, however, made them look like the Super Bowl contenders the Jets boast to be.

Here is an analysis of how the Patriots did in their 10 keys to success, and obviously it isn’t a pretty picture.

The Patriots Need To Prove They Can Win On The Road

Obviously, they failed here. There is no grey area.

Instead of showing a killer instinct, like during the years of their championship teams and the 16-0 regular season team, they once again were last year’s team, the squad that couldn’t close out the big games.

The Patriots allowed momentum to shift and the home crowd to get back into the game.

It’s going to be a long season for New England if they can’t close out games and they can’t win on the road.

The Running Game Needs To Step Up

Another absolute failure here.

Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis combined for 52 total yards rushing. Granted they only received 20 carries amongst the three of them, but that is absolutely horrible production. It isn’t production, actually.

New England’s leading rusher was Kevin Faulk, who amassed 22 yards on five carries.

Randy Moss Needs To Show Up

Randy Moss made a spectacular one-handed grab in front of Darrelle Revis, and ran the ball into the end-zone for a 34-yard score, the 150th touchdown reception of his career.

Revis pulled up lame and left the game with a hamstring injury. All was looking good here.

However, Moss had only one catch the rest of the game, even though he was targeted 10 times.

For the star receiver that is playing for a new contract, that isn’t good at all. Moss showed up for one play. It was certainly a magical play, but he needs to do way
more than that.

Wes Welker Needs To Continue His Incredible Comeback

An interesting note, six seemed to be Welker’s number of the day.

Welker got the Patriots on the board early in the game with a six-yard touchdown reception (for, of course, six points).

He hauled in six catches on the day. However, he averaged only six yards per catch (6.3 to be exact).

As a slot receiver, Welker is known for finding seams and running off big gains.

With Moss wrapped up the Jets could focus more attention on Welker.

The touchdown was nice, and first impression was that it would be another long day for the Jets, but Welker was pretty inactive the rest of the game.

The Secondary Needs To Step Up

Last week, Mark Sanchez completed only 47.6 percent of his passes for only 74 yards, had zero touchdowns, and received a ton of criticism from the media.

Against the Patriots, Sanchez completed 70 percent of his passes for 220 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Darius Butler had an awful day, not only allowing two touchdowns, but was called for two pass interference calls on the Jets’ final touchdown drive.

It’s night and day really, and the secondary was constantly burned yesterday.

The Pass Rush Needs To Be More Present

The Patriots sacked Sanchez three times, which isn’t bad. But they didn’t pressure Sanchez enough.

The second-year quarterback actually picked up confidence as the game went on. No fumbles, no harried throws, no costly poor decisions.

Like the secondary, it isn’t entirely the pass rush’s fault. The defense as a unit didn’t do enough. They weren’t good enough.

However their offense didn’t pick them up.

What happened to Stephen Gostkowski?

Gostkowski missed another field goal Sunday, from 37 yards out, for his third miss of the season. The most he has missed was six in his rookie season. Now a veteran, Gostkowski is halfway there.

His inaccuracy cannot continue if the Patriots are to be a real contender.

Special Teams Boost

Brandon Tate’s Week 1 performance would have been tough to duplicate. He managed to return five kicks against the Jets for 123 yards, a 24.6 average. His longest was a 31-yard return.

Nothing special, but solid numbers. Tate was far from the problem in this game, but it looks like the team is going to need some big plays from him to energize them this season.

Utilize the Tight Ends

Aaron Hernandez is looking like a real steal.

Drafted in the fourth round, the rookie led the Patriots in receiving with six catches for 101 yards. It was the second consecutive game he had a catch for at least 45 yards.

He has good hands and runs with the ball well. He’s also only 20-years-old, so there is still a lot of room for improvement.

He was the lone bright spot for New England in this game.

Welker and Moss weren’t getting it done today; Brady should’ve played the hot hand more, especially before things got out of hand.

Be Smart

The Patriots were penalized six times for 79 yards, while the Jets were penalized six times for 58 yards. Not a big difference, but Darius Butler, who was getting beat all day, was called for two pass-interference penalties on New York’s final scoring drive.

The Patriots also turned the ball over three times, twice due to interceptions, as opposed to zero turnovers for the Jets.

New England lost its cool. They were winning, but couldn’t close it. They made bad decisions and panicked.

And they lost. It isn’t the end of the world, but it was not a good performance.

10 Keys For Success For the New England Patriots Against the New York Jets

AP Photo/Stephen Savoia

The New England Patriots came out on fire in their opening week victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Now they have a chance to send a statement to the rest of the AFC East, that statement being that the division runs through them and to be the champions you have to beat the champions.

There was a lot of hype surrounding the New York Jets this offseason, with all their roster additions, their appearance on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” television show, and their bold claims of winning the Super Bowl.

Some anointed them champions, but after their offense’s futile performance in Week 1 against the Ravens, the panic button may have already be hit.

The Patriots need to jump on the Jets while they are down, asserting their dominance. There are some key things that the team needs to do in order to make sure that happens.

The Patriots need to prove they can win on the road

Last year in the regular season the Patriots were unbeatable at home going 8-0, however they were a pathetic 2-6 on the road.

The Jets did a poor job of defending their new turf last weekend, and they have to be up for the Patriot game or else a fan mutiny may take place.

Bottom line for the Patriots though is that they need to win away from home. They don’t have to go undefeated, but they cannot afford to have such an awful road record. They need to take advantage of the Jets uninspiring play as of late and escape with a win.

The running game needs to step up

The running backs, namely Fred Taylor need to prove that the Patriots were justified in trading away former first-round draft pick Laurence Maroney.

He was an inconsistent player, but so were the rest of the guys at that position, mostly because of injury. The Patriots made a statement that they are confident in the guys they do have, and that Maroney was, essentially, a mistake of a pick.

The remaining crew needs to reward that confidence, and they should get a boost from the Jets missing monstrous nose tackle Kris Jenkins.

Randy Moss needs to show up

Last year, Darrelle Revis shutdown Randy Moss. In two games against the Jets, Moss had eight catches for 78 yards and one touchdown. Certainly not numbers up to the star receiver’s standards.

This offseason Revis called Moss out, calling him a “slouch”. Moss took the comments in stride but he has to want to prove the corner wrong.

Revis held out all of training camp, returned just in time for Week 1 but wasn’t in top game-shape, and has been nagged by a hamstring injury this week.

Moss needs to show up and burn Revis, making him look silly for deciding to hold out for more money instead of getting ready to face him.

Wes Welker needs to continue his incredible comeback

Welker’s 64 yards receiving and two touchdowns last week were surprising given that at the end of last year no one thought he would be available to play until, at the earliest, Week 6. His comeback from an ACL tear has been impressive, but he needs to continue to perform at a high level.

With Revis and Moss squaring off, Welker will get a good amount of attention from the rest of the Jets secondary. If he is playing well, he will open up the Jets defense for the rest of the offense.

The secondary needs to step up

The Bengals were down last week and needed to pass. The Patriots knew this, but they still couldn’t stop what was coming.

Carson Palmer threw for 345 yards and touchdowns, and Chad Ochocinco had 159 yards receiving. The Bengals have a large stable of receiving options, and Palmer is more experienced and confident than Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is, but Palmer was gunning the ball at will.

The Patriots secondary needs to improve. New York won’t have Santonio Holmes, but Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, and Dustin Keller can still be dangerous if the defense lets up.

The pass rush needs to be more present

The Patriots sacked Palmer only once in Week 1. That is not the way they wanted to start the season.

The Patriots need to attack the offensive line, specifically the left guard spot, where Matt Slauson and Vladimir Ducasse have been disastrous.

If they can get past whoever is starting there, collapse the pocket, and make Sanchez run for his life, it will be a very long, difficult, and frustrating day for the Jets.

Gary Guyton had a nice interception and return for a touchdown last week, and more of that can come with constant pressure, forcing Sanchez to make bad plays. And Sanchez will force the ball.

What happened to Stephen Gostowski?

The career 84 percent kicker missed two field goals last week, going 1-3 on the day.

The Jets defense did hold the Ravens offense to only ten points on the day, so it could very well come down to a field goal battle and more Gostowski misses could cost New England precious games in the standings.

Special teams boost

Gostowski had a bad game, but kick returner Brandon Tate more than made up for it. He had four kick returns for 184 yards—an average of 46 yards per return—and a touchdown.

The Patriots wasn’t very solid last year, so Tate’s contributions were huge.

Again, in a game that could be a defensive struggle, field position and special teams touchdowns would have a huge impact.

Utilize the tight ends

Last weekend, the Jets saw a heavy dose of Todd Heap, who caught six balls for 72 yards. His longest catch was for 35 yards, his longest since 2007, and he averaged 12 yards a catch (the last time Heap averaged 12 yards a catch—for the season—was in 2003). He also helped moved the chains, achieving five first downs.

The Jets made Heap look like a viable receiver once again, not something he has done the past few years.

The Patriots targeted rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez twice last week, making one catch for 45 yards. He has good hands and is smooth in the open field, looking more like a wide receiver.

New England has never been afraid to look at all their options on offense, so it might be beneficial to go to Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski more often.

Be smart

The Jets are frustrated. They also have a lot of guys more than willing to run their mouths. With such a big rivalry, the game could get very physical and chippy.

The Jets won’t be disciplined; last week they committed 14 penalties for 125 yards. That’s more yards than the running game or the passing game accumulated.

New England needs to play Patriot football. Don’t let the Jets players, or head coach Rex Ryan, get in their heads. Stay disciplined and don’t get into a battle of words. Let your game and the scoreboard do the talking.

Even then, it may not shut up Bart Scott.