Patriots Next Year and Beyond...

[Rogue52]

I think this was all a master plan by Bill Belichick. Have his team go 18-0 just to lose the Super Bowl. Tick them off and then go on and win another three super bowls in the next three years.

/sarcasm

Ok, but seriously. What happens to the Patriots? Does Moss stay around? Do they revamp the defense?

 

[ISUFan22]

I think a loss fuels them more than a win. I certainly won't want to play them next year. Especially being they have an early first round pick (SF's pick from a trade) that I assume they'll trade down to get some extra picks.

If they can bring Asante and Randy back as well as adding some talented youth to the defense - they'll be the favorite again.

 

[rbrook]

I don't know. They are starting to show their age. I give them one or two more years before they will have to re-build. The Giants are a young team. Look for them to be a good team for the next few years.

 

[cycfan1]

If I remember right they were right on the edge of the cap. You factor in a top ten draft picks plus your other picks, theres no way they can sign both of them Samuel is going to look for Clement's 8/80 and Moss is going to want to cash in. I think first of all they need to get Moss back, but I don't know if they can afford it.

 

[rbrook]

If I remember right they were right on the edge of the cap. You factor in a top ten draft picks plus your other picks, theres no way they can sign both of them Samuel is going to look for Clement's 8/80 and Moss is going to want to cash in. I think first of all they need to get Moss back, but I don't know if they can afford it.

Moss is getting to an age where he is not going to get too many more opportunities to get a ring. I believe he will stick around.

 

[ripvdub]

They need to draft some young LB's. Seau, Bruski and co are old as ****.

Will Samuel resign with NE?!? Wasn't he tagged last year?

Feel bad for Ellis getting beat by Plaxico on that TD.

 

[cycfan1]

Samuel was tagged last year. He had a clause in his contract if they won over 12 games he could not get re-tagged again this year.

 

[Jables22]

See the Miami Heat in the NBA a few years ago (except they won the title). I think the Pats may have gone "all in" on this year and will pay for it the next few years.

Randy Moss is a front runner through and through. Everybody's singing when you're winning, let's see where he is when things get tough.

 

[Rogue52]

I was under the impression the Patriots had some cap room...

EDIT: It looks like the Patriots are about $11 Million under the salary cap. That isn't great but it isn't bad. Some creative tinkering and the Patriots will be fine.

 

[LindenCy]

Moss said in an interview with Jim Gray (?) that he would give Mr.Kraft a discount, but anyone else he would "break the bank."

 

[Cy Hard]

Brady said where Moss goes I go, so Moss will be back. Samuel, let him go if necessary. He's good but not the best. Concentrate on getting younger LB's to win it all.

 

[cyclonenum1]

One reason for the Pats recent success has been their willingness to not become too emotionally tied to players that have been key cogs as they age. Where most teams have often overpaid for these players...the Pats have unceremoniously dumped them.

The real question is will they be able to continue to draw in top players willing to work for "below market" salary just for the chance at "winning the ring"? I personally think that gravy train will stop if they cease to be a "sure fire" (or as close to one as you can get in the NFL) SB winner going forward.

 

[mj4cy]

The '72 Phins will come out of retirement and restore their power!

 

[Erik4Cy]

i think it will do one of two things to them: It makes them stronger like you suggest it might and it fuels them to go and win it all next year.

OR

it eats away at them and sucks the coinfidence right out of them and they don't get anywhere near the super bowl again next year, maybe even for awhile. Definitely should be interesting to wait and see how all those Pats respond to something that should be mentally draining upon a human being.

 

[BigDISU1]

When was the last time a losing team in the superbowl made it back a year later?

The Bills in 1994?

History is not on the side of the Pats...

Has there ever been a team to lose a superbowl and come back and win it the next year?

Edit: After a quick scan on the internet, I saw the Dolphins in Superbowl 6 lost and won in Superbowl 7 and the cowboys lost in Superbowl 5 and won in superbowl 6. The only 2 teams in NFL history to do it. hasnt been done in 35 years.

 

[isuarch80]

I don't know. They are starting to show their age. I give them one or two more years before they will have to re-build. The Giants are a young team. Look for them to be a good team for the next few years.

The Patriots won't be "rebuilding" any time soon - they are the best at finding role players to plug into their system, their entire team sans Samuel and Moss are signed, they have the #7 pick in the draft, they will be fine.

If I remember right they were right on the edge of the cap. You factor in a top ten draft picks plus your other picks, theres no way they can sign both of them Samuel is going to look for Clement's 8/80 and Moss is going to want to cash in. I think first of all they need to get Moss back, but I don't know if they can afford it.

I will almost guarantee (not quite put the house on it) that Moss is back in NE next year. Something like 4 yr/$25 mil or something, with a large signing bonus that they can pay off over the life of the contract. I don't see anyone paying him much more than that especially for a problem prone WR with 11 years on his tires already. Plus, they are amazing at getting guys to buy into them as much as they buy into the player. I truly believe Moss was happy this year, and will want to stay with a good QB, and even after last night, there's stlil only one other QB on the level of Brady (no QB plays well from his back!)
Samuel I can see leaving, just with how things went down last summer.