Season’s Meanings: Oh where art thou Patriots?
This season wasn’t a complete waste. For the New England Patriots, I think, it was a pretty humbling experience. For the fans, I think it was a very violent, rough and painful wake up call. Having the ability to follow the team the entire season and being able to go to all home games this season, I saw first hand how unsatisfied fans were this time around. Fans were yelling, crying and leaving before the end of the game. This actually happened more than once in the 2009 season. What happened to the New England Patriots?
We drafted well for the most part. Picked up an offensive sleeper in the 7th round (Julian Edelman) and a handful of pretty useful defensive weapons as well (Darius Butler, Patrick Chung). We had Tom Brady back, healthy, kinda. Defense seemed hopeful just no Bruschi, Harrison or Seymour. Hell, who am I kidding. The team suffered a lot without these three players. Call it a rebuilding year or whatever, there was a spirit that was missing with the New England Patriots that newly acquired players just couldn’t put back.
:(
So what does this even leave up for discussion? With an uncapped season coming, there is no doubt that the Patriots are going to do what they’ve done before: keep everyone guessing. I have a few ideas on who would be a great fit.
Idea #1: Brandon Marshall, WR Denver Broncos
Well this needs very little explaining. Wes Welker is out for the next year or so and there is no guarantee that when he does return, he’ll be at 100%. Brandon Marshall is a hell of a receiver, especially when he feels like doing his job.
Marshall finished the season with 1,120 yards and 10 touchdown catches. This is him at like 60%..40% of the time. Read that again, I promise it makes sense. He’d be a great addition to the Patriots even if just for the fact of giving Randy Moss some breathing room. I’m pretty sure that BB can get Marshall to play 100% without having to hug during a press conference to prove that they don’t hate each other.
Idea #2: Julius Peppers, DE Carolina Panthers
Before the season began last year, I had many discussions with people about the idea of picking up Julius Peppers. I even threw some headline ideas with my little brother about it.
- Fresh Peppers? Yes, Please
- Peppers adds Spice to Defense
You know, all that fun stuff. Eventually the Patriots didn’t pick up Peppers and he signed a one-year contract with the Panthers where he was guaranteed $16.7 million in 2009. Obviously the Patriots were not flirting with the idea of paying the 2nd overall pick of the 2002 Draft that kind of money. Peppers, I think is the riskiest pick that the Patriots would make as it would be very uncharacteristic of them to invest that much a big name player. 42 tackles and five forced fumbles in 2009-2010. Not exceptional numbers but his biggest contribution to the Patriots would be much more. He’ll bring to the team what was left vacant after Rodney Harrison left. The defensive leader. The one that rookies feared. The one that made sure that mistakes, if they were EVER made, were addressed and disciplined right on the sidelines. This wasn’t evident this season and I think Julius Peppers can definitely do the job. Plus he would give Randy Moss’s burly beard some competition. That would be amazing.
Those are my ideas so far. Not original, I know but I think they would prove to add some moral and competitive depth to the struggling Patriots. It’s not longer the Tom Brady show anymore and the 2010 season was the harsh proof.
Alright, first things first: back off Brandon Marshall. He may, if not is, the best thing in Denver right now. Think about it, i mean try and name another reciever on the Broncos without second guessing yourself to make sure he is actually on the team. Secondly, you should talk about the “no salary cap” that’s coming up and the Super Bowl and how the Pro Bowl is still not that extravagent. Though all in all, this was a neat article, i feel like you may not want to pick up Julius Peppers because he is old. It’d be like signing Joe Montana because you want leadership, i can tell im a doctor. Well this will be it for now, but i’ll discuss more topics later. FIN
Brandon Stockley? He’s on the Broncos right? What has happened to your team man? They used to be a legitimate threat. Brandon Marshall would be a great fit in New England especially since Wes Welker is in recovery mode and Randy Moss is getting quadruple coverage EVERYTIME.
And Julius Peppers’ age doesn’t scare the Patriots, the older, the better.
Nope, Brandon Stockely isn’t but Brandon Stokely is. They hired someone from the Patriots and realized that no one from that organization is good unless they are STILL with the Patriots. For example, Josh McDaniels only makes headlines for messing things up, Mike Vrabel and Matt Cassel? uh…? Richard Seymour only makes headlines with the Raiders because of what he did with the Patriots, and remember Willie McGinest? Yeah, he is still playing with the Browns. I think that’s everyone? oh! almost forgot Deion Branch, five dollars for naming where he is now!
Adam Vinatieri? he’s been injury-plagued and he’s a kicker… really? Charlie Weis successfully ruined Notre Dame, Ty Law? Corey Dillon? Drew Bledsoe? Troy Brown? Daniel Graham is with the Broncos and he’s as useful as a sack of potatoes… All this evidence is kinda scary… Awkward…
I’m in remission about the Broncos for the moment