The Patriot Way
Sean Fevrier details what the New England Patriots have done this off-season to keep on keepin’ on.
The New England Patriots were down 28–3 late in the third quarter of Super Bowl 51 against a talented (albeit young) Atlanta Falcons defence, spotlighted by linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. However, thanks to the expertise of the Patriots’ brain-trust and legendary quarterback Tom Brady, they won in overtime 34–28 in one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.
Yes, I said sports history. Deal with it.
The scary thing is that they might have just gotten even better. The highlight, of course, is that they have a motivated and healthy Tom Brady returning for yet another season. He’s coming off an excellent campaign in which he posted amazing numbers (3,554 passing yards with 28 touchdowns while throwing just two regular season interceptions in 12 games). He had the second highest quarterback rating of his career with 112.2, behind only his immaculate 2007 season. He officially has the most Super Bowl victories for a quarterback with five, and he seems to have lost no momentum as he approaches the big 4–0 in age.
As of March 13th, 4:49 PM EST, the Patriots have lost three key players to free agency: cornerback Logan Ryan (who made his way to the Tennessee Titans), defensive end Jabaal Sheard (moving to another AFC team to the Indianapolis Colts), and tight end Martellus Bennett (trading in Tom the Great to Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay). Defensive end Chris Long has made it known that he will not be returning to New England in search of a bigger role (though he played his role magnificently during the playoff run). Star linebacker and captain Dont’a Hightower recently re-upped with the team.
The Patriots have made four acquisitions. In classic Belichick fashion, they were discrete, impactful, and had just a of genius.
First, they picked up pass-catching tight end Dwayne Allen from the Colts and a sixth-round draft pick for a fourth-round draft pick.
Allen came out of Clemson University having been recognized as the most outstanding college tight end in 2011 and was promptly selected into the 2012 NFL draft by the Colts in the third round. This previous season, Allen picked up 406 receiving yards and 6 scores in 14 games. After five seasons with the Colts, he will look to replace the departed Martellus Bennett as the back-up tight end to Rob Gronkowski, who will be returning from back surgery.
The first signing the Patriots made was snatching cornerback Stephon Gilmore away from divisional foe Buffalo Bills. Gilmore inked a five-year, $65 million contract and replaces the departed Logan Ryan. The Patriots have a corner group of Gilmore, Super Bowl 49 hero Malcolm Butler, Eric Rowe, and second-year Cyrus Jones. Gilmore, at 6’1, brings some height to the Patriots’ secondary, something they have seriously lacked in the past.
The Patriots’ traded with the Carolina Panthers for 6’4, 275 lbs defensive end Kony Ealy, sending their second-round draft pick. They also picked up a third-round pick. Ealy is best known for starring in Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos in a losing effort. He tied the record for most sacks in the Super Bowl with three. The Patriots get a quality replacement for the departing Jabaal Sheard.
Last, but certainly not least, the Patriots’ won the Brandin Cooks sweepstakes, acquiring the wide receiver and a fourth-round draft pick for a first-round draft pick and a third-round draft pick. Cooks is coming off two consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, including a career-high 1,173 yards to go along with eight touchdowns. In Cooks, the Patriots’ get a deep zone threat with his electric speed too go along with the best tight end in the game and two quality receivers in Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan. The Pats now have four quality targets for the greatest quarterback of all time.
Tom Brady is going to be 40 and still slinging the rock with the best of them. Brady to Cooks is going to be the coolest thing (aside from Gronkowski, because who doesn’t love to see that man rumble down the field) since Randy Moss was in blue, red, and white. The Patriots’ defense is (barring Hightower returning) is going to be excellent. So long as the brain-trust trio of head coach Bill Belichick, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia remain, the Patriots aren’t done yet.
Sean Fevrier is a sports writer for theocho.ca, perennial 5th place in most fantasy football leagues and Tom Brady worshiper. You can always find him running five minutes late for class. Follow the mayhem that is Sean on Twitter at @seanfevrier.
