General Boston Sports Thread

[31to6]

No, they absolutely do not. Just not factual whatsoever. Tons of high picks on the defensive side, plus GOATs at QB, and possibly TE. With a top 10 WR and a 1st round RB, and a top 5 o-line. They have made the Super Bowl 3 of the last 4 years and nearly all 4 of them. Usually after starting slow due to how complicated their schemes are. They got poached hard this offseason because salary cap era, but every one of those guys they let go was a good decision (Butler, Solder, Amendola, Lewis).

You have a top QB and TE for sure, after that it falls off a cliff. Same for your defense, after McCourty and Gilmore, the talent falls off a cliff severely. This is the most shallow patriots roster I’ve seen in a long time

They aren't AS stacked as they were last year, but I think some Pats fans are just spoiled. For starters, pure folly to judge any Pats team before Week 6 or so, as proven countless times over nearly an entire generation.

On defense, the secondary is probably top 5. Three of their four starters in the secondary are top notch, plus some solid subs and young CB prospects. LB corps is solid as well. DL getting pushed around, but not for a lack of "talent", per se. Trey Flowers is a fantastic player. Brown and Shelton are hardly lacking talent. Wise is playing very well.

Special teams elite, as always.

Offense, GOAT QB, possible GOAT TE, top 5 o-line, better RB talent than we have had in forever, WR corps was like the deepest position on the team until like a minute ago.

In sum, sure, lacking some depth right now, but also injured, and also early in the season. Not untalented by any stretch.

I always appreciate a positive spin but have no idea where this stuff in red comes from.

[Captain_Caveman]

You have a top QB and TE for sure, after that it falls off a cliff. Same for your defense, after McCourty and Gilmore, the talent falls off a cliff severely. This is the most shallow patriots roster I’ve seen in a long time

They aren't AS stacked as they were last year, but I think some Pats fans are just spoiled. For starters, pure folly to judge any Pats team before Week 6 or so, as proven countless times over nearly an entire generation.

On defense, the secondary is probably top 5. Three of their four starters in the secondary are top notch, plus some solid subs and young CB prospects. LB corps is solid as well. DL getting pushed around, but not for a lack of "talent", per se. Trey Flowers is a fantastic player. Brown and Shelton are hardly lacking talent. Wise is playing very well.

Special teams elite, as always.

Offense, GOAT QB, possible GOAT TE, top 5 o-line, better RB talent than we have had in forever, WR corps was like the deepest position on the team until like a minute ago.

In sum, sure, lacking some depth right now, but also injured, and also early in the season. Not untalented by any stretch.

I always appreciate a positive spin but have no idea where this stuff in red comes from.

Depends if we are talking about before or after injuries/suspension, I guess. Since the topic is Belichick's ability to have talent on the team, I would say before is what counts.

Starters who have missed time:
Edelman
Flowers
Chung
Cannon
Rowe
Michel

That's almost a third of our starters, including four guys who are very important for us. Best WR, Best DL, Best OL, plus Chung.

Key reserves who have missed time:
Wynn
Burkhead
Hill

In addition to their other duties, Chung and Edelman also two of our best PRs. We also had to cut Mitchell due to injuries.

Every team has injuries, but that is above average for this time of year. Including adding Gordon soon, we are still one of the most talented teams in the league.

[DoubleHappiness]

I disagree Brady has not looked sharp. He's not the thrower he once was sure. But his ability to get through reads quickly is unprecedented still. Pats WRs have not been getting open. AT ALL. He needs to hope JG can learn the playbook and stay clean so that Hogan and Gronk can get open easier.

[31to6]

They aren't AS stacked as they were last year, but I think some Pats fans are just spoiled. For starters, pure folly to judge any Pats team before Week 6 or so, as proven countless times over nearly an entire generation.

On defense, the secondary is probably top 5. Three of their four starters in the secondary are top notch, plus some solid subs and young CB prospects. LB corps is solid as well. DL getting pushed around, but not for a lack of "talent", per se. Trey Flowers is a fantastic player. Brown and Shelton are hardly lacking talent. Wise is playing very well.

Special teams elite, as always.

Offense, GOAT QB, possible GOAT TE, top 5 o-line, better RB talent than we have had in forever, WR corps was like the deepest position on the team until like a minute ago.

In sum, sure, lacking some depth right now, but also injured, and also early in the season. Not untalented by any stretch.

I always appreciate a positive spin but have no idea where this stuff in red comes from.

Depends if we are talking about before or after injuries/suspension, I guess. Since the topic is Belichick's ability to have talent on the team, I would say before is what counts.

Starters who have missed time:
Edelman
Flowers
Chung
Cannon
Rowe
Michel

That's almost a third of our starters, including four guys who are very important for us. Best WR, Best DL, Best OL, plus Chung.

Key reserves who have missed time:
Wynn
Burkhead
Hill

In addition to their other duties, Chung and Edelman also two of our best PRs. We also had to cut Mitchell due to injuries.

Every team has injuries, but that is above average for this time of year. Including adding Gordon soon, we are still one of the most talented teams in the league.

Are you high on Michel? I loved Lewis -- thought he screamed PLAYMAKER from the first time I saw him. Blount was really good for us before that. Burkhead's fine but not reliable.

If Cannon is our best lineman our line's not that good or (importantly) reliable. For like the 5th year out of 8 I hate our secondary. WR?? We lose guys -- including Mitchell -- this summer and the only 'depth' we had was a lot of guys 'trying to learn the system' through camp. I like what Patterson's shown in the return game obviously -- rest of special teams have been weak including not getting that offsides penalty on the Jags.

We're banking a lot on Gordon (sketchy bet, though glad they did it), on a team with public fractures growing by the day sticking together and getting coached up to be better than their talent level, and on finding gems in the rough for like the 17th straight year. Not saying it can't or won't happen. Just not feeling very rosy right now, partly because we started with what felt like a sketchy talent level and it's already as you said pretty banged up.

[Captain_Caveman]

I always appreciate a positive spin but have no idea where this stuff in red comes from.

Depends if we are talking about before or after injuries/suspension, I guess. Since the topic is Belichick's ability to have talent on the team, I would say before is what counts.

Starters who have missed time:
Edelman
Flowers
Chung
Cannon
Rowe
Michel

That's almost a third of our starters, including four guys who are very important for us. Best WR, Best DL, Best OL, plus Chung.

Key reserves who have missed time:
Wynn
Burkhead
Hill

In addition to their other duties, Chung and Edelman also two of our best PRs. We also had to cut Mitchell due to injuries.

Every team has injuries, but that is above average for this time of year. Including adding Gordon soon, we are still one of the most talented teams in the league.

Are you high on Michel? I loved Lewis -- thought he screamed PLAYMAKER from the first time I saw him. Blount was really good for us before that. Burkhead's fine but not reliable.

If Cannon is our best lineman our line's not that good or (importantly) reliable. For like the 5th year out of 8 I hate our secondary. WR?? We lose guys -- including Mitchell -- this summer and the only 'depth' we had was a lot of guys 'trying to learn the system' through camp. I like what Patterson's shown in the return game obviously -- rest of special teams have been weak including not getting that offsides penalty on the Jags.

We're banking a lot on Gordon (sketchy bet, though glad they did it), on a team with public fractures growing by the day sticking together and getting coached up to be better than their talent level, and on finding gems in the rough for like the 17th straight year. Not saying it can't or won't happen. Just not feeling very rosy right now, partly because we started with what felt like a sketchy talent level and it's already as you said pretty banged up.

There is no way you resign Lewis at the money he got. Can't stay healthy, and already have similar, superior, cheaper players in White and Burkhead. Good luck to him, though. Ditto for Butler, Solder, and Amendola, all of whom also got stupid money.

After nearly 20 years, I am going to posit this crazy theory that Belichick doesn't actually give that much of a **** about the early games, as long as his team stays healthy and he has a core group of stars and no-names that he feels he can coach up over the course of the season. And by nobodies, I mean guys like Brady, Edelman, Butler, Ninkovich, etc...

Do the math. Pats are like .600 in September/October, .700 in November, and .800 in December and January. They will dump alleged stalwarts like Milloy, Collins, and Moss in the early season and just keep rolling. There are more dead bodies on the field of early season Patriots haters than their are at Gettysburg. Take heed, is all I am saying.

[DoubleHappiness]

Depends if we are talking about before or after injuries/suspension, I guess. Since the topic is Belichick's ability to have talent on the team, I would say before is what counts.

Starters who have missed time:
Edelman
Flowers
Chung
Cannon
Rowe
Michel

That's almost a third of our starters, including four guys who are very important for us. Best WR, Best DL, Best OL, plus Chung.

Key reserves who have missed time:
Wynn
Burkhead
Hill

In addition to their other duties, Chung and Edelman also two of our best PRs. We also had to cut Mitchell due to injuries.

Every team has injuries, but that is above average for this time of year. Including adding Gordon soon, we are still one of the most talented teams in the league.

Are you high on Michel? I loved Lewis -- thought he screamed PLAYMAKER from the first time I saw him. Blount was really good for us before that. Burkhead's fine but not reliable.

If Cannon is our best lineman our line's not that good or (importantly) reliable. For like the 5th year out of 8 I hate our secondary. WR?? We lose guys -- including Mitchell -- this summer and the only 'depth' we had was a lot of guys 'trying to learn the system' through camp. I like what Patterson's shown in the return game obviously -- rest of special teams have been weak including not getting that offsides penalty on the Jags.

We're banking a lot on Gordon (sketchy bet, though glad they did it), on a team with public fractures growing by the day sticking together and getting coached up to be better than their talent level, and on finding gems in the rough for like the 17th straight year. Not saying it can't or won't happen. Just not feeling very rosy right now, partly because we started with what felt like a sketchy talent level and it's already as you said pretty banged up.

There is no way you resign Lewis at the money he got. Can't stay healthy, and already have similar, superior, cheaper players in White and Burkhead. Good luck to him, though. Ditto for Butler, Solder, and Amendola, all of whom also got stupid money.

After nearly 20 years, I am going to posit this crazy theory that Belichick doesn't actually give that much of a **** about the early games, as long as his team stays healthy and he has a core group of stars and no-names that he feels he can coach up over the course of the season. And by nobodies, I mean guys like Brady, Edelman, Butler, Ninkovich, etc...

Do the math. Pats are like .600 in September/October, .700 in November, and .800 in December and January. They will dump alleged stalwarts like Milloy, Collins, and Moss in the early season and just keep rolling. There are more dead bodies on the field of early season Patriots haters than their are at Gettysburg. Take heed, is all I am saying.

Agree with some of your post. In no way is Rex a superior player to D. Lewis though. White is good, but he doesn't possess the gamebreaking ability of Lewis either. I actually am high(ish) on Michel, as he seems to have the best vision on the team. He's lacking a bit in being dynamic, but he looks like a decent NFL starting RB.

[BillTheGOAT]

Injuries are piling up for the Patriots. Rex Burkhead and Jawan Bentley placed on IR. Burkhead for a neck injury and Bentley still unknown. So they will miss at least week 4 through week 12, could be back by the week after thanksgiving in the best case.

[ViperGTS]

Injuries are piling up for the Patriots. Rex Burkhead and Jawan Bentley placed on IR. Burkhead for a neck injury and Bentley still unknown. So they will miss at least week 4 through week 12, could be back by the week after thanksgiving in the best case.

Burkhead is finished. Bentley is odd since no one knows. Still, hurts.

[31to6]

Depends if we are talking about before or after injuries/suspension, I guess. Since the topic is Belichick's ability to have talent on the team, I would say before is what counts.

Starters who have missed time:
Edelman
Flowers
Chung
Cannon
Rowe
Michel

That's almost a third of our starters, including four guys who are very important for us. Best WR, Best DL, Best OL, plus Chung.

Key reserves who have missed time:
Wynn
Burkhead
Hill

In addition to their other duties, Chung and Edelman also two of our best PRs. We also had to cut Mitchell due to injuries.

Every team has injuries, but that is above average for this time of year. Including adding Gordon soon, we are still one of the most talented teams in the league.

Are you high on Michel? I loved Lewis -- thought he screamed PLAYMAKER from the first time I saw him. Blount was really good for us before that. Burkhead's fine but not reliable.

If Cannon is our best lineman our line's not that good or (importantly) reliable. For like the 5th year out of 8 I hate our secondary. WR?? We lose guys -- including Mitchell -- this summer and the only 'depth' we had was a lot of guys 'trying to learn the system' through camp. I like what Patterson's shown in the return game obviously -- rest of special teams have been weak including not getting that offsides penalty on the Jags.

We're banking a lot on Gordon (sketchy bet, though glad they did it), on a team with public fractures growing by the day sticking together and getting coached up to be better than their talent level, and on finding gems in the rough for like the 17th straight year. Not saying it can't or won't happen. Just not feeling very rosy right now, partly because we started with what felt like a sketchy talent level and it's already as you said pretty banged up.

There is no way you resign Lewis at the money he got. Can't stay healthy, and already have similar, superior, cheaper players in White and Burkhead. Good luck to him, though. Ditto for Butler, Solder, and Amendola, all of whom also got stupid money.

After nearly 20 years, I am going to posit this crazy theory that Belichick doesn't actually give that much of a **** about the early games, as long as his team stays healthy and he has a core group of stars and no-names that he feels he can coach up over the course of the season. And by nobodies, I mean guys like Brady, Edelman, Butler, Ninkovich, etc...

Do the math. Pats are like .600 in September/October, .700 in November, and .800 in December and January. They will dump alleged stalwarts like Milloy, Collins, and Moss in the early season and just keep rolling. There are more dead bodies on the field of early season Patriots haters than their are at Gettysburg. Take heed, is all I am saying.

I’ve learned my lesson to not bury the Pats; some day the wheels will come off and when they do Kraft, Belichick and Brady probably all go — just saying that going into the season we didn’t seem particularly stacked, certainly not to my eye like what I highlighted in red. There’s good reasons for that (I wouldn’t have matched for Amendola or Lewis either), but it was what it was and now our **** injuries are what they are. At least we have draft picks I guess.

But it’s been one of the greatest stretches for any sports team ever. Amazing to get to watch it. Hope they pull a 180 this weekend and it keeps rolling.

[mbsnmisc]

Speaking from a Dolphins fan perspective, Brady/Belly Check are still the best in the game. The Phins have been ok in the games we attack Brady, but those WR screens are hard to stop. This Dolphins team is fast, on offense and defense. Tannehill/Gase are 11-5 in their last 16 games. I am not a betting man, especially against you guys at home, but this Miami team is different, Gase has gotten rid of the deadwood and molded a team that plays hard and does not quit.
I hope no one gets hurt on Sunday. My prediction: Mia 23 NE 17.

[canman1971]

Speaking from a Dolphins fan perspective, Brady/Belly Check are still the best in the game. The Phins have been ok in the games we attack Brady, but those WR screens are hard to stop. This Dolphins team is fast, on offense and defense. Tannehill/Gase are 11-5 in their last 16 games. I am not a betting man, especially against you guys at home, but this Miami team is different, Gase has gotten rid of the deadwood and molded a team that plays hard and does not quit.
I hope no one gets hurt on Sunday. My prediction: Mia 23 NE 17.

I know this Miami team is different and so are the Pats. However, I feel like I have read this book before. Phins riding high, some great cautious optimism, and then...BAM!!!! Pats win 38-3. And I've been a Phins fan since I was 12 (1983). That being said it won't mean either team is better, nor have addressed their problems.

[K For Three]

Not going to lie, I am slightly nervous about the Yankees in regards to the postseason.

[K For Three]

Speaking from a Dolphins fan perspective, Brady/Belly Check are still the best in the game. The Phins have been ok in the games we attack Brady, but those WR screens are hard to stop. This Dolphins team is fast, on offense and defense. Tannehill/Gase are 11-5 in their last 16 games. I am not a betting man, especially against you guys at home, but this Miami team is different, Gase has gotten rid of the deadwood and molded a team that plays hard and does not quit.
I hope no one gets hurt on Sunday. My prediction: Mia 23 NE 17.

You could be right, we'll see. The thing that worries me is the Pats speed. I admit I have not watched any Dolphins yet but I keep hearing they are fast and well the Pats at times can look as slow as my parents.

[truth18]

Let's goooooooooooooo.

[Feed Your Head]

Told y'all, Sony is going to be awesome. I can understand questioning the defense coming into today, but worries about the offense were crazy.

Trey Flowers is that defenses Horford, makes everybody around him much better without putting up huge numbers himself.

[K For Three]

Barring a monumental collapse, the Patriots will win today and then again vs. the Colts on Thursday. Then a long week off to prepare for the Chiefs game, which will be huge for seeding later on.

Then comes the question now, are the Pats just simply a lot better at home? Recent two losses were on the road.

[threrf23]

Then comes the question now, are the Pats just simply a lot better at home? Recent two losses were on the road.

The two losses were against Tom Coughlin and Matt Patricia.

[K For Three]

Then comes the question now, are the Pats just simply a lot better at home? Recent two losses were on the road.

The two losses were against Tom Coughlin and Matt Patricia.

Good point. Patricia pulled a Mangini on us and Coughlin well, that record speaks for itself.

Need homefield though over Jags/Chiefs later on.


Also, can this team beat the Rams? I always hate that there are those one or two NFC teams that look lethal but I am getting ahead of myself.

[mbsnmisc]

Speaking from a Dolphins fan perspective, Brady/Belly Check are still the best in the game. The Phins have been ok in the games we attack Brady, but those WR screens are hard to stop. This Dolphins team is fast, on offense and defense. Tannehill/Gase are 11-5 in their last 16 games. I am not a betting man, especially against you guys at home, but this Miami team is different, Gase has gotten rid of the deadwood and molded a team that plays hard and does not quit.
I hope no one gets hurt on Sunday. My prediction: Mia 23 NE 17.

Well...that was a slight miscalculation. The B/B combination is still the Gold standard.

[ViperGTS]

Speaking from a Dolphins fan perspective, Brady/Belly Check are still the best in the game. The Phins have been ok in the games we attack Brady, but those WR screens are hard to stop. This Dolphins team is fast, on offense and defense. Tannehill/Gase are 11-5 in their last 16 games. I am not a betting man, especially against you guys at home, but this Miami team is different, Gase has gotten rid of the deadwood and molded a team that plays hard and does not quit.
I hope no one gets hurt on Sunday. My prediction: Mia 23 NE 17.

Well...that was a slight miscalculation. The B/B combination is still the Gold standard.

Yeah that was a pretty good “get well” game for the Pats. Same old same old. Not good for the Phins going forward.