ScottLawrence
03-01-2004, 05:03 PM
This is an article from 1999.
Pats critical; major surgery is called for
Buddy Thomas
senior sports editor/columnist
The problem with the New England Patriots is mostly medical. WIn a sentence, this team needs a collective heart transplant because whatever heart these guys used to play with is gone.
The Patriots didn't just lose to Philadelphia last Sunday. They were slapped silly by, of all teams -- THE SEAGULLS! And nobody in a white uniform seemed to care.
It was embarrassing enough that the team quit before an in-house mix of wide-eyed fans and folded seats. But, to make matters worse, the Patriots gave up before a national television audience of football fans who -- in this area at least -- were forced to watch the only 1 p.m. game on television.
And what a spectacle it was. Heck, that game made soccer look exciting.
Losing is one thing. But giving up is quite another.
And the white flag was clearly flying late in the game when the New England offensive line walked slowly back to their respective positions during what was supposed to be a hurry-up series.
It was evident Ben Coates packed it in earlier than that when he merely stood up and watched blitzing defenders speed by on a direct route to a shell-shocked Drew Bledsoe.
And how 'bout the defense -- most notably linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer and cornerback Tebucky Jones. Each of them were credited with only one more tackle than BLEDSOE!
Sunday's loss -- New England's third in a row and sixth in seven games -- coupled with Buffalo's victory over Arizona, officially eliminated the Patriots from playoff contention.
It's been an ugly two months that promises to get even uglier over the next two weeks.
The Patriots have two games left before calling it a season. Unfortunately for them, both are at home where a mixture of boos and brews promise to create a very uncomfortable setting.
What happened to this team?
Is it a case of talented athletes underachieving? Or has this so-called talent been vastly overrated?
Is the problem off the playing field and along the sidelines? Or does it stretch all the way to the front office?
Or is it a combination of three of the four?
Obviously the team was talented enough to win its first four games -- albeit by a combined 19 points. But this same talent lost its next two by a total of three points. They've had one blowout win (27-3 at Arizona) and haven't been outscored by more than 15 points in any of the seven losses.
Bottom line. They are good enough to compete but not good enough to dominate.
They do have talent, but name one player good enough to even be considered for the Pro Bowl?
Bledsoe? Strong arm. Thick head. Slow feet. Tunnel vision when it comes to focusing on his receivers (he only sees the primary one).
Terry Glenn? Great speed. Good hands. Thicker head. A distraction to his teammates with his off-the-field antics.
Coates? Failing hands. Slower feet. Poor attitude. Chronic complainer.
Offensive line? Very offensive.
Defensive line? Very offensive.
Linebackers? A couple of solid ones in Slade and McGinest.
Secondary? Good (Law and Milloy) and bad (everybody else).
Kicking game? Solid.
Coaching? Bad.
Front office? Worse.
Recommendation?
Let Pete Carroll go as head coach and replace him with someone like Jaguars' defensive coordinator Dom Capers or Ram's offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
Show VP of Player Personnel Bobby Grier the door and cut or package Coates and Glenn in a deal to Cleveland that could bring a future No. 1 and other draft picks.
Cut a couple of defensive linemen and zero in on signing a big time free agent at that position.
Scr.ap the entire offensive line (except center Damien Woody) and start over.
Hope something catastrophic happens to the other four teams in the AFC East so the Patriots can compete for a spot in next year's playoffs.
Buddy Thomas' column appears on Thursday in The Standard-Times.
This Article Proves that Bledsoe hasn't been "good" since 1998. Thats very Pathetic, GOOD LUCK SAMMY!
Pats critical; major surgery is called for
Buddy Thomas
senior sports editor/columnist
The problem with the New England Patriots is mostly medical. WIn a sentence, this team needs a collective heart transplant because whatever heart these guys used to play with is gone.
The Patriots didn't just lose to Philadelphia last Sunday. They were slapped silly by, of all teams -- THE SEAGULLS! And nobody in a white uniform seemed to care.
It was embarrassing enough that the team quit before an in-house mix of wide-eyed fans and folded seats. But, to make matters worse, the Patriots gave up before a national television audience of football fans who -- in this area at least -- were forced to watch the only 1 p.m. game on television.
And what a spectacle it was. Heck, that game made soccer look exciting.
Losing is one thing. But giving up is quite another.
And the white flag was clearly flying late in the game when the New England offensive line walked slowly back to their respective positions during what was supposed to be a hurry-up series.
It was evident Ben Coates packed it in earlier than that when he merely stood up and watched blitzing defenders speed by on a direct route to a shell-shocked Drew Bledsoe.
And how 'bout the defense -- most notably linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer and cornerback Tebucky Jones. Each of them were credited with only one more tackle than BLEDSOE!
Sunday's loss -- New England's third in a row and sixth in seven games -- coupled with Buffalo's victory over Arizona, officially eliminated the Patriots from playoff contention.
It's been an ugly two months that promises to get even uglier over the next two weeks.
The Patriots have two games left before calling it a season. Unfortunately for them, both are at home where a mixture of boos and brews promise to create a very uncomfortable setting.
What happened to this team?
Is it a case of talented athletes underachieving? Or has this so-called talent been vastly overrated?
Is the problem off the playing field and along the sidelines? Or does it stretch all the way to the front office?
Or is it a combination of three of the four?
Obviously the team was talented enough to win its first four games -- albeit by a combined 19 points. But this same talent lost its next two by a total of three points. They've had one blowout win (27-3 at Arizona) and haven't been outscored by more than 15 points in any of the seven losses.
Bottom line. They are good enough to compete but not good enough to dominate.
They do have talent, but name one player good enough to even be considered for the Pro Bowl?
Bledsoe? Strong arm. Thick head. Slow feet. Tunnel vision when it comes to focusing on his receivers (he only sees the primary one).
Terry Glenn? Great speed. Good hands. Thicker head. A distraction to his teammates with his off-the-field antics.
Coates? Failing hands. Slower feet. Poor attitude. Chronic complainer.
Offensive line? Very offensive.
Defensive line? Very offensive.
Linebackers? A couple of solid ones in Slade and McGinest.
Secondary? Good (Law and Milloy) and bad (everybody else).
Kicking game? Solid.
Coaching? Bad.
Front office? Worse.
Recommendation?
Let Pete Carroll go as head coach and replace him with someone like Jaguars' defensive coordinator Dom Capers or Ram's offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
Show VP of Player Personnel Bobby Grier the door and cut or package Coates and Glenn in a deal to Cleveland that could bring a future No. 1 and other draft picks.
Cut a couple of defensive linemen and zero in on signing a big time free agent at that position.
Scr.ap the entire offensive line (except center Damien Woody) and start over.
Hope something catastrophic happens to the other four teams in the AFC East so the Patriots can compete for a spot in next year's playoffs.
Buddy Thomas' column appears on Thursday in The Standard-Times.
This Article Proves that Bledsoe hasn't been "good" since 1998. Thats very Pathetic, GOOD LUCK SAMMY!