I will be more precise with my wording in this thread in the future because I know you're going to troll me if I don't. This is a fan thread, we're allowed to say ridiculous things based on emotions at times. But apparently you don't think that way. And I'm still pissed that you resorted to the old tactic of accusing me of not being a long-term fan. Whatever. I've said my piece.

Thanks, Toro.

"Clearly average" teams don't win week after week after week.

YTF, they haven't won week after week. They lost to super power Miami after squeaking by two of the worst teams in the league, Houston and Cleveland with miracles. This is in the last 4 weeks, with the injuries reaching epic proportions. When I say they are an average team, I'm saying right now, with the personel they have left.

My feeling is that there is not one team in the entire league, that they would cruise to victory against. These last two games are going to be very difficult, I just hope they can pull out at least one of them.

I guess I'm the last Pats fan left that doesn't hold them to this standard. That one incredible season where we blew out everyone we played has skewed expectations for this team beyond belief.

No I'm not using that standard. What I'm saying is that with the decimated roster that we have left, even against the bottom feeder teams, the games are a toss up.

Solder and Thompkins ruled out.

I am not excited about the prospect of Mankins at LT for a full game.

So basically you are saying we are like every other team in the league, save for maybe one or two. This is not enough to call us average. I doubt any team with Brady at QB would be average.

Just my opinion guys. I've got nothing but admiration for how they've hung in there, but I just don't have much confidence this team can make a run.

I dont want to put words in other peoples mouths but the from my point of view the comments about the team sucking or being average is moreso comparing them to previous patriot teams rather than the other teams in the league this year.

Yeah this team is still probly a top 10 team in the league this year but if you were to compare it right now to patriot teams of the last decade it would look pretty average.

Saying that, I still dont count them out of winning it all this year. Brady is most definately capable of going on a run and being unstoppable for 3-4 games in the postseason. BB is definately capable of putting together gameplans to stop other teams.

As an aside the whole "We are too spoiled" thing anything someone says anything negative about the time annoys me. Fact is we are spoiled. With Brady and Belichick i expect to be competing for a superbowl every year, so when i judge/rate the team i rate them against other teams in contention not every team in the league and compared to other teams in contention this year the pats are average.

I'll admit this has been the first time since Brady's terrible knee injury that I wasn't very confident we would go deep in the playoffs. Gronks injury was the catalyst for me this season. At this point I just want to get in the playoffs and see what happens. Still think we will pull it off.

That said, one of the best parts about the NFL is 1 big win is enough to change everyone's perspective about almost any team. If we somehow won big tomorrow, there's no team out there that would want to play us in the playoffs. This year could be Brady's biggest accomplishment ever if he somehow pulls off a deep run.

Define reasonable? They ain't gonna pay him half of what Amendola got.

Pretty decent chance they get a bye even if they lose tomorrow so if you define a deep run as making the AFCCG, they've got a great shot.

I dont see Edelman back with the Pats next year. I feel like some team will offer him a great deal and the Pats wont come close to matching it.

Of course not, Brady finally develops serious chemistry with a WR, why would they pay to keep him? Let him walk, Brady doesn't need continuity. Edelman isn't going to command that much on the open market (a 4/24 could probably get it done), if they let him walk then this whole FO is totally screwed up. And some of you seem perfectly fine with that. There is no reason to let Edelman walk, period. Don't even try to conjure up some BS argument about value calculations. If you do, then you're just slurping the BB kool-aid.

Just to be clear, as I was when I responded to your im, I never said anything about you not being a long term fan. You misunderstood. However, you've been overly negative as long as you've been in this thread. And obviously that's what I have a problem with.

It's gonna sound crazy to you guys and I know I'm overly optimistic but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the Pats blew the Ravens out today.

How bout the fact that they another player on the roster who has almost the same skill set? I don't know if they should let him go or not but that might be one reason they do. And for god's sake, if there's a fan that ISN'T drinking the BB kool-aid at this point, they're out of their god damn mind. He's earned it tens times over at this point.

This I agree with.

Are you talking about Amendola? If you are you are ignoring Edelmen's punt returning that is at league best level.

And would it be alright if some of us fans opted to drink the BB (coach) Kool-Aid but chose not to partake in the BB (GM) kool aid?

Yeah, that's why I said almost the same skill set. We would definitely miss his punt return skills as you're right that he's one of if not the best punt returner in the league.

As far as the second part, obviously that's your right to do that. It would just make you wrong. Look at the team he's put together this year if you minus out all the injuries. In terms of talent, top 3 in the NFL imo.

Wrong according to Goodie. I can live with that.

Wrong according to logic. Look at the product man.

The product is good because the guy is a genius coach. The old saying in football is that he will beat you with his players and if you switched he'd beat you with yours.

Fair enough. I disagree but that's a valid argument.

I've been as critical in years past as anyone itt regarding BB shopping for the groceries, but it's hard to fault him for the current team they're fielding. They were destined to be a legit top 5 team this year without the massive amount of injuries along with the AH thing. Kudos for still being a contender imo.