Junc I think you're a good poster and you put up with a lot on this site but I have to call this post out.
Where do the Patriots need help on the oline? They could upgrade the Center position but they have good depth all around with several good players as starters. they don't have a position that's a liability right now like the Jets do at right tackle.
They could get younger at WR but even with the "no deep threat" they still were a top 3 scoring offense last year.
How in what way is Gronkowski a "time bomb?"
The secondary needs a FS, and they drafted a guy last year who has the ability to be very good at the position but needs to stay healthy. As far as losing pass-rushers go, they lost Mark Anderson but can still re-sign Carter. They have Cunningham coming back from injury and the coaching staff is high on Markell Carter from last year's draft. They also have the means to acquire several in the draft. Besides, the Jets pass rush was below average all last season and they can't and shouldn't count on Aaron Maybin to be anything more than a situational player at this point.
Wilfork is 31, dlineman are able to play at a high level well into there 30s.
Obviously Brady is a huge part of the Patriot's success but they also happen to have a good team around him. BB showed he could win without Brady with a an old and declining Patriots team in 2008 and the team overall is more talented at this point than it was 3 years ago.
Isn't Light retiring? You trust Connolly? Waters will be 35 this year. You don't think you have any question marks on the OL?
That RT started in the NE playoff game 2 years ago and the AFC title game. I do not expect him to be the starter, I think he's excellent depth and will not be starting but worst case the guy has proven he can play. He struggled last year but he has proven he can play.
They will always be a top scoring O in the reg season b/c of Brady but when you face better Ds w/o WR weapons and w/o a great run game it makes life more difficult in january as we have seen.
Carter, who was your best pass rusher, is coming off a big injury and since '06 he's been an every other year guy:
'06 6 sacks
'07 10.5
'08 4
'09 11
'10 2.5
'11 10
You are telling me you can count on him to be as effective as he was last year?
The Jets have needed a pass rusher since John Abraham but the jets D is a coverage and scheme D. You don't have the corners we have, that gives our pass rushers extra time which is why our sack #s haven't been bad despit no great pass rushers or pass rush.
In what way? dancing after the SB, partying on spring break like he's still a teenager, the porn star girl, the comments about Tebow. He's clearly not a stable man.
In 2008 NE had 16-0 talent the year before, they were immensely more talented in '08 around the QB than they are now and in '08 we all had incredibly weak schedules, don't be fooled by that year.
I never said anything about losing in the first round, but to call a division title "meaningless" is ignorant. It can mean the difference between playing on the road or at home in the playoffs. Rex Ryan (I know he was joking) asked teams to beat the Patriots in a press conference before the season began. He wants the Jets to be recognized as the class of the division; and while it doesn't guarantee a trip to the SB a home-playoff game/first round bye makes it easier.
it's meaningless if you are one and done. Which would you rather do? win division and lose in WC or div rd at home(first playoff game) or earn WC, win 2 playoff games and play for the right to go to the SB? There's no debate.
Again, I'd rather win the division and host games to get to the title game(and hopefully host a title game) but compared to losing your first playoff game there isn't a debate. The Jets were the best team in the division in '09 & '10 when it mattered most.
I think he's going to be a round for a long time. After the disappointing 09 season (when they made the playoffs nonetheless) the media killed BB and I remember a lot of fans online said the Brady/BB/Patriots reign had ran its course. One good draft later and they were back. A lot can change in a single offseason and while Rex and Jets FO had a down year last year I think they know what they need to do.
He doesn't have the track record of winning SBs like BB did at that point in time and he doesn't have Brady but Rex has clearly shown he knows how to coach. I am puzzled by people who think the Jets are going to run and hide b/c they finished 2011 so poorly. It's not like the Jets were 3-13, they had a bad year and still won 8 games. I have full confidence in rex and Tannenbaum to get this tam back to postseason this year and we'll see where it goes from there.