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NFL 2006: New England Patriots

The New England Patriots dynasty ended last season in the NFL playoffs when Denver posted a 27-13 victory at Mile High. That loss ended a streak that may not be repeated in the era of free agency.

The Beantown boys captured three Super Bowl championships in four years and snapped the Miami Dolphins’ consecutive winning streak in the process. Who would have thought it could happen in these times?

Last season, injuries, illnesses and a 338-point defense left the Patriots at 10-6, still good enough for the AFC East crown, but not good enough for home advantage. With a solid draft and some healthy veterans returning, Bill Belichick and the boys are looking to revert to their old ways and become Super Bowl contenders.

Offense – Starts and ends with Tom Brady. We all know the story by now. The sixth-round pick does well and leads the team to three world titles. In 2005, Brady showed that he is not only a good leader, but also an excellent quarterback. The Michigan graduate led the NFL in passing yards (4,110), while completing 63 percent of his passes to complete 26 touchdowns.

Brady is the main gear of the Belichick engine. He understands the system, he’s like a coach on the field: he dissects the defense and knows what each person on his team and opponents is supposed to do. The Patriots better pray he doesn’t get hurt or the season is over. Matt Cassel and Cody Bramlett are the alternates. Oh Lord!

Corey Dillon had an injury-prone 2005 season. He didn’t get to 1,000 yards (733), but he did find the end zone (12 TDs. He’s back healthy and with some competition, so that should get him going. New England selected Minnesota’s Lawrence Maroney to be the future star. de la Dillon is not a spring hen and Maroney runs strong and powerful, just like old Cory Dillon. Don’t be surprised if Maroney becomes the featured running back this season. Kevin Faulk returns as third running back.

The Patriots are fortunate to have two solid fullbacks on the roster: starter Patrick Pass and backup Heath Evans. Both are seasoned veterans who can block, run, and catch passes effectively.

New England lost the services of David Givens, but responded by signing Reche Caldwell from San Diego and selecting Florida standout Chad Jackson in the second round of the draft. Deion Branch (78-998-5) returns as Brady’s primary target, but he has been a distraction, threatening to be left out of training camp unless his contract is redone. Timeless wonder Troy Brown (39-466-2) returns to add depth and experience.

The tight end position is a strength for the Patriots and only got stronger with the pick of Garrett Mills from Tulsa. Mills is an excellent receiver and solid blocker who was a fullback in college. It has excellent potential as an H-Back. Ben Watson (29-441-6) and Daniel Graham (16-225-3) are a solid 1-2 hit.

The line is a stable group with Tom Ashworth as the only deceased member. Dan Koppen returns to center with Stephen Neal and 2005 NFL rookie Logan Mankins at guard; with Matt Light and Brandon Gorin pressing the left and right tackle slots. Russ Hochstein, Nick Kaczur and rookie Ryan O’Callaghan provide depth.

Defense: Defense faltered a bit in 2005, but that was more to injury than lack of skill. Eric Mangini has left and new coordinator Dean Pees hopes to bring the defense back to the level of the past in the Super Bowl.

The defensive line returns intact with Ty Warren and Richard Seymour at defensive end and Vince Wilfork at the nose. Jarvis Green and Marquise Hill provide backup in the final grooves. For some unknown reason, Belichick decided to negotiate with New Orleans to land underperforming player Johnathan Sullivan. He did not disappoint being arrested recently, which did not sit well with Patriot bosses.

The linebacker corps took a hit when Willie McGinest was fired for salary-cap reasons. Big mistake! McGinest is a hard worker who rushes with every play. He is also a leader in the locker room that we will miss. Still, all is not lost. Tedy Bruschi is back at 100 percent and along with Mike Vrabel (108 tackles, 4.5 sacks), they make a terrifying inside tandem. Roosevelt Colvin (seven sacks) returns on the outside with Tully Banta-Cain replacing McGinest. Monty Beisel, free agent Barry Gardner and Don Davis provide depth.

High school was downright lousy at times last season. The unit had just 10 interceptions in 2005, one of the worst starts in the league and needs improvement. The good news is strong safety Rodney Harrison is back healthy after an injury-plagued season. He’s starting to show his age, but he’s still one of the best SS he’s ever played. Eugene Wilson occupies the free safety position, while Tebucky Jones and Artrell Hawkins are capable substitutes.

Starting corners Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs led the team with three picks each, but will be pressured by Chad Scott and longtime free agent Eric Warfield, a longtime starter at Kansas City.

Special teams: The biggest off-season news for New England was with their special teams. Super Bowl hero Adam Vinatieri and returnees Bethel Johnson and Tim Dwight were not retained. Bad news for Patriots fans. Vinatieri’s decision is a complete mystery to me. How can you ditch possibly the best clutch kicker in NFL history and think Martin Gramatica is an improvement? Amazing!

Josh Miller (45.1) returns as kicker. Hobbs will replace Johnson as kick returner and Brown will return to return punts. Rookie Stephen Gostkwoski was hired to challenge Gramatica.

Outlook: There have been big losses in New England (McGinest, Givens, Vinatieri) but the players love Belichick’s system and respond well to it. He’s exceptionally good at evaluating talent and how it fits into that system. The Patriots have declined since their Super Bowl career, but with Brady and a strong, experienced group, New England should hold off Miami and win another East title.

Prediction: The Patriots retain a promising Dolphin team to win another division crown. They will lose a game or two without Vinatieri and finish 10-6 or 11-5.

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