Hollywood Donahoe

Where did I say that? Both weren't called penalties because the refs typically let 'em play come January.

Actually, it wasn't a penalty two weeks earlier. On the infamous "tuck" play, Charles Woodson smacked Brady in the head. No flag.

You sound like someone trying to convince yourself of something...

You are correct, the Patriots have been probably the most injured team in the league since the start of the 2003 season. Anyone who thinks injuries will be their downfall hasn't been watching football the past four years. The Pats getting hurt more by injury in the future is a virtual impossibility.

No, but that's not what I said, was it? I was responding to the original poster's assertion that the Jets and the Bills were the only AFC East teams to improve "this past season," meaning the transition from '05 to '06. The 2004 Pats were a flat out dominating team - the best of the dynasty era. They were a missing Dillon in Pittsburgh and a late-game brain fart in Miami away from 19-0. The '05 team was lucky to make the playoffs. The D was decimated by injury and almost as bad as '02, and there simply wasn't a running game to speak of. I'd put this team slightly above the '02 team. The '06 team, to me, was almost as good as the '03 team, but not quite. Where'd ya come up with that innovate theory? '01-'04: Three Super Bowls '05-'06: No Super Bowls No sh-- they're struggling more since '04 - "more" is a relative term, and most things pale in comparison to dominance. By "contend for a title," I mean that prior to the season in question, the vast majority of reasonable people think that that a team has a very good chance to go to the Super Bowl. The Colts, to me, have been contending for titles since '03, even though they've only gotten as far as the AFCC game in two of those four years.

Wake me the first time it actually becomes a problem. The Patriots came within a few yards of the Super Bowl this year after an offseason in which their marquee pick-up was Reche Caldwell. The Redskins of the world continue to buy up all the free agents and get nothing to show for it, and the Patriots continue to draft well, stay out of bidding wars, and sign solid players who fit the system, and they keep winning. I really don't see any indications that that will change any time soon. The Patriots are going to contend for a title virtually every year until the Belichick/Pioli/Brady triumvirate is broken up.

Dude, it sucked the first time. No need to put us through it again.

Patriots in 2005: 10-6, eliminated in divisional round. Patriots in 2006: 12-4, eliminated in championship round. Why? Just 'cause?

That's how he always acts. He's good and plays for a division rival.

What have you to say about 2004, AKC, when Brady was a top-4 deep passer in the NFL? Brady has shown throughout his career that he can win in whatever type of offense he's asked to run, whether it be spread, WCO, dink-and-dunk, vertical, run-heavy, etc. What more would you ask of him?

Most receivers in the NFL would've caught both passes, including Reche Caldwell. It was a weird abberation. To use it as the sole reason the Patriots lost is absurd. They did so many things wrong in the second half, they would've figured a way to blow it even if Caldwell had caught that pass and taken it in for the TD.

When has that ever stopped AKC?

He always looks like that.

I can't speak for other Patriots fans, but I never said anything along those lines. I valued his contributions and felt he was terrific in big games, but I was not quite so effusive in my praise. The NFL didn't give up the pick and the money, Seattle did. He does? Those don't look like $39 million numbers to me. He's not average. Far from it. He's just not worth anywhere near $39 million.

All I'm saying is that with Branch on the team last year, the Patriots got knocked off in the divisional round. Without Branch this year, they lasted a round longer. I'll take that and a 1st rounder (and not having to use up $39 million on a guy whose production simply doesn't warrant it). One drop shouldn't lose you the game (the other drop was negated because they scored on the next play). Look, I was as pissed at anyone at Caldwell for the drops, but Branch being on the team wouldn't have won them this game, unless Branch could play safety, linebacker, call offensive plays, and ward off the flu.

The problem wasn't the drops, the problem was that they were passing that much in the first place. The Patriots ran the ball 5 times in the second half yesterday. They lost the game because they did the same thing they did when they played the Colts in November - they abandoned the run the second the Colts' offense began to click.

How far did the Patriots get with Branch last year? A lot of factors contributed to the Pats losing this game. Trading Branch was not one of them.

Can I join the club?

Florence head-butted Graham. Graham didn't head-butt Florence. Seems pretty straightforward. I thought the officials' explanation made sense - Tomlinson's hand was on Colvin's facemask, but he wasn't grasping it. The NE player was blocked into Rivers. You thought wrong: 3-13-SD29 (4:30) (Shotgun) T.Brady sacked at SD 36 for -7 yards (S.Phillips). FUMBLES (S.Phillips), touched at SD 37, recovered by NE-M.Light at SD 37. M.Light to SD 33 for 4 yards (L.Castillo). PENALTY on SD-D.Florence, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at SD 33. Either that, or they were actually paying attention and realized that the Patriots retained possession.

Bingo. The Patriots really need an infusion of young talent at the LB position.

The Patriots took Jackson very early in the 2nd round. The Seattle pick is #24. I see the Pats' most pressing early draft needs as DB, LB, and WR, so Samardzija is a definite possibility, especially with the Weis connection.

Have compensatory picks even been announced yet?

Psst...

Where did you hear that? As far as I'm aware, the only extra picks the Pats have are Seattle's 1st for Branch, a conditional 7th from Arizona for Brandon Gorin that could become a 6th, and an undisclosed pick from Cleveland for Ross Tucker that will probably be nothing since he didn't make their roster. You are correct about them having no 5th, though, since they traded it for Doug Gabriel.

Ah.... Don't worry, it happens to the best of us.