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Patriots Will Work Hard To Fix Flaws

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2008

TAMPA - The New England Patriots have come full circle within a calendar year, still hacked off at their inability to close the deal and determined to make opponents pay for the embarrassment.

Last season, the Pats couldn't hang on to a 21-3 advantage at Indianapolis in the AFC title game, triggering a dynamic spring awakening that yielded linebacker Adalius Thomas and wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

That stunning Super Bowl setback against the Giants two weeks ago could lead to significant offseason changes once again, despite a flirtation with perfection.

Moss and Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel head the list of New England's potential free agents, but it's hard to imagine Moss leaving Tom Brady's side.

There's a better chance Gisele and Tom will split before Randy and Tom part company. The partnership was too productive last year as Brady set an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes and Moss displaced Jerry Rice with a single-season standard of 23 scoring receptions.

"If I am in a New England Patriot uniform next year, I would love to be in one," Moss said. "If not, you know, the show must go on."

Moss can be moody, disruptive and cryptic, but he's not dumb.

Moving on after a spectacular year with Brady would be dumb. For their part, the Patriots know how the presence of Moss opened up space for Welker, Donte' Stallworth, Jabar Gaffney and tight end Ben Watson.

With Moss serving as catalyst, the Patriots became the first NFL team to score 75 touchdowns in a season, so Coach Bill Belichick, personnel guru Scott Pioli and even Brady, himself, will do what's necessary to keep Moss happy.

Samuel is probably gone, and this may be a case of buyer beware.

With 16 interceptions in the past two seasons, Samuel has proven himself to be an elite corner in New England's defensive scheme. But let's not confuse him with Champ Bailey or Charles Woodson - defensive backs with the ball skills and instincts to excel in any system.

Samuel is looking to break the bank and he may find another team willing to fork over the kind of money the 49ers shelled out for Nate Clements last year.

If that's the case, the Patriots will show Samuel the door and promote 25-year-old Randall Gay.

Look for ex-Hurricane standout Brandon Meriweather to see far more playing time at safety in his second pro season as Belichick looks to upgrade a secondary that yielded two fourth-quarter scoring passes against Eli Manning in the Super Bowl.

While those troubling tapes may have been destroyed, New England's mystique remains intact and rather intimidating.

These guys simply handle free agency and the draft better than anyone else.

And with the seventh overall pick (thank you, 49ers), the Patriots could pluck off the first linebacker chosen, perhaps Penn State's Dan Connor, who offers the football intellect and leadership cocktail Belichick craves at the position.

The Pats sorely need a youthful injection at linebacker, given the age of Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau, although Belichick could challenge conventional wisdom and try to squeeze out a few more quality seasons from 34-year-old Zach Thomas, just dumped by Miami.

If the Patriots are unimpressed with the draft's linebacker prospects, they could use the No. 7 pick to grab Mike Jenkins, a tall, rangy corner from the University of South Florida who might thrive as a pro under Belichick's tutelage.

Patriot haters, get ready to rumble.

The hurt from the Super Bowl loss won't ever go away. The Pats aren't going away, either, a concession 31 NFL teams offer up grudgingly, but unanimously.

As long as Brady remains healthy, New England should remain unchallenged in the depressed AFC East, where Brady's counterparts this fall could be Trent Edwards (Bills), John Beck (Dolphins) and Kellen Clemens (Jets).

Perfect, those gentlemen are not.

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