Patriots eager to start anew
Two-time defending AFC champions put offseason behind
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – There is nothing permanent except change. It was the wise and
ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus who first uttered those words all those eons ago. Although
he didn’t have the status of the Patriots in mind, his words certainly apply.
“That’s the thing I’ve learned in this league — nothing really stays the same,” eight-year veteran
Devin McCourty said. “You get older, you’re still trying to play the game at the same level. That has its own challenges — you got family, you got kids. So nothing in the game or outside
of the game really stays the same, but you continue to want to stay and play at a high level.”
That again will be the challenge for New England. But it was an offseason unlike any other for the Patriots, and certainly far different from the previous offseason.
Unlike the euphoria sparked by their historic comeback win over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI, their loss to Philadelphia in February made for a trying offseason.
But this was about more than the Super Bowl loss. It seemed as if cracks began to show in the concrete-like foundation of stability and consistency on which owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick have built their dynasty over the past two decades.
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady opted to skip the voluntary portions of offseason
workouts for the first time, despite being healthy, as he enters his 19th season, amid reports that his relationship with the organization, specifically Belichick, had become strained.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski also sat out the voluntary portions of offseason workouts while pondering whether he would retire and seeking to have his contract restructured.
Wide receiver Julian Edelman was hit with a four-game suspension to start the season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
That’s three of the organization’s top offensive players. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is now the head coach in Detroit. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to be the head coach in Indianapolis — before quickly changing his mind and returning to the Patriots (as their head coach of the future, perhaps?).
And some previous Patriots said New England was not an enjoyable place to play football.
“We look at the things that we have to do and we find some way to try to get them done,”
Belichick said. “Put them in priority of importance and make sure they’re covered. I feel like
we have a really good staff. We have a lot of experience on our staff. They work hard. They
work well together, and it’s our job to communicate the information to the players and that’s
what we’re trying to do. Always trying to do it better.”
A different offseason
Considering the success the Patriots have had under Belichick — five Super Bowl championships — no one has done it better. Likewise, no one has done a better job of looking beyond potential distractions to focus on a singular goal ahead: the next game.
But this offseason seemed a little different. “It was different for myself, for sure, in that aspect,” Gronkowski said. “But, I mean, coming back, definitely the same. I felt like I was never gone.”
Which is exactly what the Patriots will need from their five-time Pro Bowler.
Brady, likewise, said all is good with him, and he insisted that he and Belichick have a
“great relationship.”
As for the offseason workouts, Brady said, “It’s obviously important for everybody. (But) our coaches do a great job getting us ready. Just some personal reasons for me. But I’m here now and focused on what I need to do, as I always say I am. Like I said, I’m looking forward to this year.”
Brady, who turned 41 years old on Aug. 3, said he is “absolutely” in good physical shape going into the season.
While the Patriots will happily accept Brady and Gronkowski back into the fold, they lost several
players who were keys to their AFC championship team last season.
The list includes wide receiver Danny Amendola, cornerback Malcolm Butler (who never
got closer to the field than the sideline after being inexplicably benched by Belichick during the
Super Bowl), wide receiver Brandin Cooks, running back Dion Lewis and left tackle Nate
Solder.
Some of the key additions are defensive end Adrian Clayborn, defensive tackle Danny Shelton, rookie running back Sony Michel, wide receiver and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson
and cornerback Jason McCourty.
The defensive line should be improved with the additions of Clayborn and Shelton.
But it remains to be seen who will replace Solder and protect Brady’s blindside. The quarterback
was not happy when inexperienced Joe Thuney was the left tackle during the preseason
last year.
And while the Patriots must find a way to replace Edelman’s production for the first four games, there is plenty of competition at wide receiver.
Great expectations
Jason McCourty, perhaps, has a better idea of what to expect than other newcomers. His
identical twin brother, safety Devin McCourty, has been with the Patriots since they drafted
him with the 27th overall pick in 2010.
“I think I had a good idea of what was to come (as) opposed to maybe another person who’s
come here and has no idea what to expect and you only know what (the media) say about it,”
Jason McCourty said. “I kind of had an inside scoop with that.
“Here, obviously, there’s a high expectation. Each and every year there’s an expectation of how the team’s going to do, and the one thing about any organization that you’re a part of, the offseason is about work. So I’ve stepped right in here with that same expectation, and those have been the same things that have gone on.
“We work extremely hard here to get better each and every day to put ourselves in a position
to win games when the season starts.”
Patterson spent last season with the Raiders and four years with the Vikings, who drafted
him 29th overall in 2013.
“Everywhere you go is different, man,” Patterson said. “It’s not about what team you’re on.
Every place you go to is going to be different. People do things differently.”
Belichick knows his approach is much different from that of many other coaches. He
has acknowledged he hasn’t always been the easiest coach to play for.
And Patriots veterans have heard the anti-Belichick comments from players on other
teams.
“To each his own. I don’t really have nothing to say to them,” linebacker Dont’a Hightower
said. “Guys say it, I know. I mean, it’s not for everybody. It’s definitely harder than most
places. But, I mean, that’s part of it. A lot of guys know that when they come here. In the
locker room, I mean, it’s not Bill’s job to make this fun, this atmosphere fun. It’s the guys
around you.
“Every guy in that locker room, I love like a brother. We have fun whether it’s we out
here struggling together, blood, sweat and tears, or we back in the locker room or we hanging
out outside of football. So there’s a time and place for everything, but we know whenever we walk in the building, it’s time to work.”
Besides, each player in the Patriots locker room knows there is one thing that can cure
any angst, anxiety, chemistry, personality or personnel issues: winning. There’s nothing like
another Super Bowl ring to smooth things over.
“Last year is last year. This year is this year,” Belichick said. “It’s not last year. It’s 2018. So it’s time to move on.”
