Misery loves company, and what's next for Pats and C's

  Almost one week removed from one of the most enjoyable non-Patriot football games ever, Super Bowl XLIV and I'm still in sports heaven.  Throughout the country people are celebrating the cinderella Saints, unless you're in New England where we're primarily focused on Manning and the Colt's sudden descent from the top of the leagues landscape.  Amen New England, there is a football god afterall.  Watching Tracy Porter return that pick was complete and utter sports ecstasy for this bitter Pats fan, a true sports-gasm in every sense.  When you can't win it all you may as well bask in your rivals misery.  All, or at least most of the pain and suffering from our Super Bowl loss just two years ago, had been passed on to all of those whiney frauds from Indianapolis.  I know Dungy, Manning, Irsay and Polian were elated when the Giants stole our chance at a perfect season, and football immortatily, so, to all of them I say enjoy the long offseason as the rightful owner of second place(or first loser) in the league.

  As the confetti rained down on the boys from the Bayou late Sunday evening, the 2009 season officially came to a close, which was good news for the other 31 teams who ultimately fell short of their pre-season aspirations.  Of those teams, no one should be happier than the Patriots who finished the season in embarrassing fashion, a wax job in front of their home fans, in a stadium that they had been virtually invincible in over the last 8 years.  It seemingly signfified the end of an era, as the perrenially feared Patriots looked rather pedestrian throughout their 2009 campaign.  With 2009 officially in the books, GM's throughout the league will turn their collective attention to the draft and the impending free-agent period.  This is likely the most crucial juncture in the Patriots 2010 season, as whole-sale changes need to be made in order to return to the "legitimate contender" status we have become accustomed to around these parts.  Once again, the Pats are loaded with a heavy aresnal of picks for the draft, which could also be used in upgrading their draft position, or even trades for proven veterans.  Recently the Patriots have not drafted well, or sometime not at all, over the past several league drafts.  As the teams unhealthy obsession with "value" has increased, so has there willingness to draft big-time prospects, and their often weighty salaries.  While this philosophy was fine during those dynasty years, it has seemingly become slightly stale to the fans, who have watched the Patriots settle for mid-level picks, and consequently mediocre talent in the process.

    As the fan base continues to get frustrated with their team's frugal approach to altering the roster, the honeymoon phase that the Kraft/Belichick tandem has earned will eventually fade, with those 3 superbowl titles moving into a more distant memory.  We all know the team's weaknesses, and the potential players that could fill those spots via free-agency or the draft.  If we enter this season with a similar roster to last season we are in serious sh*t, and I can't emphasize that statement more.  Sorry, but if Tully Banta-Cain is going to be our primary pass rusher again, than you may as well add about three more top-flight recievers for Brady, because this team will need to score 50 points a game in order to win.  It's time to get some studs on that defense to get after the quarterback, and force turnovers, which is the key to winning every game.  There are some good prospects on that defense, such as Mayo and Meriweather, but I would argue that both have been slightly overrated due to the lack of talent surrounding them.  As much as I like Mayo's game, he doesn't appear to be the run stuffing/pass rushing middle linebacker that we need.  And for every interception, or big-stick Brandon Meriweather lays on an opponent, he gets toasted twice in coverage or misses an open-field tackle, so he still has some developing to do.  The most interesting thing regarding this offseason is the approach the team takes towards Vince Wilfork, who has been hoping for a long term contract during the past two summers.  If the Patriots slap the franchise on Vince again all bets are off, as they will likely have to deal with a disgruntled veteran the entire season. Something they need to be very wary of(see Adalius Thomas circa 2009). Vince has clearly earned a contract, and in giving him one, the Patriots could take steps towards repairing their image amongst the leagues players as being "cheap".

  Finally, amidst all of the trade speculation concering Celtic guard Ray Allen, the team(currently on hiatus for the all-star break) must be wondering if they will play another game as currently constituted.  As we know, this year's edition of gang green is really struggling of late, and Mr. Ainge may be forced to "shake things up" before the stretch run.  With Ray's contract offering serious cap relief for other teams, he may become the scapegoat for this team's poor play.  I've felt that Ray would be traded before next week's deadline for quite some time now, so I won't be suprised to see a totally new look Celtics in a matter of weeks.  If this is the end for Ray then I would like to thank him for his time on this team, and his unquestioned help in winning our last championship.  Ray is a great player, but an even better ambassador for the league, and the game of basketball.  As the NBA's reputation plummeted in the mid to late 90's, Ray Allen seemed to be the antithesis to all of it.  Young players were trying to mimick many aspects of his game, but they may have been better served imitating his off-court actions, becoming better citizens in the process.  As the trade winds keep on whirling, keep your eye on players such as Kevin Martin, Andre Iguodala, Caron Butler, and Luol Deng in an exchange for Allen.  Trade or no trade this team's playoff success is still firmly on the shoulders of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, and their ailing body parts.