Business is Business

Sometimes you can prepare yourself for the inevitable but when it happens, it’s still something of a shock.

 

I woke up to the news that Aqib Talib had signed with the Broncos. I’d figured Aqib Talib was going to play elsewhere in 2014. Rumors of Washington’s interest seemed the best of the worst case scenario. Talib would move over to the NFC and the Patriots would face him maybe once in the next four years. Talib signing with Denver hurts a lot more and not just because it picks the Welker scab. The Patriots will likely face the Broncos twice in the upcoming season; once in the regular season and again in the playoffs. The AFC’s best team just got better, with Talib and Gronk assassin T.J. Ward signed on Day 1 of Free Agency. Today they added DeMarcus Ware. Did the Broncos overpay for Talib? The consensus amongst pigskin pundits and bobbleheads seems to be “yes” and “so what?” Peyton Manning isn’t getting any younger and John Elway is doing everything he can to secure a Lombardi Trophy before that window closes.

This is, of course, the strategy that many citizens of Patriots Nation wanted to see New England pursue. With Giselle making plans for Tom’s 37^th birthday, there are only so many more opportunities for Brady to grab that elusive 4^th championship ring. While their chief rival was adding three elite players, Patriots’ fans had to console themselves with the news that Brandon LaFell would be visiting. It was probably better news than a Hakeem Nicks visit, so there’s that.

Rumors that Darrelle Revis would be cut by the Buccaneers and the Patriots were a likely destination for the best cornerback in football seemed ridiculous. If New England couldn’t afford Talib, how would they come up with the bones it would take to sign Revis? Then there was the fact that it seemed so not New England. Wesley Woodyard’s visit was so much more what we’ve come to expect.

Then it happened.

Revis to the Patriots; 1 year at $12m.

Okay, so I spent most of my day rationalizing away Denver’s free agent haul. Welker didn’t win them the Super Bowl last year. No one player wins a championship. On the other hand, three players? Talib, Ward and Ware were an impressive haul. It’s clear the Broncos are all in.

And so, it seems, are the Patriots. Revis makes them better on defense, of course. Perhaps just as importantly, his signing should also help Belichick sign a few more veterans looking for a ring. Thanks to Revis, New England is a destination again.