Easterlies

This is the year.

We’ve been hearing that for a few years now. And maybe it will be. You know, the year some team other than the Patriots wins the AFC East. Last year it was going to be the Dolphins. Remember that? Miami had spent big in free agency, winning the Mike Wallace sweepstakes, and Ryan Tannehill was going to become the first QB since Dan Marino that Dolphins’ fans could talk about without shaking their heads in disgust. Injuries, stupidity and a failure on management’s part to see that Tannehill and Wallace were a mismatch in skill sets proved too difficult to overcome. Instead of leading the league in TD passes, Tannehill led the league in sacks.

This year, it’s the Bills and the Jets with second year QBs and shiny new wide receivers lighting the candle of hope in the Bill Belichick’s Dungeon of Decade-Long Despair.

Is this the year?

Doing the Mathis

I’ll give Robert Mathis credit for playing the dying grandmother card. It’s going to be hard to top that one.

Get Me To The Promised Land

It appears the test case for the Patriots 2014 draft will be C.J. Fiedorowicz, the TE from Iowa New England passed on in favor of their QB of One Possible Future, Jimmy Garoppolo. I had cooled to Fiedorowicz in favor of Notre Dame’s Troy Niklas (who was off the board at #62) but the former Hawkeye was seen by many as a good fit with the Pats and good value in the 2^nd (preferably 3^rd) round. Now, he’s an opportunity missed. Should he develop into a Pro Bowl talent, Fiedorowicz will be red meat for the haters of the Patriots commentariat. At least they have something to live for.

Upside

As is usually the case (with the notable exception of the Chandler Jones Dont’a Hightower draft), Patriots Nation is hating on Bill Belichick like he was coming off back to back 5-11-0 seasons and traded away the pick that could’ve been Jadeveon Clowney or Sammy Watkins. If he’s so smart, how come he didn’t beat the Jets to Jace Amaro? Instead of a QB we hope never plays a snap for the next three years, why not more weapons for Brady like WR Jarvis Landry or faux TE Jace Amaro?

Maybe a better question is this: If all the haters are right, how does New England keep winning the AFC East and making a run at the Super Bowl year after year?

The Future is Now or Will Be Soon

Another trademark Bill Belichick draft is in the books. If you didn’t already know, Belichick doesn’t care what you or Mel Kiper or Mike Mayock or Todd McShay or Matt Miller or Nolan Nawrocki or anybody else thinks. You think Dominique Easley is a risky pick just because he’s got bionic knees? Well, that’s your opinion, man. You think Jimmy Garoppolo has tiny hands? Bill will fix his steely pale blue gaze on you and ask, “If hand size is so important, do you think maybe I should draft an orangutan to play quarterback?”

My advice? Don’t make eye contact.

In Bill We Trust In Bill We Trust In Bill We... Wait, What?

I know you aren't supposed to be able to judge a draft for three years and we're only part way through the 3rd round but I am positively hating the Patriots 2014 draft so far. A DT with two surgically repaired ACLs? A QB with tiny hands?

Okay. I should take a deep breath. And drink a martini. And remember that Bill Belichick knows more about football than I do.

Maybe two martins.

Overthinking the Problem

By now I think I must’ve changed my mind about Jace Amaro somewhere in the low 90s. Is he a star waiting to happen? Is he just a poor man’s Mike Evans? And I wonder why the pigskin cognoscenti seem to believe Bill Belichick would give up a 1^st round pick for Ra’Shede Hageman, aka Albert Haynesworth 2.0? Do they all hate the Patriots that much? Is this wishful thinking on their part? God I hope Belichick trades down.