From There to Here

It could be coming to an end.

The Patriots reign at the top of the NFL seems to be falling apart. The Kraft family has been incredible, and the team they built has been pretty amazing. Winning three championships this decade with a couple years to go is incredible in the times of true free agency, and no one can deny that the Patriots have been the best team of the ’00s.

That having been said, the Patriots time as the best team in the NFL could be coming to an end. Since the Patriots played the Giants in the Super Bowl and blew what should have been their fourth title in seven years, things are just getting worse. In chronological order:

- Feb. 3, 2008: The Patriots are a 13-point favorite over the Giants in the Super Bowl. They lost 17-14 and several key plays down the stretch (a missed sack on Eli by the Patriots defensive line, a talentless wide receiver (David Tyree) makes a catch over Rodney Harrison by trapping the ball against his helmet, Asante Samuel misses a sure pick at the sideline, Ellis Hobbs blows coverage and Randy Moss can’t haul in a Tom Brady late-game bomb in double coverage) were arguably botched by the Patriots.

- Feb. 13, 2008: The Patriots raise ticket prices again. The last time they raised them was 2004, but when the Pats raise prices, they really raise them. The worst offender? End-zone tickets went from $89 (already the highest in the league by far) to $117. These same tickets were $34 before the Patriots won the first championship. Since then, they’ve gone up by more than 300 percent. I have respect for the Kraft family, but this is ridiculous. The team is really losing touch with the common fan. I was lucky enough to have a ticket to a game this year (and didn’t have to pay for it, thanks Champs), but I can’t see myself paying with these prices (plus it costing $40-$50 to park at Gillette).

- Feb. 21, 2008: The Franchise Tag period for NFL teams ends. Randy Moss is not franchised. Asante Samuel (due to a clause in his contract) is not franchised. Randall Gay is not franchised. The team is left with Ellis Hobbs (a less than dependable DB) as their lone defensive back with experience and Wes Welker, a great slot receiver (but who improved his game due to double- and triple-teams on Moss all season), is the only receiver with any experience on the team.

- Feb. 28, 2008: Rather than getting younger at linebacker, the team decides to resign Tedy Bruschi to a multi-year deal. I like him as much as the next guy, and he’s an inspiration to younger players, but the linebackers were arguably the biggest weakness on a strong team this year. Rather than improve them and bring in younger players to go with Vrabel and Thomas, they resign Bruschi to a MULTI-YEAR DEAL! I see them bringing back Seau in the future… although I’d rather have had Zach Thomas from Miami if they’re going after aging LBs as the team’s past suggests — but that’s out now too.

- Feb. 29, 2008: Free agency beings at 12:01 a.m. Asante Samuel sets up a meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles. He signs a six-year, $57 million contract with the team later that day, making him the first Patriot to leave the team.

- March 1, 2008: Donte Stallworth signs a seven-year deal with the Browns. The deal will pay him $35 million, with at least $10 million guaranteed. This for a guy who was the fourth receiver on the Patriots this year. The Patriots made no effort to resign him.

- March 1, 2008: Randy Moss talks to Daunte Caulpepper about going to a team together and resurrecting what they had in Minnesota. Also a report from the NFL Network that Moss is unhappy re: contract talks with the Patriots and is looking for another team to come in with an offer and blow him away.

- March 2, 2008: Randall Gay decides to join the Saints, leaving the Patriots with a ridiculously depleted secondary in which ELLIS HOBBS, he of the pass interference penalty ALL THE TIME is the NUMBER ONE receiver.

This is horrendous. The fact that the Krafts are charging more money to fans for putting this substandard product on the field is deplorable. If they want to remain one of the top franchises in the NFL, they have to be willing to spend money for top-tier free agents. If they don’t bring in Randy Moss, I don’t know if the majority of Patriot nation will ever forgive Robert and Jonathan. It’s time to put up the big money for Moss, guys. Let’s go.