Patriots Thoughts

The Patriots lost a very winnable game on Saturday. A game they only had to play because they lost another very winnable game the week before against the Dolphins. That loss cost the team a first round bye.

I fully expected New England to win Saturday night (by more than 5 if you get what I'm saying). They had the better QB, the better head coach, the better defense and they had home field advantage. But this is why they play the games. It was not meant to be. There was just something off with this team the final third of the season.

Now the speculation has started about whether Tom Brady has played his final game in a Patriots uniform. That well may be but I'd expect that the only way that's true is if the 42-year old Brady decides to retire. He is 42-years old, he has accomplished more than any other player in NFL history and he's about to lose Josh McDaniels as his offensive coordinator. Don't underestimate the importance of that last factor.

Of course the impact of McDaniels leaving for a head coaching job elsewhere could be softened if Bill Belichick announced that he's he assuming the play calling duties next season. That would eliminate the need for an old dog like Brady having to learn new tricks from a new offensive coordinator.

Brady finished the season with over 4,000 passing yards, 24 TD's and just 8 interceptions. Those are good but not great numbers but keep in mind the offensive line was banged up, he lost his fullback and his receivers were literally learning on the job. There's no better alternative out there for the 2020 season. And the team knows that.

Brady watched his hero Joe Montana finish his career in Kansas City and I don't think he'd want to end his own career in a similar fashion - especially given that Montana was traded an Brady controls his own destiny. Brady could probably get a few more million playing elsewhere but that would be offset by the tarnish his reputation would take and how that could effect his off the field endorsement brand.

If I had to bet I'd say if Tom Brady plays next season it will be for the Patriots. Then again my bets haven't been that great lately. The only sure thing is that I'll be avoiding Boston sports talk radio  for the next few weeks.