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According to a report recently done by the Boston Herald, the New England Patriots have requested offensive lineman Nick Kaczur to take a pay cut. According to the report, it’s stated to be a “massive pay cut.” Kaczur is currently set to make $3.4 mill…
If the New England Patriots are to part ways with their starting right tackle Nick Kaczur this close to the 2011 NFL Draft, one has to wonder if some offensive linemen may move up on their big board.This is just one of the many questions raised if he w…
The New England Patriots have placed offensive lineman Nick Kaczur on injured reserve with a back problem. Kaczur was hurt on the second day of training camp. He underwent back surgery in August and hasn’t played all season. He spent most of his five s…
The consensus “Team of the Decade” in the 2000′s was the New England Patriots. They won three Super Bowls and came within about 35 seconds of having the greatest team of all time in 2007.
They had a dominant defense throughout those 10 years and one of the top quarterbacks in the history of the NFL with Tom Brady.
However, New England has hit hard times, with the entire core of their stellar defense gone and emerging troubles on the offensive side of the ball.
The 2007 Patriots were the greatest offense in the history of football. They scored the most touchdowns, most points, and had the league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.
They were undefeated, 18-0, entering Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants. We all know the Giants shocked the world and beat the Patriots.
Since that Super Bowl, the vaunted Pats’ offense has slowly been depleted of all the things that made it great in ’07.
Randy Moss has already seemed to have mentally checked out of this year, saying it will be his last in New England.
Wes Welker tore his ACL in the final game of the regular season last year, and it’s unlikely he’ll make a full recovery in time to return to his normal spectacular self by the season opener.
The great Patriot offensive line is missing its Pro Bowl guard in Logan Mankins, who has started every game in his five-year NFL career, due to a holdout that could go into the regular season, and Mankins’ backup, Nick Kaczur, is out indefinitely with an injured back.
Belichick and Co. blew up the defense last offseason, and it showed last year. While they still finished all right statistically, the defense was just not the same without the core of veteran leadership the Patriots have exhibited since the early 2000s.
In addition to not being experienced, injuries have ravaged the Patriots. Safety Rodney Harrison was forced to retire due to a torn right quad on a Monday Night Game against the Denver Broncos in 2008.
Injuries have hurt New England even as recently as Thursday night, when stalwart defensive end Ty Warren was placed on injured reserve to due a hip problem.
The defense is inexperienced, and while talented, it will take a while for this unit to gel together and learn how to play as a complete, team-first defense such as the Patriots did in their Super Bowl years.
Tom Brady and the offense are aging and having troubles in the place no team can afford to have problems: on the offensive line.
If this is indeed Moss’ last season in New England, the Patriots will once again be searching for the No. 1 receiver that made their offense historically great.
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will be remembered as two of the greatest at their respective positions, but as for the Patriots right now, it’s time to rebuild.
Sorry, Pats fans, but the dynasty is, as Charles Dickens once so eloquently put it, dead as a doornail.
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Searching for the latest Brett Favre news? NFL betting guru Mike Godsey of GodsTips says, “It’s only a matter of when he comes back. He is the Minnesota Vikings starting QB.”
Now, key football wagering info for this week.
The free picks for each NFL division and the major NCAA football conferences are out. But now, it’s time to win with preseason NFL picks.
Here is the famed preseason primer with quarterback and key player rotations for the first full week of NFLX compiled by the handicappers at OffshoreInsiders.com
Thursday, August 12
Saints vs. Patriots
New England is very deep at WR. Brandon Tate may be in for a breakout year. He is a third-round pick from last year, who had most of his season wiped out because of injury.
However, those who bet NFL preseason point spreads will note that the Pats are thin in the trenches with Logan Mankins holding out, Nick Kaczur out with back issues and Ty Warren with a hip injury. Warren’s backup Ron Brace has been a big disappointment thus far.
Panthers vs. Ravens
Panthers star WR Steven Smith is out for the preseason.
Friday, August 13
Chiefs vs. Falcons
Lines-Maker.com’s Brian Kayma reports that Atlanta WR Michael Jenkins is done for the preseason. He caught 50 passes last year.
Saturday, August 14
Vikings vs. Rams
The Minnesota Vikings may get great inspiration at the scheduled miracle return of LB E.J. Henderson. He is coming back from a gruesome fractured left femur injury, which was considered career threatening.
Percy Harvin is likely out. The star WR continues to have migraine headache issues. Two Pro Bowlers, Adrian Peterson and Sidney Rice, have also missed significant camp time because of mystery injuries.
Browns vs. Packers
The Cleveland Browns have a revamped QB rotation with Jake Delhomme the starter, followed by Seneca Wallace and rookie Colt McCoy. The rookie from Texas should she significant playing time in the second half.
Cleveland’s secondary is a work in progress. Eric Wright just got hurt and is questionable. First round pick Joe Haden has gotten mixed reviews in training camp thus far.
Raiders vs. Cowboys
Dallas, of course, has a game under their belt after annihilating the Cincinnati Bengals in the Hall-of-Fame game, a GodsTips Wise Guy easy winner. However, they face a short week with just three days between games.
They are suddenly thin at TE with John Phillips, a big star of training camp, out for the year. Martellus Bennett missed Sunday with a bad ankle, Jason Witten will not see much time in the preseason. He and Scott Sicko are the only completely healthy TEs the Pokes have.
Monday, August 16
Giants vs. Jets
The Jets Derrelle Revis, perhaps the best cover man in the NFL, is still holding out.
Sunday, August 15
Broncos vs. Bengals
Denver is minus both starting RBs Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter. They are very thin at that position.
For more information: Get all the top sports service picks for the NFL preseason and updated NFL injuries, QB rotations, news and notes for NFLX betting on the OffshoreInsiders.com Network.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
