Pats on way to 7th heaven?
After pulling off their fifth championship in Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons in February 2017, there was a feeling a sixth would be in the mix for the Patriots. And fairly soon.
It wasn’t outlandish to think they’d get one more. After all, Bill Belichick was still coaching, and Tom Brady was still playing at an elite level as he was about to turn 40. Brady wanted a sixth, and it was hard to bet against him snagging the one that put him over the rest.
But now that the Patriots have six, what about seven? What’s one more to tack on the pile? They silenced all the critics who said they were too old, and washed up to win again this season.
Defensively, they were chameleons during the playoffs, changing how they played, giving different looks, doing what was necessary to beat each opponent. And offensively, they flipped to a run-first attack, with Brady still the maestro when it came time to pass.
Shouldn’t that formula work again? Seven would be heaven. Is it really all that crazy to think they’ll do it again?
“We found our way. We found our identity. That’s all we needed to do, and we did,” Rob Gronkowski said as he stood alone with Belichick after the confetti poured down during the celebration on the field.
Maybe they won’t have Gronk as they go for No. 7. Brady’s all-world tight end might retire. Devin McCourty and brother Jason might also find a Super Bowl walk-off the perfect way to call it a career. Ditto Matthew Slater.
So how does chasing No. 7 look after those departures, or some of them? Still doable?
Let’s just say, if Brady and Belichick are as determined as they were this season, anything is possible. Brady didn’t have the best Super Bowl, but when crunch time came, and he needed to make plays to win the game, he made them. At age 42, there’s no reason to think he won’t be that same guy. With six titles, he now has matched Michael Jordan, whose poster hung on his wall as a child. Seven would vault him over Jordan. So there’s some motivation beyond continuing to be the oldest quarterback to attain these feats.
Brady is going to need some help. The Patriots will have to reload a bit through the draft (they have 12 picks) and free agency given some of the expected departures. They need some playmakers at receiver, they might need a tight end, and that’s just a start.
But if the players continue to execute the game plan like they did this year, Belichick can still out-coach everyone in the league.
NBC commentator Rodney Harrison, who wasn’t afraid to point out their shortcomings this season, wouldn’t predict against them hitting No. 7.
“I’m not going to say a seventh championship is not possible,” Harrison said when reached Friday. “Obviously, they have to address some issues like another tight end, maybe a playmaker in the draft, get a little more depth at the wide receiver spot.
“But other than that, to me, it’s just a matter of how hungry they’ll be,” Harrison went on. “When you’re Duron Harmon, and you come in, and you have three or four Super Bowls already . . . the biggest test for them is not the talent necessarily, but it’s how hungry they’ll be next year.”
Going for No. 6, the Patriots lost the previous Super Bowl to the Eagles, and had all the Malcolm Butler baggage hanging over them. No doubt Belichick wanted to change the narrative.
So what’s going to keep them hungry, keep the fire burning for No. 7?
“Belichick has that distinct way of saying, ‘forget about last year.’ And he makes you forget about last year,” said Harrison. “He makes you forget about everything you’ve accomplished. A big part of that are the guys in the locker room. If you get guys who can forget about the success you’ve had in previous years, you can move forward. It helps. It helps when your leaders are moving forward, and not basking and parading in the championship you just won.”
Newly elected Hall of Famer Ty Law also believes if the Patriots put performances together like they did during this playoff run, seven isn’t an outrageous number.
“I don’t think it’s out of the realm, as long as they continue to play team football when you never know who’s going to make the play. That’s what our teams were about especially our defense. You never knew who was going to make the play,” Law said Friday. “You had your regulars like myself, or Willie with a big sack, but we competed with each other in a good way. You get a pick, I’m getting one. We competed amongst each other. We all wanted to make the play. So you keep those guys together, they’ll be right back in the same position next year because they play as a team.”
Company for Law
It’s been a crazy week for the newly minted Hall of Famer. Law said it still really hasn’t hit him given he’s been moving around so much. The Patriot great took part in Tuesday’s parade.
“(The crowds) keep growing,” he said. “It seemed like nobody went to work.”
Law didn’t know if he’d finally get the call after being a finalist a few times, but he’s grateful, and hopeful others from the Patriot teams that started the dynasty will also get recognized.
“It is gratifying (to get in), but it is a little disappointing a lot more of us haven’t gotten consideration,” he said. “I’m so happy to be the first one (from the Belichick era). Hopefully that will open some doors for guys like Willie McGinest, Rodney Harrison, who has 30 interceptions and 30 sacks. He might be the only one in NFL history. If you’re the only one at your position to do that, and you get hardware to back it up, why isn’t he being considered? What about Tedy Bruschi? He’s a leader. He came back from a stroke. He gets three Super Bowl championships. That’s what we play the game for, championships. We have that. So why aren’t those guys being mentioned in the conversation? I don’t know the science to it, or the criteria . . . hopefully we have more to come.”
Law, who co-founded Launch Trampoline Park, a chain of entertainment facilities with more than 20 parks in 13 states, will be formally inducted into the Hall in a ceremony in Canton, Ohio in August.
Staying together?
Shaq Mason didn’t get to free agency. The Patriots worked out a deal with him before the season started, as the right guard signed a fiveyear, $50 million extension in August.
Left tackle Trent Brown is headed into free agency. Mason, who was at a charity event in Andover on Wednesday night at Karma restaurant, said he’d love to see the group stay together if possible.
“We’re a group that meshed and gelled well together. I mean, us five, we’re a very confident group,” he said. “I love the guys I play with. Even the guys who aren’t on the starting five, I love those guys, too. We’ll see what happens moving forward.”
Brown has expressed the desire to stay, but he’s going to command top dollar on the market.
“Trent came in and helped us a ton. He worked hard all year,” said Mason. “If we’re able to stick together, that’s great. Whatever happens, happens. It’s the nature of the game. I can’t control any of that.”
McVay needs script
It was interesting that Rams head coach Sean McVay did not veer from his offense. He didn’t go offscript to try and counter what the Patriots were doing on defense during Super Bowl LIII. There were no adjustments.
“Those offensive geniuses like McVay, like the rest of them, they don’t make adjustments. They sit back and read their cards and they have a script of plays,” said NBC’s Harrison. “They don’t understand strategy. It just shows you McVay is a good, smart, coach, but he has a long way to go, especially when you match him up with Belichick . . . I always felt like when we were out on the field (with Belichick as the coach), we always had one guy more than them, we were so wellprepared.”
Amendola reunion?
One report out of Miami Friday suggested the possibility Dolphins general manager Chris Grier “isn’t interested” in keeping Danny Amendola at the $6 million price he’s owed.
Would he take a pay cut to stay and play for Brian Flores, and be reunited with his former wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea?
Maybe. Or, if he’s taking a pay cut, be more enticed to rejoin his pals Tom Brady, Julian Edelman & Co. and have a better chance at winning, once again?
Another possibility would have him follow ex-Fins coach Adam Gase to New York. He did seem enamored with the guy. With Chris Hogan and Phillip Dorsett both headed to free agency, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on.