The New England Patriots are coming into the 2009 NFL Season with a number of new faces on the roster. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is yet to be determined. Last season now seems like a blur. Having won 11 games after losing their best player and still not making the playoff was a huge blow, but this year looks to be a season of redemption for the Patriots of New England. Tom Brady, one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, is finally back and healthy. Matt Cassel, his backup from last year, has been shipped off to Kansas City along with longtime outside linebacker Mike Vrabel and Ex-Director of Player Personnel Scott Pioli. Josh McDaniels, who was the O-Coordinator from last year’s team, is now the Head Coach of the Denver Broncos as well. However, most people in New England agree that as long as Bill Belichick is still around, that is all that really matters.
After a long and successful career in Jacksonville, RB Fred Taylor has joined the New England backfield committee alongside Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Joey Galloway has been added to the receiving corps to go with Randy Moss and Wes Welker, while TE Chris Baker has signed over from the New York Jets. This offense, which has always been anchored by its great lineman upfront, looks armed and ready to have a terrific season once again.
The Defense on the other hand has much to prove. Just this week the Patriots traded away former first round draft pick Richard Seymour, who had been a stalwart defensive lineman for this team for the better half of the last decade. The Raiders sent a 2011 first round draft choice in compensation for Seymour. Rodney Harrison & Tedy Bruschi have recently retired, Mike Vrabel went to Kansas City, Ellis Hobbs was traded to Philadelphia and well….you get the idea. Only 5 returning starters will be back for the Patriots defense this season, and plenty of responsibility will be put on guys like Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, and JeRod Mayo to make sure that this defense holds up with the reputation of the past.
One last hometown note, former UConn standout defensive back Darius Butler was selected by the Patriots in the 2nd Round of April’s NFL Draft and he has made the team with flying colors. After having a great training camp and pre-season, Butler looks to notch some immediate playing time as a backup cornerback, and will be on the field right away in nickel formations. Good luck Darius!
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