This week marks the halfway point of the Patriots’ offseason.
It’s been just over four months since the end of New England’s 2008 season, and it’s roughly four months before the 2009 regular-season opener against Buffalo. How have things changed for the Patriots since they walked off the field at Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium after beating the Bills, 13-0, in Buffalo back on Dec. 28, 2008? And how do they look with the 2009 season looming on the horizon?
With the initial free-agent frenzy and draft in the rearview mirror and training camp just two-plus months away, here’s a chronological look at the major events of New England’s offseason to this point, and what they mean for the long-term future of the franchise.
Jan. 13: Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli leaves the Patriots to take the job as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs.
What it means: With coach Bill Belichick, Pioli was considered one of the premier architects of a New England dynasty that won three titles in four years. The removal of Pioli from the equation in Foxborough means more is placed on the shoulders of Belichick, something he’s acknowledged when he passed up his annual trip to the owners’ meetings in favor of more pre-draft evaluation.
“Some of our current player and personnel situations, (we’re) kind of re-organizing and revamping some things in the personnel department,” Belichick said. “That’s been a good experience, and as much as we'll miss Scott, we’re moving on in that direction.”
Since Pioli left, helping the Patriots move in that direction have been Nick Caserio and Floyd Reese, who were named New England’s director of player personnel and senior football advisor, respectively, shortly after Pioli’s departure. The two have now combined to handle many of Pioli’s responsibilities -- while Caserio has handled many of the day-to-day operations, the elder Reese has become Belichick’s consigliere, a trusted sounding board who goes back more than 30 years with the coach and shares a similar football philosophy.
With the draft and first wave of free agency completed, it doesn’t appear the Patriots’ overriding team-building philosophy installed by Belichick and Pioli in 2000 -- it’s not about collecting talent, it’s about assembling a team -- has been altered. Since the change in management, there have been no signings or trades in New England that might be considered out of character for the franchise.
Jan. 21: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speaks with a Canadian sports radio station. It’s his first public interview since injuring his knee in the 2008 season opener against the Chiefs.
“[Expletive] happens, so to speak. The reality is it happens ... I’m in a new part of my career, and a different process that I’m excited about,” said Brady. “Rehabilitation has different challenges. The tough part is you’re not experiencing stuff you love to do. Once you get over that, you focus on whatever you have to focus on.”
As for his rehab: “It’s going really well ... things come up and you just have to focus your energy and attention on all the positive things ... I’m excited about the process and the so many wonderful people that have helped me. I think I’m the most well-taken care of knee patient in history.”
What it means: Brady’s positivity was reflected in the organizational decision roughly a month later when New England traded away quarterback Matt Cassel to Kansas City, presumably because it believes that Brady is ready to return. Since then, Patriots players and coaches have given their thumbs up at the progress No. 12 has made during his rehab.
“Tom’s been doing well,” Belichick said in late April. “He’s been doing his offseason work without any limitations, so he seems to be doing fine.”
“[Brady] threw me a ball, and you could still hear that little whistle,” running back Sammy Morris said recently when asked about a workout with Brady. “It’s been a while since I heard that.
“He looks good. Obviously, no one really saw him a whole lot when he was rehabbing during the season last year. But he looks good. I think the way he looks and the way he feels and the way he approaches the game, it’s a trickle-down. I think everybody else feels better too.”
Feb. 27: The Patriots sign running back Fred Taylor.
What it means: New England has added several complementary players on the
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