If Patriots ownership hasn't already done a deep dive into their organization's state, I strongly suggest starting now. There are so many things wrong it's hard to know where to begin. But start they must. Their freefall into NFL no-man's land has been happening for the last year and a half, although you could argue it took root before Tom Brady had played his last down for the Pats.
Oh sure, you could fool yourself into thinking the injuries to Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez doomed this season. Point to the offensive line injuries as the unraveling of Bill O'Brien's best-laid plans. Or you could point the finger at the quarterback, Mac Jones, and say he showed you who he really was last year and has only hammered that point home this year. Those are just a few of the points raised by those who cover and follow the team.
I'm not going to sit here, pounding away at a keyboard, and tell you those all haven't in some way, shape, or form contributed to the 2-8 record. Of course, they have. But this season was still going to be much messier than it should be, three-and-a-half seasons since Brady left.
2020: 7-9 (closed with a pair of wins)
2021: 10-7 and then a 30-point playoff loss in Buffalo. The team lost four of five to close the year.
2022: 8-9, which included wins over backup QBs Sam Ehlinger, Teddy Bridgewater, Jacoby Brissett and Colt McCoy.
2023: 2-8 and counting
The 10-7 isn't the norm. It's the anomaly. The days of winning the AFC East 16 of 17 times, including 11 in a row, yeah, that's gone too. That's okay, though. Truly. It wasn't going to last forever, not like that. Every franchise eventually has a reset year or two, and none of the best franchises now - Kansas City, Baltimore, and San Fran (to name a few) - ever stacked the same level of accomplishments that the Pats did. But now the question becomes: how do the Pats return to that place?
Start with player procurement and development, especially on the offensive side. They just don't have anyone that has to be taken out of the game, or else. Not a one. In your own division, the Jets have Garrett Wilson, the Bills' Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, and the Dolphins' Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. You have…Demario Douglas?
This comprehensive look at the blood and guts of this organization - you need difference makers on the field at all levels - must begin with the most critical position in the game. The collection of cannon fodder that has played quarterback since TB reads as follows: Cam Newton, Brian Hoyer, Jarrett Stidham, Jones, Bailey Zappe, and, for a quick second, Malik Cunningham (they still don't have him practice at the position). This isn't some interchangeable piece that can be treated like left guard or defensive tackle. Yet that's how the boss man has treated it for years, and it may have influenced his decision to treat Brady like he did, especially as he got closer to the end of his time in New England.
As for the current guy, Mac hasn't just gone sideways; he's fallen and can't get up (credit LifeCall for that gem of a commercial). Borderline unplayable coming into Sunday's game against the Colts, and now absolutely cooked. Three offensive coordinators in three years hurt the cause, but as I've said before, everyone else hopped on the wagon; he makes more dumb throws and decisions than an intelligent quarterback ever would. Sorry, but he is what he is - and that's not it. It's time to find the next guy, but why should I trust the football people responsible for that - Bill Belichick and Matt Groh in particular - to make that decision?
Groh's presided over two drafts. Skill position-wise, he has selected Tyquan Thornton in the 2nd round (no snaps yesterday despite being active) and RB Pierre Strong (traded after one season) in the 4th. Oh sure, he threw a dart and appears to have hit on Douglas, but no one plans on 6th rounders being starters, let alone your best receiver. There's only so much credit that can be given there. As for Kayshon Boutte, the grade is incomplete (as I suppose it should be for all draft classes until we're 3 years in…), but he's not exactly set the world on fire in his two appearances (1 catch); his practice habits have not been the best, and he thinks he's something that he's not, which is a player worthy of an answer.
Before Groh's arrival, Belichick and company took N'Keal Harry, Devin Asaisi, Dalton Keene, Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Stidham. Three huge swings and misses at positions that have vexed you (WR and TE since Gronk) and success with a pair of RBs, arguably the easiest position to draft in the league. Stidham should have played in the Covid season at some point when it was proven Cam was cashed, but he didn't. I'm sure Bill decided it "was what's best for the team," whatever that means. Jakobi Meyers was a hit, perhaps their best example of draft and develop (or, in Meyer's case, undraft and develop).
As for free agency, Hunter Henry has worked. Kendrick Bourne? Sure, I'll give it to them. But since 2019, you're looking at Jonnu Smith, Nelson Agholor, Mike Gesicki, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ty Montgomery, and Damiere Byrd. Byrd was miscast - the Pats sure love to do that with the wide receivers - but the rest? Ehhh. Gesicki looks like a one-and-done, Montgomery can't crack the lineup as a third-down back, and JuJu isn't the guy they thought they signed; instead, he is no longer the same player physically, with the knee and all. Of course, his two previous stops - Pitt and KC - didn't push to keep him, mainly for that reason.
If Belichick hasn't committed offensive malpractice, he's undoubtedly been guilty of negligence. Not only has he shopped for the groceries, but he's also empowered his people to see it the way he does. That marrying of philosophies is how most successful organizations are structured, but the Pats have yet to find nearly as much success lately, especially this season. It's broken. Screw the tape, bubble gum, and spit method to keep it together for a spell. It's time for an overhaul. Spend more money on experienced scouts who have found the diamonds in the rough and identified the big boys in the first round, too. Ask your pro scouting department how and why they coughed up big money on Smith and Agholor but wouldn't extend for one of their own (Meyers)?
Get those answers. And if the finger points back to the big man in Bill, then it is time to shake him down, too, if he's staying. If he's not, don't just think you can plug and play. Look outside the organization. Look at Pittsburgh's people (who have been excellent at finding pass catchers), San Fran (WRs, TEs, RBs), and Philly (QB, WR, TE). Wherever there's been success, talk to those people and those people's people. If ownership cares about winning as much as they say they do, then asking more questions, finding better answers, and fighting to get the best of the best is the only way to go. Because not only is their prized franchise fading into irrelevancy, but they've been damn boring doing it. 14,2 points per game, their lowest since the 1992 season (only one QB threw for more than 3500 yards - Dan Marino). Do you know how hard it is to be this bad? If you've been watching, of course you do. And for that, I'm sorry. It might have to get worse before it gets better - transitioning to a new QB is no easy task - but that's on ownership to rebuild the foundation and give the next guy a real chance, not whatever was cobbled together to try and make this work. Because that didn't work, you're paying the price for that now.