Free Agency just started on Friday, and the Jets and Dolphins have both made significant moves while the Patriots have stuck to signing their own guys, and it's become a popular article around the interwebs whether these moves have dethroned New England as the AFC East favorites.
First of all, Miami and New York should be doing whatever they can do to pass the Patriots this year. No one realized it heading into last year but 2009 was the year Bill Belichick had to begin rebuilding his defense. He realized it at the end of training camp and unloaded Richard Seymour to Oakland. But the Patriots are well suited for the rebuild that is ahead of them.
Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork will be the centerpieces of the new defense. And will 4 picks in the first two rounds of this years draft, as well as 2 1st-rounders in next years, the Patriots are in position to add a lot of quality players in the next two seasons. Meaning if you're going to beat the Patriots you better do it now before all this talent is added and begins to gel.
That being said, while Miami and New York both added potential playmakers to their respective defenses, their offenses (the things that would exploit a young/inexperienced Patriot defense) remain fairly unthreatening. Not to say they aren't respectable but the loss of Thomas Jones for the Jets shouldn't be minimized, nor should Miami's continued lack of a dangerous passing game.
So let's all take a deep breath, there are still alot of Free Agents out there, mid-level veterans like those that the first Patriots dynasty were built on. We're clearly a long ways away from how the rosters will look on opening day, and there are still plenty of additions and subtractions for every team.
Keywords: Antonio Cromartie, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets
