Hours Before Kickoff: Week 1

It was a big deal when head coach Bill Belichick had the pictures of past Patriots teams removed from the walls. All the photos of players and moments from the past decade, including anything related to the three championships, gone. All memories purged from the hallways and rooms, as if those were bad memories.

It was called a symbolic gesture by Belichick, indicating those glory days have come to an end and a new era is beginning. The the Patriot Dynasty is over.

This of course is an exaggeration. This characterization of Belichick’s redecorating sells papers, magazines or draws hits on the web, but that’s it. Taking down the pictures didn’t end the Patriots Dynasty, as it was already over a few years ago.

The dynasty came to an end the moment then-Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard lunged for QB Tom Brady’s leg and tore up Brady’s knee in the 2008 season opener. What was a Super Bowl favorite following the undefeated regular season of 2007 immediately became an aging team with no shot of winning it all without their field general.

After the season, worn parts of the Patriots machine were replaced: LB Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison retired; LB Mike Vrabel and DE Richard Seymour were traded for draft picks.

The Patriots are rebuilding. It’s typically an ugly word in sports, as usually a great team becomes terrible for a few years before returning to greatness. If handled poorly, the dark days can extend for years. So far Belichick has kept New England relevant without significantly falling back.

The Pats made 24 selections in the past two NFL drafts. 2009’s draft class is shaping up to be a major success. OT Sebastian Vollmer, WR Julian Edelman, CB Darius Butler, LS Jake Ingram and DL Myron Pryor all saw significant time in their rookie year. Expect a bigger contribution from them, as well as S Pat Chung, DL Ron Brace and WR Brandon Tate getting on the field often in 2010.

And this year’s class of rookies could be as good, if not better. CB Devin McCourty and LB Brandon Spikes could be starters. TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez likely will surpass the contribution of the duo they are replacing, Benjamin Watson and Chris Baker. Zoltan Mesko is the new punter. And DL Brandon Deaderick made the active roster as a seventh round selection.

With all this youth getting significant playing time, expect them to make their fair share of mistakes. It happens with young teams. The Patriots might not reap the rewards of experienced gained this year, but if things go according to Belichick’s plan, the Patriots could have a team ready to compete for championships again possibly as soon as next year (as long as the NFLPA and league owners reach an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement).

But 2011 is a long ways away, especially with 2010 just underway. The Patriots won’t be perfect this year. They will take some lumps during the growing pains. The rulers of 2010, the Team of the Decade, has relinquished the crown.

A new decade is beginning. And Belichick has his goal of team of the next decade in his sights. If all goes right, it won’t be long until he has new pictures to hang on the walls.

A few things I’m looking for:

The Gator Family: Solid games by University of Florida alums (RB Fred Taylor, DL Gerard Warren, LBs Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham, and TE Hernandez) would help in a major way.

Blitz-22: Will the coaches bring extra heat and leave a young secondary on an island, or do they play coverage and leave Bengals QB Carson Palmer all day in the pocket?

Gun Control: Cincinnati WR Chad Ochocinco said he wants to shoot one of the Minutemen’s gun for a touchdown celebration. Don’t let him offend the home crowd.

The first of many hard lessons takes place. The Bengals’ offensive weapons will be too much to handle for the Patriots defense on the first day of class.