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Wow, what an offseason after losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, where they ran out of gas and surrendered a 21-3 lead approaching half time.

The Patriots needed to get a little younger and/or a little deeper at linebacker if they wanted to avoid another huge collapse like that game. With the signing of Adalius Thomas, that Patriots did just that. Thomas allows the Patriots the freedom to put Mike Vrabel at inside linebacker alongside Tedy Bruschi, and Junior Seau can spell for these guys to keep fresh legs out there. Still, you can never have enough good linebackers in a 3-4 defense, my money is on the Patriots picking up another linebacker in the draft.

On offense, the Patriots lost depth at running back with Corey Dillon leaving town and hoping to pick up a starter job somewhere. With the increased workload being placed on 2006 rookie Laurence Maroney, the Patriots were going to need to stretch the field a lot better than last year and Donte Stallworth is that guy. Man, can this kid run, and neither Brady nor Stallworth have ever had the opportunity of working with the likes of the other in the NFL.

The Patriots may be losing the leadership on offense, defense, and special teams in kr/pr/wr/nb Troy Brown due to retirement. Their replacement for him is former Dolphins kr/pr/wr Wes Welker, whose heart, creativity, and feistiness on the field remind me a lot of Troy Brown.

In a very weak free-agency market, and a new minimum salary cap, the Patriots did the right thing and pursued the most bang for the buck they were going to be forced to spend anyhow, while finding players that fit their system. Kudos again to Pioli and Belechick, who never cease to amaze me. Looks like another great season for the Pats in 2007! Maybe Tom Brady can lock up that fourth Super Bowl and stand side by side in history with his boyhood idol Joe Montana.

Learn more about this author, Michael Severance.
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