Patriots

Defense

Proof that the defending champions aren’t perfect. Even more surpising than Belichick’s benching was when he brought them back on the field in the fourth quarter.

New England reportedly has the smallest offer ($700,000), while the Dolphins probably have made the highest. Mangini is probably leaning towards staying loyal to the Pats.

It’s the Patriots, so nothing really changes. The defensive game plan will still have Bill Belichick’s fingerprints all over it. Patricia had spent five years as LBs coach before the promotion. Pepper Johnson is moving from DL coach to LBs coach in his place. The Patriots also hired Belichick’s son, Steve, as a first-year coaching assistant after four years of lacrosse and one season of longsnapping at Rutgers.

“Until I’m told otherwise, I plan on being here,” said Belichick. Turning 61 in April, Belichick will return for his fourteenth season on the sidelines with the Patriots, and with Andy Reid now gone from Philadelphia, that makes him the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL.

Mangini is the clear choice for the defensive coordinator position in New England, but national specualtion has centered on Mangini bolting for higher paying jobs with the Browns or Dolphins. Keep in mind that Mangini turned down a coordinator job in Oakland last season to stay with the Patriots. He sounds loyal to Belichick.

ESPN’s sources that Mangini was gone were totally wrong. It was reportedly down to Cleveland and the Patriots, with the 32-year old choosing loyalty over money. The Belichick clone will be under a lot of pressure to keep New England’s defense on top.

New England will be looking for coordinators on both sides of the ball after the season. Defensive backs coach Eric Mangini has been considered the favorite for the defensive coordinator spot.

Specter said a Congressional hearing could be next. Goodell told Mike and Mike that he’d be happy to meet with the Senator. “When you have an investigation that hasn’t talked to this fella Matt Walsh,” Specter said, “and didn’t go back beyond 2006, it’s obviously a very incomplete investigation.” It is worth noting that Senator Specter’s second biggest campaign contributor is Comcast, who just happens to be in a bitter dispute with the NFL.

That’s when Belichick took over as Patriots coach. Per Specter, Goodell said Belichick claims he believed videotaping of other teams was legal. It’s still unclear what Belichick taped and which games were affected.

Camera-gate and his often sour demeanor aside, it would be hard to argue against Belichick following a 16-0 regular season. Browns coach Romeo Crennel and Packers coach Mike McCarthy will likely be among his closest competitors.