The New England Patriots remind me of my 7-year-old son’s favorite football movie, The Replacements.
He loves the part when Coach Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) says: “Up until now Dallas hasn’t been afraid of you, and they should be because you have a powerful weapon working for you. There is no tomorrow for you, and that makes you all very dangerous people!”
Related Story: Can Tight Ends Return Patriots To Super Bowl
The New England Patriots are also very dangerous people going into the 2016 season. Like the fictitious Washington Sentinels, there may not be many tomorrows for them.
Quarterback Tom Brady enters the season at 39 years old. Peyton Manning recently retired at 39, after his physical skills declined. Though at 38, Manning was a Pro Bowler. Brett Favre retired at 41, though at 40 he had a magnificent season and reached the NFC Championship game. Warren Moon had his last productive season at age 41, and even George Blanda was coming off the bench in relief of Daryl Lamonica in his 40s.
Time catches even the best of us.
And with time not on their side, the Patriots made several off-season roster moves that have them loaded for bear.
Adding tight end Martellus Bennett, defensive end Chris Long, guard Jonathan Cooper, wide receiver Chris Hogan and more, has injected more veteran talent to a team that reached the AFC Championship Game last year.
The Patriots have very powerful weapons.
In some ways, the influx of talent reminds me of 2014, the last time the Patriots hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. That year, New England added defensive backs Brandon Browner, Darrelle Revis, Patrick Chung, Malcom Butler, and wide receiver Brandon LaFell.
What’s different now is that New England is adding players who, metaphorically, have no tomorrow. They are in the twilight of their playing days.
Along that idea, ESPN writer Mike Reiss recently penned a piece titled, Patriots’ 30-and-over club grows as team balances experience, youth.
“In signing 31-year-old defensive end Chris Long and 32-year-old receiver Nate Washington to one-year contracts within a span of a few days (recently), the New England Patriots inched closer to the top of the NFL for most players in their 30s on a roster.
“The Patriots currently have nine, with receiver Julian Edelman set to make it 10 in May.”
Many of these 30-somethings start or play key roles: Kicker Stephen Gostkowski (32), right tackle RT Sebastian Vollmer (32), Danny Amendola (30), defensive end Rob Ninkovich (32) defensive tackle Alan Branch (31) who started 15 games last season and 5-time special teams Pro Bowler Matthew Slater (30) are among them.
Not far behind are Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung at 29.
Imagine what goes through the minds of these veteran Patriots who have tasted the ultimate team success and understand its rarity and preciousness.
Think about what goes through the mind of a player like Chris Long, whose father is in the Hall of Fame and whose brother is a perennial pro bowler. The inner drive to measure up and knowing this may be your only shot at a ring must be an incredible force.
Undoubtedly, Bill Belichick grasps the implications of this time and place in NFL history. Winning a fifth Super Bowl would be his crowning achievement.
Perhaps he’s brought together these, possibly like-minded, talented people nearing the end of their careers for a reason?
More nfl spin zone: New England Builds Unstoppable Force Via Trade
Theoretically, a team with fewer tomorrows should go forward with a greater sense of urgency.
But win or lose, watching the drama play out in New England will be fun to watch this year.
So, let me leave you with some pearls of wisdom from The Replacements.
Jimmy McGinty: You know what separates the winners from the losers?
Shane Falco: The score.