PatsFanTX Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 Patriots still class of AFC East By Michael Smith ESPN.com Archive We'd all agree that the NFL, far more than the NBA or Major League Baseball, is a coach's league, where good mentoring can elevate a team from contender to champion. The division that best exemplifies that fact is the AFC East.Who comes out of arguably the league's toughest division could well come down to which coaching staff does the best job. Three clubs saw significant change on the sideline this offseason.Start with the Patriots, winners of three of the past four Super Bowls. They have the best coach in the business in Bill Belichick, but his tandem of top-notch coordinators, Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis, are now running their own programs at Cleveland and Notre Dame, respectively. Belichick promoted secondary coach Eric Mangini to Crennel's post, while no one has officially been hired to fill Weis' position. Overcoming the loss of Crennel and Weis represents the most significant challenge to New England's title defense.As for the rest of the teams vying for the AFC East title, which the Patriots also have won in three of the past four seasons, the Jets said goodbye to the conservative and often controversial Paul Hackett and replaced him with former Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger in hopes of getting more big plays out of the offense. Almost as big but not nearly as heralded was New York's hiring of Markus Paul, formerly of the Patriots, to be its director of physical development. It's like they say in the NFL: If you can't beat them, hire them. In Buffalo, Mike Mularkey's program is entering Year 2, and the Bills are expecting to improve upon their 9-7 mark from last year. Last but not least (and certainly not the cheapest), Miami put enough in front of Nick Saban to finally pry him from the college ranks. Saban proceeded to land Vikings free agent offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and Chargers offensive line coach Hudson Houck. Those were impact hires. The division breaks down like the title of a low-budget sit-com: a dynasty, two teams with playoff aspirations playing catch-up while carrying thoughts of what could have been, and a once-proud franchise trying to rebound from Ricky.Sunday, Dec. 1. Week 17: Miami at New England, Buffalo at the New York Jets. Props to the schedule makers. Here's a look at where the AFC East teams stand: New England Patriots Best move: Moving with Cleveland and Miami into the $2.3-2.5 million (over three years) neighborhood and making it worth Mangini's while to remain in New England. Mangini, 34, a first-time coordinator (though he did call a handful of games in the 2000 season, the year before Crennel's arrival) who has worked wonders in the Patriots' secondary the past several seasons, is one of the rising stars of the coaching ranks. Oakland went hard after him last year. New England's defense would have been in capable hands had Mangini gone to work for Crennel or Saban (second-year linebackers coach Dean Pees probably would have gotten the job) but there's nothing quite like having a guy who's been in the bunker with you. Mangini knows Belichick's system and shares his philosophy, having been on the sideline with him for all but one of his nine NFL seasons. Think of him as The Apprentice to Belichick's Donald Trump. It makes the process of devising a game plan simpler when Belichick can simply go into Mangini's office and refer to a scheme from, I don't know, the second Jets-Colts game in 1999, when they were in New York together working for Bill Parcells. It's hard enough trying to replace two coordinators. Mangini's departure would have made it three major coaching defections Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn306 Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 I just read that. When did Edwards become Law's man ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nj meadowlands Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 And if Law comes back to earth and down off what is said to be a $7 million asking price and plays for his man Edwards, this team could pose a serious threat to Law's old one, the Patriots. We will threaten the Trolls with or without Ty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garb Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 'gotta love a reporteres "insight" The Jest have been the Pats biggest threat for the past four years. I'd call it a two-team division. This is new? Losman will blow. Miami - offense will blow. Jets - top five defense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nj meadowlands Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 'gotta love a reporteres "insight" The Jest have been the Pats biggest threat for the past four years. I'd call it a two-team division. This is new? Losman will blow. Miami - offense will blow. Jets - top five defense. hahaha garb i had to rub my eyes when i read that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Troll Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 We will threaten the Trolls with or without Ty Not cool. Call the Patriots the "Faggots" or something. Leave me out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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