"One Up, One Down"

The Patriots are in the news again. But this time THEY are not the ones making the decisions that affect the future of a player, instead it is THE LEAGUE that is determining the outcome.

Just days after the Patriots apparent win over Asante Samuel and his hold-out (although he was not under contract and refusing to play, which is the when the phrase hold-out is used, but it is basically what he was doing) the Patriots suffer a loss. This comes with the news of their veteran safety Rodney Harrison and the league's delivery of a 4-game suspension for using performance enhancing drugs.

Harrison, known for his hard hits and vocal team leadership has done both, but not in the way you would typically think. The league's mandated 4 games suspension for his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs is a hard hit to the Patriots secondary against the first four games of the season (@ rival NY Jets, Chargers, Bills, and @ Cincinnati). This is huge for the team, especially when you consider how well the coach of the Jets knows their offense, being a ex-defensive coordinator, playing his own defense against New England's offense last year and being a coach for Belicheck for years. Additionally, the Chargers and Bengals high-powered offenses. The Bills are less of a threat, but JP Losman and his WR corp. are growing better each game.

This leaves Belicheck to either go with sub-par play and speed of James Sanders or go with the rookie safety Brandon Merriweather. Truthfully, I believe that Sanders will start but Merriweather will get his fair share of downs until Rodney's return. They have a ton of leadership, but how will the team react to his vocal leadership after his return?

They do get Asante back (probably limited for the first game, if any playing time at all) and Eugene Wilson (out last year with injury), but to think that the foursome of Randal Gay, Ellis Hobbs III, Eugent Wilson and the tandem of Sanders/Merriweather will be able to withstand the likes of Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery, Justin McAreins, and a great sleeper TE in Chris Baker? The answer is, they haven't yet, why would this change with less talent in the secondary?

As a Patriots fan, I have mixed emotions. Obviously, I want an unreasonable record of 16-0 as all Patriots fan want them to, but I am also disappointed that this situation has come about. That is not to say that I don't understand his decision and actions, even more to say that I don't condone the use of these drugs. Being his age, wanting to compete, realising that injuries recover far quicker when you are on them, led him to make this decision, one that I believe ultimately he will regret.

The unfortunate situation is in regards to Shawne Merriman, who was also bagged for these same druges, yet was on the Pro Bowl. Bottom-line, it is all over ALL major competitive sports, but this situation also shows that your decision doesn't simply affect your health and your future, it also affects those that matter most to you. In this case, it was his teammates, the organization, and Patriots Nation as a whole who are affected by his decision/actions.

Who Benefits: Everyone playing them for the next four weeks, possibly more...you just don't throw egg on the face of the franchise and Bill Belicheck and not expect to be made an example, regardless of who you are!

In week one, expect Jerricho Cotchery to put up good numbers againts Patriots {He has owned the Patriots as of late and this will continue even more} Week two is simple, Gates & Vincent Jackson. Week three brings the Bills and the chance for Roscoe Parrish to get some nice touches and fantasy points (Being the third wide receiver). Parrish has had some success, fantasy-wise in the past and should definitely get some touches against the Patriots defense. In Week three , the Bengals "Whose-your-mama" will have a simply HUGE day against the Patriots as they will need to double Ocho-cinco and will rely on Wilson to back-up the secondary.


Ultimately, the Patriots (defense) will not lose much fantasy-wise, but it will put them behind The BEARS, The CHARGERS, and The RAVENS, where I have had them second only to the Bears previously.

Until the next time,

Statistocrat