Crushing Loss Behind Them, Patriots Pack Up and Move On
The players cleaned out their lockers, tossing aside a season's worth of shoes and other random junk, and packing up their game balls and family photos. It's one of the most unique days of the year for any team — like the last day of school, to an extent — as they gather around and say their goodbyes before regrouping for one more team meeting, taking their exit physicals and then dispersing to their respective homes.
Since it was the last day that players are contractually obligated to be at Gillette Stadium, there was no angst to finish any workouts, cram through the playbook or treat any injuries before practice. The reverberating bass from the stereos stored inside the lockers of Pat Chung and Kevin Faulk had been replaced by the sounds of open trash bags and packaging tape.
It was mellow, but not somber. The players were emotional, but not angry. There were still traces of Sunday's 33-14 season-ending loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but a night of sleep made the Patriots better equipped to move forward. While they were still at a loss over Sunday's dismantling, they turned their attention toward their teammates and tried to soak up the last few hours they'd be spending together before the offseason truly started.
"You always miss the camaraderie with the guys that you spend time with, some of the hard work you put into the first game, the throwback jerseys, all the guys," Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas said. "You remember some of the good times. You remember some of the bad times."
With the uncertainty of the roster turnover, the players understood their jobs were over, and this is the time to sit back and watch the front office go to work on offseason changes. Head coach Bill Belichick said the staff will go through a team evaluation process that will last about two weeks.
They'll go over everything, from the amount of times they put a receiver in motion, to player progression, to player evaluation, to what they have against what they need, to practice performances, to the upcoming camp schedules. From there, the Patriots will be able to sort out their needs in the draft and free agency, although the team's scouting department has already been waist-deep in that analysis.
"That's the nature of the business," Pats center Dan Koppen said. "Things change from year to year, the coaches and players, and the guys in this locker room understand that and know that. Bill and the guys upstairs, luckily that's their job. They've got to decide what to do next year. We just have to take the time off now and come back hopefully better."
Of course, the players have their offseason regimen, whether they're under contract in New England or not. Most of them said they'll rest for a week or so before they get back to training for 2010.
"You shut it down for a little bit, re-evaluate, see how the season went and move on from there," Koppen said. "It's not good how it ended, and I don't think anybody in here is pleased with how it ended. But you've just got to go on from there, sort of take the time that you have and move on."
Linebacker Rob Ninkovich said he's taking a similar approach.
"For the first week, I'll let my body heal up a little bit, just hang out, let the body heal, watch the playoffs, be pissed off and just get my mind right for next year," Ninkovich said. "I've been here a year. I was happy with my year coming in and making contributions. Just try to get your mind right to expand your role, I guess."
Ninkovich's training program involves activities such as boxing, swimming and biking, a "more unique" workout to keep things fun and entertaining. He is one of the fortunate ones who doesn't have any serious injuries to mend in the coming months, and Monday's exit physicals will dictate how closely the Patriots' training staff will monitor each player through the offseason.
Other than that, the guys are on their own. It's their responsibility to get ready for the upcoming camps, which aren't all that far away. Before they know it, they'll be back in Foxborough for passing camp in March.
"It comes back quick, too," Ninkovich said. "Minicamps and OTA's are right around the corner."
