While tight end Rob Gronkowski stole headlines during the team's bye week by posing for photos with porn star BiBi Jones, for which he later apologized, wide receiver Julian Edelman's alleged actions are on a completely different level.
Edelman was arrested and charged with indecent assault and battery for allegedly groping a woman at the Storyville nightclub in Boston at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. The wideout then signed an autograph outside the courthouse after his arraignment.
Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Co. haven't had much to say about Edelman's arrest, which is to be expected for such a touchy subject, but should we see someone stand up and take charge?
It seemed like the Patriots were once a team for which you went out, played football and then responded with a generic "we're focused on Sunday's opponent" demeanor whenever not on the gridiron.
But with Gronkowski's controversial, albeit harmless, conduct and Edelman's unacceptable — if it is, in fact, true — conduct, we're left wondering whether these are just isolated incidents or whether there's a real problem on the Patriots' hands.
New England was once a franchise for beleaguered players to arrive and resurrect their careers. Randy Moss and Corey Dillon are proof of that, and they stood as examples of why the Patriots could take chances on controversial players like Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth. But can the Pats continue to do such?
Is something suddenly wrong in Foxboro?
