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Storm of injuries Hit New England Patriots Early in 2016

By Carl Cockerham

Dec 20, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws as tackle Sebastian Vollmer (76) blocks Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Brian Orakpo (98) during the second half of the New England Patriots 33-16 win over the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws as tackle Sebastian Vollmer (76) blocks Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Brian Orakpo (98) during the second half of the New England Patriots 33-16 win over the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New England Patriots are in trouble!

I understand the greatness of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. But it’s getting harder and harder to bet on him to remain one of the top teams in the NFL. Great quarterback /head coach combos win but they need a team around them.

Brady already has his four-game suspension and it seems like the Patriots are losing players daily these days. The offseason started with the team trading top edge rusher Chandler Jones. And now, opposite edge-rusher Rob Ninkovich is out indefinitely with a torn triceps muscle.

Wait, it gets worse as starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer is likely out for the season. The Patriots put him on the PUP list with a hip injury and it doesn’t look good. In addition to Vollmer, guard Shaq Mason is out for a while with a broken hand.

Belichick is the king of “next man up” and always prepares his offensive lineman to play other positions. So while that helps negate some of the problem, the Patriots are running out of next men. Injuries cost the Patriots a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs last year.

Then there’s running back Dion Lewis out for about two months after a follow-up knee surgery from a torn ACL back in November. The Patriots’ training staff will earn their money this year with all their injuries. They’ll be okay without Lewis but the offensive line is concerning.

I’m not saying the Patriots can’t weather this storm but it sure did hit the team hard. And the offensive line is the wrong place for any kind of storm of injuries to hit. Brady is 39 now, an age that the Patriots need to protect him as well as they possibly can.

We’ll see what Belichick does to protect Brady this time.

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