The Patriots are a very young team
The Patriots were never considered an older team, despite trading Logan Mankins, one of their older players. However, while some of the core players on the team are 30 years old or older, the Patriots are one of the younger teams in the NFL. That's a frightening thought for a team that is considered a Super Bowl contender year in and year out.
Considering NFL rosters generally carry 53 players during the regular season, the amount of players the Patriots have who are 30 or over is astounding. Tom Brady is the only player over 35 and seems to have some great years left in him. Players like Vince Wilfork, Rob Ninkovich and Sebastian Vollmer figure to be able to play at a high level for a little while longer.
Meanwhile, there are players on this team such as Chandler Jones, who is continuing to evolve into a star, Jamie Collins, Dont'a Hightower, Kenbrell Thompkins, Rob Gronkowski and more, who are so young and are so important to New England's success.
Let's settle one thing right now for any doubters: with or without Mankins, the Patriots are going to be just fine. There are enough young players on this team with solid talent to keep them competitive after Brady, Wilfork and others are gone.
No one is better at handling big personnel losses than the Patriots. They went 11-5 with Matt Cassel under center for a year after losing Brady to injury. Even though they didn't make the playoffs, that's pretty impressive.
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Brady (37), Wilfork (32), Connolly (31), Browner, Gostkowski, Ninkovich, Vollmer (30) remain only Patriots 30 or older.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyedNESN) August 26, 2014
Considering NFL rosters generally carry 53 players during the regular season, the amount of players the Patriots have who are 30 or over is astounding. Tom Brady is the only player over 35 and seems to have some great years left in him. Players like Vince Wilfork, Rob Ninkovich and Sebastian Vollmer figure to be able to play at a high level for a little while longer.
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| AP Photo/Charles Krupa |
Let's settle one thing right now for any doubters: with or without Mankins, the Patriots are going to be just fine. There are enough young players on this team with solid talent to keep them competitive after Brady, Wilfork and others are gone.
No one is better at handling big personnel losses than the Patriots. They went 11-5 with Matt Cassel under center for a year after losing Brady to injury. Even though they didn't make the playoffs, that's pretty impressive.
Follow me on Twitter - @JesseGaunce
For more of my articles, click here.
