Patriots don't have edge in age over the Colts

Tom E. Curran,CSNNE:

"You've got to relax your brain and your body for a few days," McCourty said. "Still, guys were engaged. I'm sure guys were watching those games Sunday. There's a fine line from getting too far away. Coach Belichick reminded us of that. We've got a kind of an older team now that maybe understands that better."

"There's good connections to guys that are maybe in their first three years," McCourty said. "It's pretty big gap in between young guys and guys like Tom [Brady] and V [Vince Wilfork]...It's good to have guys who are in between who can relate."

The bye week arrived at the perfect time for the New England Patriots. It helped that prior to recess there was the emotional win over the Denver Broncos. According to Devin McCourty, "it gives the players time to watch how the others are doing, but still not be too far away."

The perception that the Patriots are an older team is due to the age of the signal caller, 37 year old Tom Brady. When the Pats square off against the Colts, Tom won't even be the oldest QB on either roster. That distinction goes to former Boston College QB, Colts Matt Hasselback who is 39.

The Patriots are the 11th oldest team in the NFL with an average age of 25.76. The Colts are 29th with an average of 26.66. The Oakland Raiders are the oldest, and they are winless. If Devin McCourty had mentioned OT Dan Connolly along with Tom and Vince, he would have had all the Patriots over the age of 30. The Colts boast six players over 30, and one over age 40.

According to Tom E. Curran, "the Patriots locker room is one of the best he has been in." The mix of young and old on the Patriots roster makes for a strong locker room, McCourty said."

The New England Patriots will need young and old to slow down the Indianapolis top ranked offense that is scoring 32.2 points per game through nine weeks.

Fresh legs after all that time off should do wonders.


Adam Vinatieri will be 42 on December 28th. He has made all 20 field goal attempts this season, and has hit 27 straight. The oldest player in NFL history is George Blanda who played until he was 48. Records are made to be broken.

Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

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