I was strolling through the blogs one day

In the mini-camp month of May

I wasn't taken by surprise

By several who did surmise

That the Patriots would win run-ning away

Tis the season. Every NFL franchise has visions of the playoffs... plum dancing in their heads. As usual we already have some odds-on-paper champions. There are always certain teams that look like pre-season world-beaters. You know, like the New York Yankees and Dallas Mavericks. After an off-season of wheeling and dealing the New England Patriots are a team that many people have already turned their eyes to.  They appear formidable now and perhaps rightfully so.  Personally I see many question marks. They better not stumble and look back once the season starts because some non-flashy Jets may start gaining on them.

I know that Tom "Golden Boy" Brady is most everyone's ideal quarterback. 3- time Super Bowl champ, handsome, charismatic and impregnator of beautiful women... this guy has the life. You know what though? At what point do impending fatherhood, spurned Hollywood pregnant actresses (Bridget Moynahan) and a tabloid lifestyle (super model Gisele Bundchen) start affecting him? Maybe he plugs right along but what if it becomes a distraction? Chad Pennington on the other hand may have suspect arm strength but he's very smart and moves the football without the extra curriculars. He's a system quarterback who'll pick you apart underneath all day. Just don't ask him to lead 21-point comebacks and he excels. Jets fans like to refer to him as "Brady Light". 

We've all heard of the new weapons on the outside that Brady will be throwing to. Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Kelly Washington, Wes Welker, along with holdovers Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney. Umm...after Moss and Stallworth all I see is a list of 3rd- string receivers. Stallworth is fast but has never caught more than 70 passes or gone over 1,000 yards. Donte also pulls more "hammies" than a pork farmer. Moss provides former star appeal but has he flamed out? Would you bet your ranch on a return to the good old days for Randy, who has slowed down and considers going over the middle a 3-lane crossover on the local interstate? The Jets may have the less flamboyant Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery, but we know they're quick and tough. These two precise route runners combined for 173 receptions, over 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.  They could surpass those numbers as they become even more of a cohesive tandem in their second year together.

Does anyone else think it was a bad idea for the Pats to let Corey Dillon go? If last year is any indication most NFL teams are looking to incorporate a two-running back approach. Dillon is tough as nails and a valuable player, especially in goal line situations. Laurence Maroney shows great promise but he'd be better off with Corey Dillon instead of Sammy Morris as his bruising change of pace back. The Jets meanwhile added Thomas Jones from the Bears and will pair him with the explosive "Warrick Dunn-like" Leon Washington. Running behind young stud linemen D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold, the Jets ground attack is looking very talented and versatile.

When the Patriots added linebacker Adalius Thomas from the Ravens, the rest of the AFC East collectively groaned and for good reason. Thomas is big, ridiculously fast for a man his size, can play almost any position on defense and leaps tall buildings in a single bound. He just may need to fly all over the field because sooner or later someone is going to have to cover for AARP members Tedy Bruschi, Junior Seau, Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison. I know they have all been instrumental players in the past but Father Time has a way of showing up overnight.

Meanwhile the Jets have young and hungry linebackers. They will pair Michigan alumni and tackling machine Dave Harris with the non-stop motor of Jonathan Vilma as the inside backers. On the outside they'll have the improving Victor Hobson and Bryan Thomas who combined for 177 tackles and 15 sacks in New York's stunting and scheming defense.  Add in highly touted shut down cornerback Darrelle Revis from the University of Pittsburgh, potential Pro-Bowl safety in the making Kerry Rhodes (99 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 ints), along with vastly improved depth on the defensive line, and the Jets made concerted efforts to address every area of need on both sides of the ball. 

Ah yes...the very merry month of May where all NFL teams are contenders or at least think they are.  More than likely the experts will continue and predict great things for Bill Belichick and his boys from Foxboro. Let's just place the bulls-eye squarely on them right now. As we know, for every "sure thing" there is always a cast of characters just waiting to underachieve and earn the dubious distinction of being the biggest disappointment in the league. I hear the Carolina Panthers are tired of winning that award and are quite hopeful that some other team assumes the mantle. From all the early hype thus far, perhaps New England is a most worthy candidate.