First it was Rex Ryan, now it’s Ryan Clark.
Do any other former Patriots foes want to line up and take their comeuppance?
On ESPN’s “Get Up” Monday, Clark, who played seven seasons with the Steelers, begrudgingly admitted the Patriots are a legitimate contender following their 24-6 laugher over the Panthers. In fact, he predicted they’ll get back to the Super Bowl.
“The Patriots are going to mess around and get to the Super Bowl,” Clark said. “When I said it yesterday, I said it out of disgust. It wasn’t something that I analyzed and that I felt really good about in watching and re-watching the film saying to myself, ‘You know what? I am so excited that the dang Patriots are good again.’ I am absolutely not.”
Clark’s animosity is understandable, considering the Patriots’ dominance over the Steelers. But kudos to him for being objective. The Patriots are peaking while the rest of the AFC is in flux. The Bills lost to the Jaguars Sunday, and the Chiefs barely survived challenges from the woeful Giants and Jordan Love-led Packers.
After guaranteeing a record $163 million in free agency, the Patriots are finally fulfilling expectations. This is a better roster than the club that limped to a 7-9 finish last season.
“This is everything that we thought they’d be,” Clark said. “We thought they had added some pieces in free agency to make the offense flow a little bit better for who at the time we thought was going to be Cam Newton.”
Mac Jones, of course, is playing better than Newton ever did last season. Through nine weeks, his 2,135 passing yards are seventh all-time for a rookie QB.
Even Ryan, who called Jones a “peashooter” earlier in the season, is now relenting. “I was all out on these guys, ever since Tom Brady left," he said Sunday. "I looked at them like I'm completely done with this team. It's going to be 10 years until they make the playoffs. ... I don't want to say it, but they're dangerous.”
The Patriots are winning while the NFL world shutters. Normalcy has returned.
Thanks to MacFarlane Energy, your Mitsubishi Diamond Elite contractor, where they can very affordably heat your three season room with a Mitsubishi ductless hyper heat unit. Please visit macfarlaneenergy.com.
