Looking forward

ASSOCIATED PRESS

I keep flipping around the TV channels today looking for Duck Boats. Then I remember that Welker didn't catch that ball.

Vegas has installed the Patriots as the favorite to win the Super Bowl next year. Ah, next year. After witnessing another last second loss to the Giants for the championship I thought it might take a while before I started looking forward to next year. It took less than 48 hours.

The Patriots should be at least among the favorites next year. The offense (other than Deion, Light, and Waters) is young and should be just as strong. The defense is even younger, and hopefully will play more like it did in the playoffs than most of the regular season. As Mr. Kraft said in his "Farewell My Sweetheart" address, "We have two 1s and two 2s in the draft." That's right, sir. We do. Last year the Pats added Nate Solder, Stevan Ridley, and Marcus Cannon in the draft. All three made contributions to a team that was 14-2 the year before. There's still potential in injured draft picks Ras I. Dowling and Shane Vereen. Pro Bowlers Andre Carter and Brian Waters were added through free agency. (Yes, and Ocho too). Four picks in the first two rounds of the draft can only help.

The Packers will be back. As will the Steelers and the Ravens. And maybe even the Jets. The Giants, Saints, Niners. and Cowboys will all be in the hunt. The Pats only play four teams that had winning records last year. The Niners, Texans, Ravens, and Titans. They play the not-so-tough NFC West and the other three teams in the AFC East are currently in tough shape. Another AFC East crown and first-round bye are more than possible.

What are the Pats' needs going into next year? A wide receiver who can go deep. Someone in the Victor Cruz/Julio Jones category. A young pass rushing D lineman who can take some of the heat off of Big Vince. Oh, and a whole lot of defensive backs. If Belichick can bring in some guys to go with a core of Brady, Welker, Gronk, Hernandez, Mankins, Koppen, Vollmer, Solder, Waters, Bennie, Woody, Vince, Chung, Spike, Mayo, McCourty, Carter, and Anderson then the Pats could be there again come next February.

I don't how many more last-second Super Bowl losses I can take, but I'm willing to risk it if the Pats can get back there again. Free agency starts on March 13. The start of a new season and almost the start of spring. Looking forward to it.