According to this si.com article (http://mmqb.si.com/2015/02/02/super-bowl-49-tom-brady-new-england-patriots/), the Patriots were the youngest team to ever win a Super Bowl, averaging just 25.2 years of age per player. I know they have some grizzled veterans (namely, Brady and Wilfork), but for the most part, this is a group of young players.
As far as the potential to lose players via free agency goes, here's a list of their pending FAs (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/new-england-patriots/):
McCourty
Connelly
Gostkowski
Vereen
Ridley
White
Aiken
Ayers
Casillas
Develin
Tyms
Siliga
Orton
Morris
Branch
Revis (he's not technically a free agent, but the odds are not high that NE will keep him at his projected 2015 cap figure)
I think McCourty, Conelly, Gostkowski, Ayers, Siliga, and Revis are the keys. Vereen was terrific, but I think they could find a replacement. I love Develin, and I bet he wouldn't cost much to retain. Otherwise….. I think they could live without the other guys.
Anyway, not to get too much into the offseason yet. My point simply being that this team is actually set up really well to be excellent in 2015 and beyond.
As far as the potential to lose players via free agency goes, here's a list of their pending FAs (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/new-england-patriots/):
McCourty
Connelly
Gostkowski
Vereen
Ridley
White
Aiken
Ayers
Casillas
Develin
Tyms
Siliga
Orton
Morris
Branch
Revis (he's not technically a free agent, but the odds are not high that NE will keep him at his projected 2015 cap figure)
I think McCourty, Conelly, Gostkowski, Ayers, Siliga, and Revis are the keys. Vereen was terrific, but I think they could find a replacement. I love Develin, and I bet he wouldn't cost much to retain. Otherwise….. I think they could live without the other guys.
Anyway, not to get too much into the offseason yet. My point simply being that this team is actually set up really well to be excellent in 2015 and beyond.