New England Patriots: Don’t worry about the drama

Rome isn’t burning. The sky is still safely hanging above us. Tom Brady is still the Greatest of All Time. Everything will be fine for the New England Patriots.

In the words of Aaron Rodgers who plays for Green Bay: “R-E-L-A-X.”

Here’s the deal, drama is nothing new around here. We deal with things like this literally every season. Once upon a time it may have been a united front, fighting off the attacks from Roger Goodell’s misinformed witch hunt. Or dealing with the repercussions of using a video camera on the sidelines, even though other teams did it, too.

The problems in New England happen everywhere, to be sure. No, the Patriots are not the only team that has been involved in cheating scandals. In fact, according to the wonderful people at yourteamcheats.com, the Patriots are middle of the pack as far as those offenses go.

The Falcons fed crowd noise. The Seahawks had plenty of PED offenses. Once, in December 2015, Von Miller faked an injury to stop the clock so the Broncos could challenge a play against the Raiders. Oh, remember when Mike Tomlin tried to trip Jacoby Jones?

So what’s the difference? Why do things as minor as Tom Brady spending time in Monaco instead of voluntary workouts in Foxborough draw the ire of national media outlets?

Simple. Since the dawn of humanity, society has loved nothing more than to tear down those who are highest up. That’s why a guy who could barely even be considered a role player in Cassius Marsh making comments about how much fun he had in New England balloon into perceived scathing indictments on a culture that may or may not exist.

According to an article in the Washington Post, Marsh stated that he never had fun as a Patriot, was asked to do things he’d never done before, and added “it was just constantly being told [I was] kind of like a backup type of guy…That’s not who I am.” Well, actually, that’s exactly who he is.

Marsh has spent four years in the NFL, splitting his time between Seattle, New England, and San Francisco. In his 52 NFL games, he has started only twice. One of those was in New England. How could he possibly have felt under appreciated solely by the Patriots, while being given at least as much opportunity here as anywhere else?

Maybe Marsh saw an opportunity to make his mark on the fall of an empire. Maybe he spied a window to hurl his vapid takes after Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson said the Patriots are a no fun zone.

Rob Gronkowski, the most obviously fun Patriot, has spent much of this offseason as a player rumored to retire, and then rumored to be traded. It’s been reported that Gronkowski doesn’t enjoy playing for Belichick.

What if the simplest explanation really is the correct one? What if Gronk wants to retire because he’s nearly 30-years-old, plagued by back, knee, elbow, and head injuries, and has accomplished in eight years what most players never accomplish in 18?

It’s been said that Brady skipping voluntary workouts is an indictment on his disagreements with his coach. What if Brady is just a 41-year-old man who has accomplished more than any quarterback in league history, and wants to take a little break? I mean, it’s not like he’s coming off an MVP season…

What if the drama isn’t drama at all? What if it’s exactly what it’s always been? A national media and local fanbases that will do anything they can to topple the throne.

The drama could be real. Kraft could be hanging on to a past that is just barely forgotten, while Belichick, always willing to cut even his best players for the good of the team, has his eyes keenly set on the future. Brady could be skirting the edge of a plateau.

Probably not.

How many years will we hear the same old story? “Brady can’t continue to play at that level at this age.” “The hierarchy in New England is upset.” By now you’d think they would’ve figured out how that story ends.

Next: Possible defensive camp additions

I could be wrong. This might be a homer take. Bookmark it if you must. But when the snows are falling in January, and the road to Super Bowl LIII goes through Foxborough, Massachusetts; remember the struggles, and the drama, and the attempts to rip the dynasty to shreds. Relish in it. Even I know it won’t last forever.

Maybe.