Seau is thinking the same thing as the Patriots’ fans

Pro Bowl News

Seau is thinking the same thing as the Patriots' fans

Bit by bit, the New England Patriots keep getting better and better.

If they’re not the best team in the NFL now, well, I want to know who is.

The signing of super-senior linebacker Junior Seau for what will be the former perennial all-pro’s 19th NFL season is one more plus in what has been a highly exciting and wildly encouraging offseason for Patriots fans who thought their heroes were headed to a fourth Super Bowl in six years last season until they blew an 18-point lead in the AFC Championship Game in Indianapolis.

Instead of dwelling on that disappointment, the Patriots’ front office has been acting decisively to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Now, after an impressive array of free-agent signings, trades and draft picks, New England fans are looking forward eagerly to the coming season, rather than looking backward at what happened last year.

It’s only May, but already every Patriots fan I talk with can’t wait until the season-opener in September.

Which is certainly understandable, because the 2007 Patriots appear to be a significantly improved team from the one that collapsed in the second half against the Colts in January.

Although Seau is 38 years old, he adds savvy and depth at a position where the Patriots are talented, but thin. And also a bit long in the tooth.

The Patriots’ top five linebackers all will be at least 30 this fall. Tedy Bruschi will be 34; Mike Vrabel, 32, and both pass-rushing specialist Rosevelt Colvin and multi-talented newcomer Adalius Thomas will be 30.

Seau’s return gives the Patriots additional flexibility and, more importantly, unpredictability.

It’s always perplexing for opponents to deal with Bill Belichick’s brilliant defensive schemes. With the addition of the 6-2, 270-pound Thomas, a Pro Bowl selection at outside linebacker for the Ravens and one of the most coveted free agents on the market this winter, and now Seau’s return, Belichick has the option of using Vrabel inside or outside.

Colvin, who led the team in sacks last season with 8½ , is primarily a pass-rusher. Vrabel is strong enough to play inside, fast enough to line up outside. He can rush the passer or drop in pass coverage. Thomas can do all of those things, too.

Combining that linebacking corps with a front line headed by five-time Pro Bowl selection Richard Seymour and fellow first-rounders Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork, along with six-year vet Jarvis Green, who had 7½ sacks last season, and New England can boast a front seven that’s the equal of any in the NFL.

Although there are questions about the running game, following the departure of Corey Dillon, and with Laurence Maroney coming off shoulder surgery after a promising rookie season, the New England offense could prove to be the most productive of the Tom Brady Era.

The signing of free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who averaged 19.1 yards per catch last year for the Eagles, provided Brady with the secondary-stretching deep threat that was so sorely lacking last season. That move was complemented by a trade with Miami that brought Wes Welker to New England. A fine “possession” receiver who led the Dolphins in catches last year, Welker also returns punts and kickoffs.

The presence of that dynamic duo promised to create opportunities for tight end Ben Watson, who has big-play capability, in addition to his ability to make chain-moving, first-down catches.

Then, on the second day of the draft, the Pats made another trade, obtaining Randy Moss from the Raiders. Having the talented (although also admittedly troublesome) Moss racing down one sideline, with Stallworth on the other, while Watson, Welker and running back Kevin Faulk create additional woes for defensive backs, is a delightful prospect for New England fans — especially with the unerringly accurate Brady throwing behind the protection of a veteran offensive line heading into its third year together as a unit.

Seau has become the latest in an impressive list that includes Thomas, Stallworth, Welker, Moss and first-round draft choice Brandon Meriweather, who figures to provide immediate help to a secondary that has had injury problems in recent years.