we need to be playing for this year

like Bellicheck did with Brandon Cooks

small window before FA salary cap nightmares

The Pats made another move like that with trading for Sanu.

They have known since Brady turned 40 that they don't have much time with him.

I tell people on here all the time - these guys are not playing until their 45. We have now, not later to do this. We already wasted Brees' prime with those awful defenses between 2011 to 2016. We have to win it this year, no excuses.

I know what you keep telling people on here all the time. While I totally disagree that these special players can't keep performing at a high level into their mid 40's, I do agree that we need to play for now ... every year.

Brady looks like 2015 Peyton Manning this year at 42 years old. He didn't look all that great last year either. I don't ever want to see Brees decline that hard, which is why I think we need to try and win it all now and let him retire with that second ring. Brees has already begun to decline going by how bad he looked at the end of last year.

For me personally, I think it's heart breaking seeing these legendary QBs break down and play like a shell of their former selves in the twilight of their careers. Manning in 2015 was awful to watch. Both Manning and Brady would've lit the scoreboard up in their last 2 SBs with how well the Broncos and Pats defense was playing. It was also sad seeing Brett Favre in 2010 look old and slow. I don't want to ever see Brees like that.

I like what we have done on defense. It's similar to what Denver did when they realized Manning was nearly done. They went all in on defense and put together a dominant unit to take care of their aging QB. In my opinion, the Saints defense owes this to Brees after he spent years carrying them in his prime. They owe it to him to let him sit back and game manage while they do all the heavy lifting.

Everything is set up for us to take advantage of this year too. The NFC has some good teams, but thankfully the real race is going to be in the NFC North and NFC West divisions. Those teams are going to beat each other black and blue and I think whoever wins both divisions, will limp into the playoffs not at full strength.

My only concern is the Patriots and how good their defense would really be for us in the SB. That was an underrated defense all year and they proved it by thrashing teams in the playoffs. I would not be surprised if they finish 16-0 or 15-1 and then breeze through the AFC again. If it's us and them, that's going to be a SB battle for the ages.