The mass exodus of talent out of Foxborough this offseason certainly feels like it marks the end of an era. The New England Patriots have tormented the Miami Dolphins and the rest of the AFC East for the better part of twenty years — and while there have been plenty of faces that have come and go, we’ve never seen the team survive anything quite like this.
The Dolphins have had a firm hand this the turmoil in New England this offseason. First was a Week 17 defeat of the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, a game played with a 1st-round bye in the AFC Playoffs on the line for the Patriots. Then came a number of free agent signings that transitioned Patriots veterans like Kyle Van Noy, Ted Karras and Elandon Roberts to Miami.
But for as much success as the Dolphins have had pillaging New England’s roster, they haven’t been the team doing the heavy lifting. That honor goes to another team in the sunshine state, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Because it was Tampa Bay that signed first ballot Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady away. And now those same Buccaneers have pried another first ballot Hall of Famer from New England — now coaxing TE Rob Gronkowski out of retirement to play with Brady again. The Buccaneers traded a 4th-round pick to New England for his services.
Gronkowski and the Buccaneers will not play Miami this season (unless they meet in the Super Bo— no, forget it. Let’s not go there just yet), meaning Gronkowski won’t have the opportunity to pad his stats against the Dolphins — against an individual team, he’s got the second most receiving yards in his career and the second most receiving touchdowns in his career against the Dolphins. But he won’t be Miami’s problem this year and even though he didn’t play for New England last season, his departure to play elsewhere feels like the final nail in the coffin on the Patriots dynasty as we know it.
What a shame that is.