2007 New England Patriots season

Infobox NFL_season
logo =
team = New England Patriots
year = 2007
record = 16-0
division_place = 1st AFC East
coach = Bill Belichick
stadium = Gillette Stadium
playoffs = Won Divisional Playoffs (Jaguars) 31–20
Won Conference Championship (Chargers) 21–12
Lost Super Bowl XLII (Giants) 17–14
pro bowlers = 8
uniform =
The 2007 New England Patriots season was the 38th season for the team in the National Football League and 48th season overall. The Patriots finished the regular season 16-0, improving on their 12–4 record of 2006, when the team finished in first place in the AFC East, but lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship. The Patriots clinched the AFC East before their eleventh game (in Week 12), the fourth time since the NFL introduced the 16-game schedule in 1978 that a team had clinched a division title by its eleventh game. [cite web |url=http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/sp_fbn_patsside26a_11-26-07_3480HRP_v7.2a70e35.html |title=Pats tie earliest clinching of the AFC East |first=Shalise Manza |last=Young |work=The Providence Journal |date=2007-11-26 |accessdate=2007-11-26] The team then went on to finish the regular season with the first 16-0 record in NFL history, and the first undefeated regular season in the NFL since the 1972 Miami Dolphins finished 14-0.cite web |url=http://www.patriots.com/games/index.cfm?ac=gamereportdetail&pid=29937&pcid=47 |title=Patriots at Giants: Game Notes |work=Patriots.com |date=2007-12-29 |accessdate=2007-12-30] Their two playoff wins to reach Super Bowl XLII, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, made them the first professional team since 1884 in any of the four major American sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey) to win the first 18 games of their season.cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22758036/page/2/ |title=Pats back in Super Bowl after win over Chargers |work=Associated Press |publisher=MSNBC.com |date=2008-01-20 |accessdate=2008-01-20]

In Week 2 of the season, head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots were penalized by the NFL for their involvement in the illegal videotaping of opponents' defensive signals in their Week 1 game against the New York Jets, referred to in the press as Spygate.

The Patriots lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, leaving the 1972 Dolphins as the only undefeated champion in NFL history. The Patriots ended the season at 18-1, becoming only one of three teams to go 18-1 along with the 1984 San Francisco 49ers and the 1985 Chicago Bears, both of whom won their respective Super Bowls.

Offseason

Death of Marquise Hill

On the evening of May 27, 2007, Marquise Hill and his friend, Ashley Blazio, [cite news | url=http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=1004553 | title =Hero told friend: ‘Be calm, Don’t panic’ | date=3:29 PM ET, June 3 2007 | publisher=Boston Herald] fell off a jet ski in Lake Pontchartrain, north of New Orleans. Neither of them wore personal flotation or tracking devices. According to Hill's agent, who spoke with Blazio, Hill "ended up saving her life, keeping her calm until she could grab onto a buoy." [cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/05/29/patriot_hill_is_found_dead/ | title =Patriot Hill is found dead | date=May 29, 2007 | publisher=Boston Globe] Blazio was rescued and sent to Tulane Medical Center. Coast Guard units searched the area. Hill's body was found by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries around 2:15 PM CDT on May 28.

Hill's funeral, paid for by the team,cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/sports/football/10hill.html |title=In Patriots’ Season to Remember, a Teammate Is Not Forgotten |first=Karen |last=Crouse |work=The New York Times |date=2008-01-10 |accessdate=2008-01-10] was attended by many members of the Patriots team and staff, as well as by Hill's former coach Nick Saban. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/06/03/patriots_hill_is_eulogized_laid_to_rest/ |title=Patriots' Hill is eulogized, laid to rest |first=Christopher L. last=Gasper |work=The Boston Globe |date=2007-06-03 |accessdate=2007-06-15]

For the 2007 season, all members of the Patriots wore a black #91 decal on the backs of their helmets. A friend of Hill's since high school, fellow Patriots defensive lineman Jarvis Green supported Hill's fiancée Inell Benn and son Ma’Shy financially following Hill's death. [cite web |url=http://jarvisgreen.com/commerce/inthenews/inthenews.asp?reqdate=11/10/2007&id_passed=62 |title=Green: needed fill-in |first=Christopher L. |last=Gasper |work=The Boston Globe |date=2007-11-10 |accessdate=2008-01-10] Green also wore Hill's old shoulder pads for the Patriots' October 14 game against the Cowboys, which Benn attended.

taff changes

Unlike previous offseasons, head coach Bill Belichick's 2007 coaching staff remained generally unchanged. Wide receivers coach Brian Daboll left to become the quarterbacks coach for the New York Jets and was replaced by Director of Pro Personnel Nick Caserio. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/02/new_wr_coach.html |title=New WR coach |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-02-19 |accessdate=2007-06-15] Former Duke University offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien was also hired as an offensive assistant. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/02/obrien_hired.html |title=O'Brien hired |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-02-27 |accessdate=2007-06-15] A former special teams contributor for the Patriots, linebacker Don Davis retired and joined the coaching staff as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. [cite web |url=http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/sp_fbn_davis0201_02-01-08_148RK5P_v9.3560fc5.html |title=Don Davis offers strength in both of his Pats roles |work=The Providence Journal |first=Shalise Manza |last=Young |date=2008-02-01 |accessdate=2008-02-08] Offensive coaching assistant Mike Judge also joined Harvard University as a wide receivers coach. [cite web|url=http://www.gocrimson.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=41068&SPID=3659&DB_OEM_ID=9000&ATCLID=920368&Q_SEASON=2007|title=Mike Judge biography|work=GoCrimson.com|accessdate=2008-07-06]

Departures

Free agency saw the departure of two 2006 starters for the Patriots: tight end Daniel Graham signed with the Denver Broncos, [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/graham_to_denve.html |title=Graham to Denver |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-06 |accessdate=2007-06-15] and linebacker Tully Banta-Cain signed with the San Francisco 49ers, [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/tbc_to_sf_1.html |title=TBC to S.F. |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-06 |accessdate=2007-06-15] while running back Corey Dillon, the Patriots' leading rusher in 2006, asked to be released; the Patriots released him on March 2. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/dillon_cap.html |title=Dillon & salary cap |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-02 |accessdate=2007-06-15] Safety Tebucky Jones was also released early in the offseason. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/02/tebucky_release.html |title=Tebucky released |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-02-21 |accessdate=2007-06-15] Another departure came when punter Todd Sauerbrun signed with the Denver Broncos. When Sauerbrun was signed by the Patriots in December 2006, he agreed to a right of first refusal, meaning that the Patriots could match any offer by any other team made in the subsequent offseason. When the unrestricted free agent signing period came, the Broncos tendered Sauerbrun, and the Patriots exercised their right and matched the offer. However, the Broncos argued that the Patriots had not filed the proper documents required for that right, and ordered a hearing before an NFL special master [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/04/sauerbrun_updat_3.html |title=Sauerbrun update |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-04-18 |accessdate=2007-06-15] The Broncos won this hearing and Sauerbrun was allowed to sign with the Broncos. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/04/sauerbrun_to_de.html |title=Sauerbrun to Denver |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-04-19 |accessdate=2007-06-15] After spending all of training camp with the team, veteran punter Josh Miller was released on August 16. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/08/miller_cut.html |title=Miller cut |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-08-16 |accessdate=2007-08-16]

ignings

The offseason brought the arrival of seven unrestricted free agents to the Patriots. On offense, the Patriots added running back Sammy Morris, [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/morris_agrees.html |title=Morris agrees |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-03 |accessdate=2007-06-15] tight end Kyle Brady, [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/kyle_brady_upda.html |title=Kyle Brady update |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-03 |accessdate=2007-06-15] and wide receivers Donté Stallworth and Kelley Washington. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/wr_deals.html |title=WR deals |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-21 |accessdate=2007-06-15] On defense, they added linebacker Adalius Thomas [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/thomas_in_fold.html |title=Thomas in fold |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-03 |accessdate=2007-06-15] and cornerbacks Tory James [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/04/james_signing.html |title=James signing |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-04-24 |accessdate=2007-06-15] and Eddie Jackson. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/jacksons_deal.html |title=Jackson's deal |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-21 |accessdate=2007-06-15]

Free agents or potential free agents Heath Evans, Billy Yates, [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/pats_moves_8.html |title=Pats moves |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-02 |accessdate=2007-06-15] Larry Izzo, [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/izzos_deal.html |title=Izzo's deal |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-08 |accessdate=2007-06-15] Rashad Baker, Gene Mruczkowski, [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/contract_follow.html |title=Contract follow-up |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-23 |accessdate=2007-06-15] Junior Seau, [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/05/seau_followup.html |title=Seau follow-up |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-05-22 |accessdate=2007-06-15] Randall Gay, [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/05/gay_update_1.html |title=Gay update |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-05-24 |accessdate=2007-06-15] Troy Brown, [cite web |url=http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1010548 |title=Troy's back with Pats |work=Boston Herald |first=John |last=Tomase |date=2007-07-10 |accessdate=2007-07-10] and Vinny Testaverde [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/08/hawkins_release.html |title=Hawkins released |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-08-18 |accessdate=2007-08-27] were all re-signed. The Patriots used their non-exclusive franchise tag on cornerback Asante Samuel; [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/02/samuel_tagged.html |title=Samuel tagged |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-02-16 |accessdate=2007-06-15] Samuel signed it on August 28. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/08/samuel_in_house.html |title=Samuel in house |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-08-27 |accessdate=2007-08-27]

Trades

In the first week of free agency, the Patriots traded their second- and seventh-round picks in the 2007 NFL Draft to the Miami Dolphins for wide receiver Wes Welker. A restricted free agent, Welker signed a five-year contract with the Patriots to complete the trade. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/pats_acquire_we.html |title=Pats acquire Welker |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-03-05 |accessdate=2007-06-15]

During the second day of the draft, the Patriots added yet another wide receiver, this time trading a fourth-round draft pick (which the Patriots acquired the day before from the San Francisco 49ers with the 49ers' 2008 first-round pick in exchange for the Patriots' original 2007 first-round pick) to the Oakland Raiders for Randy Moss, who agreed to take a pay cut of over $6 million. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/04/trade_confirmed.html |title=Trade confirmed |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-04-29 |accessdate=2007-06-15] [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/04/moss_contract.html |title=Moss contract |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-04-29 |accessdate=2007-06-15]

During the preseason, on August 7, the Patriots traded an undisclosed pick in the 2008 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears for cornerback Dante Wesley, [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/08/trade_confirmed_1.html |title=Trade confirmed |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-08-07 |accessdate=2007-08-26] but since Wesley was cut, the Bears did not receive that pick.

2007 NFL Draft

The Patriots traded their original fifth-round pick to the Oakland Raiders during the 2006 season for Doug Gabriel. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/09/gabriel.html |title=Gabriel to Pats |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2006-09-02 |accessdate=2007-06-15] They also traded Patrick Cobbs to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ross Tucker to the Cleveland Browns prior to the 2006 season for late-round conditional draft picks, but neither players made their respective rosters, so the Patriots received no compensation. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2006/09/pick_update.html |title=Pick update |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2006-09-02 |accessdate=2007-06-15]

taff

Regular season

:note label|brbr|a|a Does not include the Week 17 game simulcast.

Postseason schedule

:note label|offensive|a|a Brady received 49 of 50 votes; Brett Favre received the other vote.:note label|offensive|b|b Patriots players received 49 of 50 votes: Brady earned 35.5, Randy Moss 12.5, and Wes Welker earned one vote (as did Favre).

Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections

Eight Patriots were elected to the 2008 Pro Bowl, the most since 1985.cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/12/pro_bowl_announ.html |title=Pro Bowl announcement |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2007-12-18 |accessdate=2007-12-18] Quarterback Tom Brady, offensive tackle Matt Light, guard Logan Mankins, wide receiver Randy Moss, cornerback Asante Samuel, linebacker Mike Vrabel, and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork were all named as starters, while center Dan Koppen was named as a reserve.

Of those eight, five—Brady, Light, Moss, Samuel, and Vrabel—were selected to the NFL's All-Pro first teamcite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d805db597&template=with-video&confirm=true |title=2007 NFL All-Pro roster |work=Associated Press |publisher=NFL.com |date=2008-01-09 |accessdate=2008-01-10] with Moss being a unanimous selection, and Brady receiving all but one-half vote (the other half was given to Brett Favre). Wilfork, Mankins, Koppen, and wide receiver Wes Welker were named to the second team.

Notes and references