The 2008 season was the New England Patriots' 39th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 49th overall. The Patriots were defending AFC champions. Despite finishing the regular season with an 11–5 record, the Patriots did not qualify for the playoffs—becoming the first 11-win team since the expansion to a 12-team playoff in 1990 to miss the playoffs, as well as only the second team (after the 1985 Denver Broncos) since the NFL expanded to a 16-game regular season in 1978. They also were the first team since the 1935 Chicago Bears to go undefeated in the previous regular season and miss the playoffs the next season.
In the season opener, quarterback Tom Brady, the NFL's MVP in 2007, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during their season-opening victory against the Chiefs and missed the remainder of the season. This was Tom Brady's only significant injury of his entire career. Backup quarterback Matt Cassel replaced Brady. Cassel led the team to a win in Week 2 against the New York Jets, his first start since high school. A loss the following week against the Miami Dolphins ended the Pats' record 21-game regular-season winning streak. This record was broken by the Indianapolis Colts in 2009.
Despite entering the last week of the season with a three-game winning streak, the Patriots found themselves not controlling their own destiny. In addition to a Week 17 win, they also needed either a Dolphins loss to win the AFC East, or a Baltimore Ravens loss to earn a wild card berth. However, both Baltimore and Miami won, and the Dolphins, Ravens and Patriots each finished the season with an 11–5 record. Miami qualified for the playoffs by winning the AFC East division over the Patriots on the fourth divisional tiebreaker (better conference record: 8–4 to 7–5). Baltimore qualified for the playoffs as a wild card team, defeating the Patriots on the second wild card tiebreaker (better conference record: 8–4 to 7–5). Because of this, the Patriots failed to win the AFC East and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The Patriots would not fail to win another AFC East title or miss the postseason again until 2020, Brady’s first season of not being on the team.
Offseason
Incidents off the field Two days after Super Bowl XLII, safety Willie Andrews was arrested in Lowell, Massachusetts on February 5 for possession of of marijuana and driving an unregistered car. On May 9, Andrews' case was continued without finding for one year, during which time Andrews was ordered to pay a fine, speak to student athletes about the dangers of narcotics, and complete an NFL substance abuse program. On June 30, Andrews was arrested again and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm in Mansfield, Massachusetts, after his fiancée accused him of pointing a gun at her head. Andrews' fiancée called police, who searched Andrews' vehicle but did not find a gun; she later took her child to a hotel for the night, where Andrews then met her again before being arrested. The weapon, a Glock pistol, was later recovered in a dumpster near Andrews' apartment. Andrews was released on July 1.
On February 22, running back Kevin Faulk was issued a misdemeanor summons after he was found with four marijuana cigarettes at a Lil Wayne concert in Lafayette, Louisiana. Upon returning to New England, Faulk passed a drug test and did not have to enter the NFL's substance abuse program. Faulk pleaded no contest to the charge on July 8 and was sentenced to a five-month suspended jail term, given one year of probation, fined, and ordered to complete community service and substance abuse treatment programs. Faulk was later suspended for the first game of the 2008 regular season for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.
On April 27, according to The Boston Globe, offensive tackle Nick Kaczur was arrested in Whitestown, New York, when police discovered Kaczur had a "small amount of controlled substance for which he did not have a prescription," which was later identified as oxycodone. Kaczur was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a misdemeanor. In May, the article states Kaczur participated in a Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation, wearing a hidden recording device while purchasing $3,900 worth (100 pills) of OxyContin. The three transactions, on May 1, May 6, and May 13 in the area near Foxborough, Massachusetts, led to the arrest of Kaczur's dealer Daniel Ekasala, who was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 3 for three counts of possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute. When The Globe asked for comment, however, Kaczur denied any involvement in the case.
Staff changes Following the 2007 regular season, the Atlanta Falcons hired Patriots Director of College Scouting Thomas Dimitroff to be their new general manager. Former pro personnel director Nick Caserio, who had spent the 2007 season as wide receivers coach, returned to the personnel department as the director of player personnel, a position that partly replaced both Dimitroff's and Caserio's former responsibilities under Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli. Regional scout Jon Robinson was also promoted to assistant director of college scouting. The Patriots then promoted offensive assistant Bill O'Brien to wide receivers coach to replace Caserio. Additionally, the Patriots announced secondary coach Joel Collier would not return to the team in 2008, and hired former Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans head coach Dom Capers as a special assistant/secondary coach. Don Davis, who joined the coaching staff as an assistant strength and conditioning coach and team chaplain after retiring in 2007, left the organization to pursue Christian ministry. Special teams coaching assistant Kevin Bickers was made a special assignment scout, and replaced by Brian Flores, formerly a pro scout. Former football operations assistant Shane Waldron re-joined the team as an offensive coaching assistant.
Departures Prior to the start of free agency, the Patriots released linebackers Oscar Lua and Rosevelt Colvin, who had started 39 games in his five seasons with the team. Both ended the 2007 season on injured reserve and failed post-season team physicals. Tight end Kyle Brady was released at the start of free agency, also after having failed a physical. The Patriots declined multi-year contract options on wide receivers Kelley Washington and Donté Stallworth, making them both free agents; Stallworth signed with the Cleveland Browns, while Washington re-signed with the Patriots. Also departing via free agency were cornerbacks Asante Samuel (Philadelphia Eagles), Randall Gay (New Orleans Saints), and safety Eugene Wilson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Restricted free agent defensive end Rashad Moore was not tendered a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Arrivals After losing a combined 122 games of starting experience for the team in Samuel, Gay, and Wilson, the Patriots added back to their secondary by signing cornerbacks Lewis Sanders and Fernando Bryant, who were both released by their former teams, as well as two unrestricted free agents – cornerback Jason Webster and safety Tank Williams. Also signed via unrestricted free agency were wide receiver Sam Aiken, linebacker Victor Hobson. and tight end Marcus Pollard. Free agents or potential free agents Tedy Bruschi, Lonie Paxton, Kelley Washington, Randy Moss, Jabar Gaffney, Ray Ventrone, Mike Wright, Wesley Britt, and Pierre Woods were all re-signed.
Draft
As a penalty for violating the "league policy on the use of equipment to videotape an opposing team’s offensive or defensive signals" during a September 9, 2007 game against the New York Jets, the Patriots forfeited their original first round pick, which would have been the 31st overall pick due to their loss in Super Bowl XLII.
Staff 2008 New England Patriots staff Front office Chairman/CEO – Robert Kraft President – Jonathan Kraft Vice president of player personnel – Scott Pioli Director of player personnel – Nick Caserio Assistant director of college scouting – Jon Robinson Football research director – Ernie Adams
Head coaches Head coach – Bill Belichick Assistant head coach/offensive line – Dante Scarnecchia
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Josh McDaniels Running backs – Ivan Fears Wide receivers – Bill O'Brien Tight ends – Pete Mangurian Coaching assistant – Shane Waldron Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Dean Pees Defensive line – Pepper Johnson Linebackers – Matt Patricia Special assistant/secondary – Dom Capers Coaching assistant – Josh Boyer Coaching assistant – Brian Flores
Special teams coaches Special teams – Brad Seely
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Mike Woicik Assistant strength and conditioning – Harold Nash
Opening training camp roster As of the Patriots' first training camp practice at Gillette Stadium on July 24, they had the NFL maximum of 80 players signed to their roster. First-round draft pick Jerod Mayo, who was not signed until after training camp began, did not count against that limit until his signing.
New England Patriots 2008 opening training camp roster Quarterbacks Tom Brady Matt Cassel Matt Gutierrez Kevin O'Connell R
Running backs Kyle Eckel FB Heath Evans FB Kevin Faulk PR Laurence Maroney Sammy Morris
Wide receivers Sam Aiken Chris Dunlap Jabar Gaffney Chad Jackson C. J. Jones KR Randy Moss Robert Ortiz Matthew Slater R Ray Ventrone S Kelley Washington
Tight ends Marcus Pollard Stephen Spach Jonathan Stupar UR David Thomas Benjamin Watson Offensive linemen Lav Bauta G Wesley Britt T Anthony Clement T Dan Connolly C Russ Hochstein G Dan Koppen C Matt Light T Logan Mankins G Jimmy Martin G Gene Mruczkowski G Ryan O'Callaghan T Billy Yates G
Defensive linemen Titus Adams DE Steve Fifita NT Chris Norwell DE UR Richard Seymour DE Kenny Smith NT Le Kevin Smith DE Santonio Thomas DE Ty Warren DE Zach West DE Vince Wilfork NT Linebackers Eric Alexander ILB Tedy Bruschi ILB Shawn Crable OLB R Gary Guyton ILB UR Victor Hobson ILB Larry Izzo ILB Vince Redd OLB UR Adalius Thomas OLB Pierre Woods OLB
Defensive backs Fernando Bryant CB Mark Dillard SS UR Brandon Meriweather SS Mike Richardson CB James Sanders FS Lewis Sanders CB Antwain Spann FS Jason Webster CB Terrence Wheatley CB R Jonathan Wilhite CB R Tank Williams SS
Special teams Stephen Gostkowski K Chris Hanson P Lonie Paxton LS Reserve lists Jarvis Green DE (Active/PUP) BenJarvus Green-Ellis RB (Active/PUP) UR Rodney Harrison SS (Active/PUP) Ellis Hobbs CB (Active/PUP) Nick Kaczur OT (Active/PUP) Stephen Neal G (Active/PUP) Oliver Ross G (Active/PUP) Bo Ruud ILB (Active/PUP) R Mike Vrabel OLB (Active/PUP) Wes Welker WR (Active/PUP) Ryan Wendell C (Active/PUP) UR Mike Wright DE (Active/PUP)
Unsigned draft picks Jerod Mayo ILB R
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Baltimore Ravens L 15–16 0–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 10–27 0–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 3 Philadelphia Eagles L 17–27 0–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 4 at New York Giants L 14–19 0–4 Giants Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule