There’s a perception out there that this season belongs to the New York Jets, and you can see why: They made it to the AFC Championship Game the past two seasons, including the 2009 season where they made it with a rookie head coach and rookie quarterback. Plus, they beat mighty New England in Foxborough in the 2010 playoffs. One problem: They still didn’t win their division either year, and I can tell you why in two words: Tom Brady. As long as he’s in the lineup, opponents are in deep kimchi. Since Brady took over as the Patriots starter, they won the AFC East eight of the nine years he’s been healthy. The lone exception was 2002 when they tied Miami and the Jets for the top spot but lost the tiebreaker to New York. So Brady’s a problem. A big problem. And as long as he’s upright the competition can sit down. Everyone plays for second.

Yeah, yeah, so he’s older, and he doesn’t have a legitimate deep threat, and the club could use a bona-fide running back and the pass defense has more holes than Storrow Drive. I heard about those shortcomings over and over last season, yet the Patriots were a league-best 14-2, coach Bill Belichick won Coach of the Year and Brady became the first unanimous MVP in league history. There’s a lesson there, and the lesson is never, ever, ever underestimate Tom Brady.