Four Storylines for the 2009 Patriots Season

Despite the season-ending injury to Tom Brady in the first game of the season, the Pats had a surprisingly successful 2008 campaign. Very few teams could survive the loss of their franchise, never mind post an 11-5 record. The team enters the 2009 NFL season with heightened expectations: they are, after all, a year removed from a 16-0 season. With that in mind, let's examine the four story lines that will determine if this year will be a successful one.   1. Tom Brady's knee Perhaps no joint in recent memory has been as heavily scrutinized as Brady's injured left knee, with good reason: it will likely either make or break the season. When it was revealed that the surgically-repaired knee had become infected, many media personalities debated if Brady would ever be able to play again. Instead, Brady has since defied expectations, and it now appears he'll be able to start the season. How the Patriots handle his return will show their degree of confidence in Brady...