Willie McGinest on the Patriots defense: ”Average receivers are scoring points against them. That’s alarming.”

Willie McGinest may now live out on the West Coast, and may be removed from the every day proceedings in Foxboro. But he still watches the games faithfully. Speaking with the former Patriots linebacker today prior to ESPN Monday Night Football’s Chalk Talk luncheon, McGinest has been watching a defense he doesn’t quite recognize. ”They need some work. To be a championship team, you have to be able to stop people,” McGinest said. ”You can’t give up 30 points a game and expect to win against really good teams.” How alarming is what he’s seen over the course of the first three weeks heading into tonight’s game with the Dolphins? ”Well, they’ve had some injuries and they’re young. But in the NFL, you never try to make excuses,” McGinest said. ”You have to be accountable. You see it playing out with (Bill) Belichick. He’s already benched some guys. He’s not going to tolerate it. He’s use...