In May and June of 2009, rumors circulated that the Patriots may be interested in disgraced quarterback Michael Vick. While Vick would not be competing with Tom Brady for the starting quarterback position, some speculate that Vick backing-up Brady would increase Vick's demand for the 2010 season.http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/06/12/vick-to-pats-theory-gaining-momentum/

The Patriots finished the season with an 11=5 record, tied for first in the AFC East. Despite the strong season, they did not qualify for the playoffs.

Following the 1970 merger with the NFL, the Patriots would relocate from Boston to the Massachusetts town of Foxboro. Before the turn of the century, the Patriots appeared in two Super Bowls, losing to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX, and losing to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI.

But over the most recent decade, no team has won more Super Bowls than the Patriots. Led by coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots shocked the football world by upsetting the heavily-favored St. Louis Rams to win Super Bowl XXXVI. The win was particularly memorable not because it came in the same football season as the September 11 terrorist attacks, but also because they won on a last-second field goal by Adam Vinatieri.

The Patriots went on to win back-to-back Super Bowls by defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII and the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXIX. In 2007, they became the second team in the modern era to complete a regular season undefeated, joining the 1972 Miami Dolphins. However, they were upset by the New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.