Welcome back, Deion.

When the Patriots unloaded the two-ton piece of baggage that takes the shape of Randy Moss, waves of panic were sent through Foxboro and the rest of the country. How could they succeed offensively without a legitimate deep threat? How could they survive with someone like Moss to "spread the field"? How would they open up the middle of the field now that defenses didn't have to worry about Moss running down the sideline? The people that asked these questions (which included myself, initially) obviously didn't take into account the fact that the Patriots quarterback was Tom Brady, a man who won 3 Super Bowls without Moss. Moss had become a cancer in the locker room and, although maybe not so on paper, getting rid of him helped the team. 

The newly re-acquired Branch celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown.

The subtraction of Moss also lead to the [re]-addition of one of my absolute favorite Patriots of all time ("all time" being, of course, the timespan of my fan-hood, which is only the last 10 years). This player is, of course, wide receiver Deion Branch. The MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, Branch was one of Brady's favorite targets during the 4 years in which the Patriots won 3 Super Bowls. The Patriots traded him to the Seahawks after a contract dispute in 2006, but Brady seemed to love having him back yesterday. Branch had nine catches for 98 yards and a score that brought the Patriots within three during the fourth quarter of their dramatic comeback win in overtime against the Ravens.

The greatest thing about the "Branch: in, Moss: out" situation is what we heard post game about what concerns the players had about feeling appreciated and cared about by the team. We didn't hear anything. Deion Branch is exactly what Randy Moss wasn't, a team player who is happy to be playing the game, not worrying about himself. That is what they got rid of with Moss and that is precisely why the Patriots are better without him.