Tom Brady still has that Super Bowl aura

Just a few years and a mighty-big knee surgery later, there are some folks ready to cast off the Patriots as a dying dynasty.

They did not make the playoffs in 2008 and last year were eliminated by Baltimore.

With a defense that is still under reconstruction and a couple of running backs who should be in the old-folks home in Fred Taylor (34) and Sammie Morris (33), there still is reason to be skeptical of the Patriots.

After they spent much of last week practicing with the Falcons and then dismantling them 28-10 in an exhibition game Thursday night, it's pretty clear that the Patriots still are not your ordinary NFL football team.

They are a cut above most teams. Their greatness, which gives them the opportunity to at least be in the Lombardi Trophy preseason conversation, starts with quarterback Tom Brady. The way he was throwing the ball Tuesday, the Falcons' defensive backs basically were at his mercy in the seven-on-seven drills.

In the game at the Georgia Dome, Brady was in fine form.

Rookie linebacker Sean Weatherspoon had excellent coverage on tight end Aaron Hernandez. Weatherspoon was in front of Hernandez, and if the quarterback had led Hernandez, Weatherspoon was in position for the interception.

However, Brady knew that, so he threw a dart to the back shoulder of Hernandez, who made a great catch.

Weatherspoon probably won't get harassed much by coaches during the film-review session. There really wasn't anything he could have done differently.

During the practices, Brady was not interested in sharing any trade secrets with Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.

"I’ve worked a long time for my ideas, and I’ve been through a lot of games," Brady said. "And you got to really let the other competitors figure it out for themselves. I’m sure Matt [Ryan] has studied film."

The two are not friends although their paths would seemingly have crossed in Boston.

"I’ve watched Matt since he was at [Boston College], and I’ve enjoyed watching him," Brady said. "He’s a great player. His first pass here was a touchdown, and that’s a great way to start a career. I’ve got a lot of respect for Matt."

But just as when the teams met last season, the Patriots taught the Falcons a little lesson in power football. Brady knows that, despite all of his passing prowess and the talk about the NFL turning into a passing league, he needs a running game to return to the Super Bowl.

"It’s great because if a team can’t stop the line, you’re just going to keep running it," Brady said. "That’s the reality. You control the whole game if you’re able to run the ball."

Brady thinks the Falcons' defense has some potential.

"This is a very athletic defense -- athletic linebackers, quick defensive linemen," Brady said.

As long as the Patriots have Brady at the helm, it makes absolutely no sense to talk about a dying dynasty. The question is do they have enough around him and will they secure him into the future with a new contract.

"Every year has been totally different," Brady said. "We have a very different team this year."