As regards the tilting of this thread towards personal histories of acquiring fan-status in the Patriots, I was born in 1947 and was raised as an only child in a neighborhood where after awhile you didn't leave your apartment very much except to go to school (if anyone here went to the Garrison School, feel free to reminisce via PM). My first three "toys" were, in order of acquisition, the Red Sox, the Celtics (anyone remember Arnie Risen?),and the Bruins. As regard football, I'd watch the Giants on Sundays, because that's what was offered, but I didn't really develop an attachment to them. When Dom DiMaggio became part of the initial ownership group of the Patriots, I was immediately hooked on the Patriots, as my father of blessed memory was Dom's CPA. I've been a passionate fan from the beginning of the franchise and I remember what it was like to root for the team in individual games, because there was no hope for them in the season as a whole.
As regards the main theme of this thread, Rex Ryan reminds me of Boris from the Rocky/Bullwinkle show. Boris knew that he was the villain and "deep-down knew" that he'd be defeated by the end of the program, even if he'd have some wins in the battles along the way to inevitable final defeat. Rex's successor couldn't possibly be more entertaining. I think, as has been mentioned up-thread, that Idzik was brought in as a "cap hell redemption specialist," and that, having served his purpose, his mass is ended and he will go in peace. Woody is a clown, though we need to keep in mind that we've all been spoiled by the success and the class of Robert Kraft.
Finally, as regards luckiestman's grandmother, I hope that she is either living well and happily so, or if not, that she is in that part of the next world in which now-departed Patriots fans during the lean years get to serve among the angels who help the living come up with such modern advances as the tuck rule and work-release programs for inmates who can drive a snow-plow.