Shoppers ‘in shock’ over Patriots loss

SAUGUS – New England Patriots hats and jerseys were selling for 50 percent off at area retail stores Monday, perhaps reflecting the team’s weekend divisional playoff loss to the New York Jets.”I’m still in shock and awe,” said Pete Cote, manager of the Hat Shack in the Square One Mall.According to Cote, the price of hats for every team that has lost a shot for this season’s championship gets reduced from $30 to about $15. “Once they’re out of the running, the price goes down,” he said. “But we’re sold out of Patriots knit hats. They went for $5 apiece before Sunday’s game.”A Patriots fan, Cote said the relationship between star quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick may start to wane now that the team has lost its third playoff game in a row.”Tom Brady just did not look good yesterday. He looked completely out of synch.”Doug Baker of Saugus, a cashier at Dick’s Sporting Goods, acknowledged he enjoyed watching the playoff game Sunday despite its outcome. “As for the whole team, I wish they had played together. I guess we’ll find out if Brady and Belichick can keep it up,” he said.Brian Widrow of Malden, a salesman at LIDS in the mall, said the Jets win is significant only if they can beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I would rather see the Jets take it,” he said. “I think people are tired of the Steelers. I know I am.”Widrow took issue with Belichick’s refrain that the Patriots must “out coach” their rivals. “Belichick has been saying that too much,” he said. “The Patriots should have run the ball more (in Sunday’s game). Brady couldn’t do anything because he couldn’t find anyone open to pass to. But he still could have handed the ball over to his strongest runners.”Fans agreed that Brady seemed frustrated and occasionally distracted Sunday. “Maybe he was too tired to play. Maybe he was out too late the night before,” said shopper Javone Simms of Lynn. “Something was up.”The Steelers knocked off the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.Next Sunday, the Steelers and Jets square off for the AFC championship with a Super Bowl spot on the line.