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After this morning, I truly believe that Belichick wants to change the culture of this team. Even Brady seems to be frustrated with the attitude of the lockerroom and has uncharacteristically called out his teammates (and himself) in recent days.
There are a lot of players who weren't going to be on this team next year anyway. It is safe to assume that AD, Burgess, possibly Green, and several others already have their foot out the door long before the last few weeks. I think that Belichick may dump several other players even Moss after this year based on the last month.
I think Belichick will be active in free agency not only to add talent to the team, but leadership. Back in the day, adding guys like Rodney, Bryan Cox, Seau, and others had more than impact on the field. There was a strong leadership core in the lockerroom. I dismissed the losses of Bruschi, Harrison, Seymour, and others for the leadership in the lockerroom thinking others would step up, but it is clear guys like Mayo aren't ready yet.
The Super Bowl years, the Pats had a lot of overachievers and washed up players who were willing to put everything on the line to win a championship. I think we really have to question whether there are many overachievers on this team. I think what happened today in Foxboro is a real shot across the bow at the players.
Everyone has been blaming the coordinators for the problems of this team (and they definitely deserve part of the blame), but I wonder if the players are putting the effort and focus needed to put in for a winner. In the nine years of the Belichick era, we have only heard one case of a player being reprimanded than players had this season and that was Terry Glenn. That tells me that at least Belichick believes there is a real problem with the players and their preparation. I could never see something like this happening when guys like McGinest, Bruschi, Rodney, Law, or Milloy were patrolling the lockerroom.
I have tried to be patient and hopeful with this team. But when I see Belichick sending players home for being late, I think there are a lot of attitude and/or effort problems going on that we don't know about. Belichick is not a guy who tends to overreact to a specific situation.
There are a lot of players who weren't going to be on this team next year anyway. It is safe to assume that AD, Burgess, possibly Green, and several others already have their foot out the door long before the last few weeks. I think that Belichick may dump several other players even Moss after this year based on the last month.
I think Belichick will be active in free agency not only to add talent to the team, but leadership. Back in the day, adding guys like Rodney, Bryan Cox, Seau, and others had more than impact on the field. There was a strong leadership core in the lockerroom. I dismissed the losses of Bruschi, Harrison, Seymour, and others for the leadership in the lockerroom thinking others would step up, but it is clear guys like Mayo aren't ready yet.
The Super Bowl years, the Pats had a lot of overachievers and washed up players who were willing to put everything on the line to win a championship. I think we really have to question whether there are many overachievers on this team. I think what happened today in Foxboro is a real shot across the bow at the players.
Everyone has been blaming the coordinators for the problems of this team (and they definitely deserve part of the blame), but I wonder if the players are putting the effort and focus needed to put in for a winner. In the nine years of the Belichick era, we have only heard one case of a player being reprimanded than players had this season and that was Terry Glenn. That tells me that at least Belichick believes there is a real problem with the players and their preparation. I could never see something like this happening when guys like McGinest, Bruschi, Rodney, Law, or Milloy were patrolling the lockerroom.
I have tried to be patient and hopeful with this team. But when I see Belichick sending players home for being late, I think there are a lot of attitude and/or effort problems going on that we don't know about. Belichick is not a guy who tends to overreact to a specific situation.