Do Brady/Belichick's legacies REALLY need cementing?

[brdmaverick]

Leading up to this game, I hear about how a Patriots victory would really cement both Brady and Belichick's legacies in football history.

They each have three Super Bowl titles (five for Bill if you include assistant coaching).

With that being said, do you REALLY think their legacies need cementing? Sure, I want to WIN this game with a passion, but if they lose does it really tarnish their resumes. Will they no longer be considered two of the all time greats?

I could argue that this game actually means MUCH more to Eli and Coughlin's legacies than Brady/Belichick.

After all, the difference between 3 and 4 championships is far less than the difference between 1 and 2.

 

[JJDChE]

Nah, they have strong legacies, though a win would put them squarely in the best ever convo. Right now they are a little on the fringe IMO. I think they need to win two more together to be the unquestioned 'best' among their respective peers.

 

[Skree]

Yes. Here's why. Success in the NFL is primarily measured by Superbowl wins. One or even two more Superbowls means that the Patriots are the elite of the elite. Considering the more than humble beginnings of this franchise, I think the Brady /Belichick pairing needs that final stamp. Superbowl wins will shut the critics mouths.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

The HoF doesn't use cement so whatever material they use for their busts is what they need. Both are locks for the HoF and first ballot.

Still, they aare both fierce competitors and this is why they keep on playing. It's not for regular season victories, stats. This game here is what they work for 364 days a year.

When they retire, they'l be able to look back and count all those small victories along the way and contemplate their place in the annals of football history.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Leading up to this game, I hear about how a Patriots victory would really cement both Brady and Belichick's legacies in football history.

They each have three Super Bowl titles (five for Bill if you include assistant coaching).

With that being said, do you REALLY think their legacies need cementing? Sure, I want to WIN this game with a passion, but if they lose does it really tarnish their resumes. Will they no longer be considered two of the all time greats?

I could argue that this game actually means MUCH more to Eli and Coughlin's legacies than Brady/Belichick.

After all, the difference between 3 and 4 championships is far less than the difference between 1 and 2.

I think that in reality, it doesn't matter that much because even the best QBs and coaches are subject to the laws of salary cap dilution, so just getting to the Super Bowl is a huge accomplishment, and there's an element of luck since most of these games now come down to a field goal. You don't see a lot of 56-17 thrashings like you used to.

But reality and perception are different things. Don't expect to argue that TB is the greatest ever to other fanbases without hearing that he couldn't beat the Giants TWICE. I mean, they already use every illogical and stupid argument against Brady to begin with. In addition, the Pats haven't won a Super Bowl since SpyGate; while we all know this is hogwash because they have the best record in the NFL since then, again, you are not talking about rational people.

If the Pats win, I'll be the first to rub it in many people's faces, after all of the nonsense that's happened since their last SB win, with all of the jealousy.

 

[TX_Patriot]

Nah, they have strong legacies, though a win would put them squarely in the best ever convo. Right now they are a little on the fringe IMO. I think they need to win two more together to be the unquestioned 'best' among their respective peers.

Two more? Really. They've done it in the Salary Cap Era and I have to believe that sustained excelence in this era is much harder than before. I'm not talking about the Super Bowls, I'm talking about 5 season of 13+ wins, 11 straight winning seasons, 9-11 years in the play offs, 9-11 years divison champs, and 5 afc titles. All this with completely remaking the offense at least 3 times and the D twice. I think Brady and BB are squarely in the conversation of best combo ever.

 

[oldskool138]

Maybe not a cementing but perhaps a little foundation repair....and this is just the Super Bowl to do it.

 

[Ron Sellers]

Stop and think about it: if you look at both of their careers right now, they are both locks for the Hall of Fame. Making it to yet another Super Bowl only adds to that, it doesn't diminish it. The only people that would think that way are the ones that have already decided that they don't like one or the other or both, and are reaching for an excuse to justify that viewpoint. For some unknown reason some people with small minds seem to think making it to a championship game and losing that game is awful, but not making it that far is okay. Where's the logic in that?


I think the biggest thing about this game is for the fans, much more than the participants themselves. Fans of the Patriots, Brady and Belichick really want the Pats to win so that the often repeated 'haven't won anything since' phrase that fans of other teams repeat about as often as they breath can hopefully at least die down, if not go away forever. Conversely, those other fans desperately want the Giants to win so they can continue to use that line, and be able to use the filming incident as a justification for their not liking the team, player and coach.

Should the Patriots win their hatred for the Pats will be exposed as jealousy over the Patriots continued success - though I am sure many will contrive with some other excuse if the Pats do win Sunday.

 

[patstd]

Why cement it at all? They are both have potential to do more.

 

[seven]

This game is a big deal for the place in history conversations.

BB and B are already there, already 1st ballot HoF.
A win here would boost them to the top.
Both would be boosted for lone status as best that has ever been,
with a win this week.

Purists would still defer to Paul Brown/Knoll, but it would be qualified as different eras.

This one would cement/extend dynasty, make a footnote of 42,
end the chatter about Brady not being the same guy.

There would be no more instant deference to Montana, more folks would reference Joe's 7 playoff losses, the down years.
Montana's ridiculous SB record remains untouched,
but it would put Tom right with him.

At the same time, NY is delirious with talk of HoF for Eli and Tom C.
Eli better than Peyton, etc.
That would stop with a loss.
More would refer to 42 as lucky,
the GMen lucky to be there again.

Belichick with a win here would reduce his peers to one, Paul Brown.
Others would put him over Brown.

BB would now have gotten there and done it with 3 different teams.
There is no precedent for that. (I believe?)

 

[JJDChE]

Two more? Really. They've done it in the Salary Cap Era and I have to believe that sustained excelence in this era is much harder than before. I'm not talking about the Super Bowls, I'm talking about 5 season of 13+ wins, 11 straight winning seasons, 9-11 years in the play offs, 9-11 years divison champs, and 5 afc titles. All this with completely remaking the offense at least 3 times and the D twice. I think Brady and BB are squarely in the conversation of best combo ever.

I think the consensus is that the 70s Steelers and 80s Niners are still ahead. One more will make it a toss up. 2 more will make the '00s Pats the consensus best ever.

 

[seven]

I think the consensus is that the 70s Steelers and 80s Niners are still ahead. One more will make it a toss up. 2 more will make the '00s Pats the consensus best ever.

Depends on what peter king says.
Half the heads just parrot him.
read, repeat.

 

[Steve102]

IMO, BB's legacy does change with a win, as it helps undo some of the damage of '07 and that "other" thing. Regardless, he's a lock for Canton, but does he go in as a great coach or greatest? Basically, the book is written, save for the last few chapters. To take this defense to a championship level is an amazing accomplishment and cements Bill as the greatest coach of the free agent era, and arguably the best ever.

Brady is also a lock for a bust in Canton. A win puts him 4-1 in the Super Bowl, and in all likelihood, it can be argued he's the greatest QB of the Super Bowl Era. IMO, A loss drops him to 3-2, and brings him closer to Staubach-ian status than Montana. Still great, still HoF, but not best ever.

 

[everlong]

Their legacies are cemented but winning another title adds another row of bricks to the wall. This is where 07 really kills me. If not for a series of miracles this SB would potentially put Brady ahead of Montana, BB ahead of Noll and they would have the perfect season of Shula. At that point in the SB era there's no debate. People would talk Starr and Lombardi and Graham and Brown but really most of them are talking out of their collective @sses.

 

[Lansdowne]

NFL Videos: Top 100: Tom Brady

Posting this video just cuz.