I think that all of you guys have great points in needing the kind of WR that has been a yearly need for awhile now. I too, would like that guy.
The problem is that I'm just not entirely convinced that:
1. That guy is realistically obtainable and a "sure thing" for this complex offense
2. Belichick even sees it that way (we'll know soon enough, via his choices in the draft and free agency)
It's hard to argue with the success that we've had. I think that people are forgetting that our offense is extremely potent, especially with a healthy Gronkowski. It could be argued that we'd have at least another SB win with his health last year. It's also why they resigned him to a major contract.
This offense is putting pts up on average at a clip of close to 35+, and that's been for 3 straight years now. We've beaten plenty of "good, physical" teams before with this method. Since 2007 they've historically had 3 of the NFL's top 5 offenses in the history of the game...
Brady has taken this team to the AFCCG (or better) in 7 of 12 seasons. That's almost 2/3rds of the time with a huge sample size as far as NFL terms go. This system gives them a legitimate shot every single year.
You can't plan for injuries, as much as we try to. At least not for guys like Gronk anyway. Even 5 TE depth signings cannot be replicated due to Gronk just not being able to be replaced.
The running game has been addressed and rejuvenated. The defense has been addressed and completely rebuilt. We wanted first round picks spent? Check..how about 2 in last year's first round, both front seven players? We saw a great season in the offensive line from Light's replacement, Solder. We saw an improvement to the center position (no more Koppen failures on bullrushes, right?). We signed Mankins long term. They fought through the adversity of losing Brian Waters due to his...whatever it was.
They locked up the 2 young TE's in the offseason through 2017/2018. They paid 10 million to Welker for the franchise tag. They were masterful in their cap management, not only now, but for the future--as always.
They have put themselves in position to compete in the NFL's biggest games every single year. The problem is, there are 31 other teams too, and the competition is very good come January and February. We aren't going to win them all.
And yet it somehow leads us back to the same question about the lack of the "take the top off" young, physical, super smart, hard working WR with 4.3 speed and hands like Steve Largent. There has got to be a good reason as to exactly "why" this can't be achieved, or "won't" be achieved. I am not 100% convinced that it is something that Belichick feels is a viable move, either for the reasons listed in my previous post, or due to salary cap implications--maybe it's just as simple as needing to find that player in the draft, and that's where they keep failing?
Or maybe the team is actually getting better in many areas, while competing every single year at the top level, all while setting themselves up for current and future salary cap structure to be one of the best every single season?
Like I said, we will know soon enough. Either the "problem" (as we fans see it) will continue to be addressed this offseason, or they'll continue to try and improve with what they have and hopefully also have the fate of luck roll their way again.
One way or another, it's simply not as easy as it looks. There's an excellent chance that we'd have to get rid of Welker in order to try and gamble on that deep threat that everyone clamors for, just due to cost efficiency. I'm not sure that is the best idea.
We still have a few more years of Brady left, and probably many more of Belichick. We're still in that run we may one day look back at as the era when the ring was always in our grasp... let's not take that part for granted as we look toward next year.
