they had a winning record because the team was too talented, however in both of those years they fell on their faces in the playoffs (and in 02 didnt make it).
It's not being a hater, it's simply the standard they've set here to where making the playoffs and losing in the 1st round is a failure.
and Belichick himself has even said that 09 team was a lost cause and he lost the locker room.
again, yeah they tarnish the bill is god motif, but facts are facts
Tarnish is way to harsh to describe BB's job in 2002, 2008 and 9. Actually it shows just how good he is.
In 2001 that team was year 2 of a total rebuilding project. It was a .500 team that caught lighning in a bottle and road it to a Superbowl win about 2 years too early. The Giants and Ravens were two other teams that recently it the same lighning.
IMHO the 2002 team was actually better talent wise, but didn't catch that lightning and made some personell mistakes (Steve Martin). They were what they were, a boarderline playoff team, who was adding talent and depth. 2007 was a apex of that first rebuilding plan.
Not making the playoffs with 11 wins in 2008 was a statisical alnomoly, but it was doubtful they would have gone far in the playoffs that year anyway, Even though they DID have a lot of talent that year, the team was aging and in decline. In some respects it was one of BB's best coaching jobs since he still won 11 games with a QB who didn't score a TD even in preseason, and hadn't started a football game since HS.
The 2009 team was the end of the first rebuild and prompted the a virtual complete tear down of the team. It was well documented in that documentary about BB that year.....and again, IMHO shows just how good BB is at building teams. He knew when it was time to blow it up (relatively).
The 2010 team was loading with new talent and scorched the regular season, but failed to show the mental toughness to win in the playoffs. (ergo the 2nd most painful loss in the BB era....for fans)
They their 2o11 superbowl appearance was probably a year too early for that team. That was the year they had an historically bad defense. One that required Edelman to play CB. The Giants had the better overall team that year, but probably would have won the game with a healthy Gronk and a little bit of luck (4 giant fumbles and zero recoveries)
The rest you pretty much know. Over the past few years BB has slowly improved the defense, while the offense virtually remained at the same high level. I think that despite MASSIVE injuries in 2015 this would have been an attempt at a threepeat.
BB's greatness is part being able to correct his mistakes and create an enviroment where players like Ninko, Edelman and Cannon get better over time. Where in most years the sum of the team is better than its individual parts.