My compliments to Mike the Brit for inspiring the title (http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=34976).
This is not the time for fandom that gives a thumbs up and thumbs down to each passing decision as if they are picking an NCAA tournament pool. All the decisions currently being made by the Patriots are correct, not because BB et al. are always correct but because they have the best system, in history, of making decisions. The decision themselves become objective within the system. The objectivity is a result of the process---players are evaluated, coaches are evaluated, game plans are evaluated, systems are evaluated---and whatever comes up top in the evaluation system is the decision (e.g. trading up to take Chad Jackson, not offering MG a contract, going for it on 4th and 5 with 1:55 seconds remaining down by 4). There is absurdity in you and I suggesting that we may have made a better decision (e.g., we should have traded for Walker) not because we don't have an opinion but because we haven't been through the process. The process is a long one, it is a product of lifetimes of football minds, it is amazing if you would like to learn about it, and it is comprehensive.
So I suggest to those of you that find yourself sitting around wondering "if we had a good draft" or what our draft grades are like---rather just relax and know that the best decision that could have been made has been made and be excited about what you are witnessing (as in, "huh. i wonder why we drafted two TEs?"). Hindsight will be 20-20, some of the players won't pan out, many will. The team won't win every game, but they will try. For the present, be assured that BB et al. are the greatest assemblage of football minds ever assembled (in which I include the diaspora---Crennel, Weis, etc., and the old schoolers), they have developed an amazing system over many, many years, and they are giving the matter their full attention.
This is not the time for fandom that gives a thumbs up and thumbs down to each passing decision as if they are picking an NCAA tournament pool. All the decisions currently being made by the Patriots are correct, not because BB et al. are always correct but because they have the best system, in history, of making decisions. The decision themselves become objective within the system. The objectivity is a result of the process---players are evaluated, coaches are evaluated, game plans are evaluated, systems are evaluated---and whatever comes up top in the evaluation system is the decision (e.g. trading up to take Chad Jackson, not offering MG a contract, going for it on 4th and 5 with 1:55 seconds remaining down by 4). There is absurdity in you and I suggesting that we may have made a better decision (e.g., we should have traded for Walker) not because we don't have an opinion but because we haven't been through the process. The process is a long one, it is a product of lifetimes of football minds, it is amazing if you would like to learn about it, and it is comprehensive.
So I suggest to those of you that find yourself sitting around wondering "if we had a good draft" or what our draft grades are like---rather just relax and know that the best decision that could have been made has been made and be excited about what you are witnessing (as in, "huh. i wonder why we drafted two TEs?"). Hindsight will be 20-20, some of the players won't pan out, many will. The team won't win every game, but they will try. For the present, be assured that BB et al. are the greatest assemblage of football minds ever assembled (in which I include the diaspora---Crennel, Weis, etc., and the old schoolers), they have developed an amazing system over many, many years, and they are giving the matter their full attention.
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