More proof why Bill Belichick is one of the NFL's top GMs/Execs

[PlanB]

Pats missed the playoffs that year and he ended up trading Cassel, who was our future franchise QB for a lowly 2nd round pick and then wasted that pick on some stiff named Patrick Chung. Obviously even then Bill did not have a clue as to how to build a team.

IIRC, they missed on a third tie-breaker

 

[patfanken]

I agree

IMHO, it's the cap and free agency that make it much more difficult today. Spy gate and deflategate are minor items. Bleichick and Brady haven't been great because of a few draft choice one way or the other.

Obviously, it's difficult to replenish your team in the cap era when you basically lose a top draft pick each year (picking at the bottom of the round).

This year has been particularly difficult, yet successful. He had to rebuild essentially 4 of the offensive line positions and the 5th guy (Solder) was coming off of season ending IR, plus losing your all pro RT for the season. He had to go for more than half the season without their best RB, and go with 2 JAGs (not a derogatory term but one to mean they were OK but not 'special') All his WR's would be considered to be limited in some way. And he lost only 'special' offensive weapon half way through the season. On the defensive side they lost 2 of their top 4 defensive players (CJones and Collins) as well as having to replace Easely and Hicks (2 key cogs from 2015)

So what he's done is remarkable on one hand, but in the eyes of the football world, despite the losses and holes on offense, they never once were deemed to be anything but an elite team this year. And all this doesn't include that now almost forgetten 4 game absence of the QB. He's so damned good that regardless of the questions, the thing that is never doubted is that the Pats will be good. The ONLY question that is ever asked is "how good?"

So without a #1 pick, GM BB has managed to draft 2 starters on offense (Mitchell and Tuney), and 2 rotation guys on defense (Roberts and Valentine) , through trades trades get Van Noy, Rowe, and Mingo, and through FA get McClellin, Long and Bennett. (and I could be leaving others out), and STILL have at least one UDFA make the team again. (Jones). Those are 9 key players in the offensive and defensive sides and 2 ST's standouts. That's a LOT of movement

So much movement and seeming chaos, and when it happens here, all the change and chaos somehow turn into stability and production.....and this is how its been for the last 16 f*cking years

 

[patfanken]

I disagree. I believe that Kraft is part of the equation. Kraft has given Belichick the freedom that few owners would give him.

Kraft's contribution goes well beyond the obvious freedom he's given BB to set up his program and run it. It goes to the less obvious things like making the Pats such a financial success that has built the infrastructure that makes running that program much easier. Small things like building a first class stadium on his own dime, the practice facilities that are first rate, the office facilities that are first rate, PLUS all the things that have made the fans' experience so much better.

Remember we are not to far removed from the day when the players had to drive to practice in their uniforms and race back to the stadium before all the hot water was gone. And the fans sitting on aluminum benches with a drunked crowd often unfit to bring children to the game.....and the only post or pregame entertainment option was the old Redwing or McDonalds.

No Kraft has contributed a lot to the success of the operation. I think BB would have been successful anywhere, but his marriage with Kraft was perfectly timed after Kraft had made his mistakes as a rookie owner and was smart enough to learn from them (kind of like BB himself). BB runs the football operation as well as we could have dreamed, while Kraft runs the business and infrastructure operation almost as well. Together they have maximized the result, and given the fans unprecidented success, while making the Pats the 2nd most valuable franchise in the NFL. Quite an accomplishment given that they started at #32

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Kraft's contribution goes well beyond...PLUS all the things that have made the fans' experience so much better.

Unless you're a decades-long season ticket holder in the south end zone, that is.