Many of you laughed at my Brady thread and, in retrospect, much of that was deserved. Who knows and honestly who cares.
Anyway, when it comes to analyzing the Patriots, it is easy to look at the Brady situation and wonder when his sharp decline -- and ensuing Patriots decline -- will occur. What never gets brought up in these discussions is when Bill Belichick's decline will occur. We're talking about a 65 year old man who will inevitably lose a mental step at some point (or has been slowly without us noticing). He is the greatest coach of all time, but even the GOAT (coach, player, mascot) will reach a point of decline where the next guy up can do a slightly better job.
The point of this thread, in light of the ESPN nonsense, is to consider whether we are nearing the point where we're better off with a Patricia or McDaniels as head coach rather than sticking with Belichick. It's been taken for granted that Brady will be gone before Belichick, but could Belichick leaving before Brady be a legitimate course of action rather than our greatest fear realized?
Maine,
"nearing the point we're better off" is often/frequently enough self evident. The Patriots earned a bye in 2017 and likely will, at minimum, reach the AFCCG. Sure, maybe we could have gone 19-0 with MP or JM -- who knows for sure -- but that is reckless thinking IMHO. Changing that which is still producing good results is needlessly risking what is a rare and precious commodity in the NFL, good results. Something better is always possible unless you go 19-0, however, the difficulty in repeatedly achieving 11-5, 12-4, 13-3 is something you don't F with because 'something better maybe out there'.
Again specific to the word "maybe" we are better off? IMHO, that kind of thinking gets a team in trouble more often than not. Right now we know that BB often finds a way to rectify problems on the team (for example the D early season) to a sufficient degree even with some misses in decisions. Right now we know with Brady behind center we almost always will score mid 20s to 30s and can put together that last minute winning drive despite laying an egg or two as well as have a bad quarter or two. Would Jimmy behind center right now mean 40 per game nearly every time? Maybe but you don't change good results on the hope of "maybe".
This whole thing is ridiculous IMHO. Shocking and Surprising News! the days of BB and TB are coming to an end. Wow, I'm stunned. Sure, both men in their respective positions are reaching the proverbial manufacturer's EOS (end of service) but I thought they would live forever!
. Time can be delayed by some but time will stand still for none. TB respective to his position historically is on a year to year EOS. Maybe the old TBird will keep humming for a few years -- but it'll be a year to year results thing. His results this season speak for themselves. BB respective to his profession is at or within a couple years of EOS where then it will be year to year from there. Again results will guide the thinking.
As to who reaches the EOS finish line first? Who knows but results and/or circumstance will likely make the determination a forgone conclusion. If BB and TB together can keep churning out 11 or more wins a season then the band will stay together for yet another tour.
Look I have no idea what definitely went on behind closed doors and whether BB was trying absolutely everything to hold onto Jimmy through 2017 and keep him there as Brady's instant replacement once he is EOS. But is this not what a good HC would try to do with a player near EOS? But to me it is absurd to think a 13-3 team that is tantalizingly close to a historical 6 SB would change away from Brady. There was no way BB was contemplating changing away from TB for a QB who has 1 completed career game (a QB who was injured in his second start and then apparently was injured again and missed part of the offseason due to it). No matter how good BB thought Jimmy was there is no way he would believe a QB with virtually no game experience would provide the better chance at winning the SB.
I believe BB thought Jimmy was top tier cheap backup for this year (in case the old TBird got a flat) and BB was hoping to keep him around longer for when Brady was showing he was at EOS (again why is that a bad thing for HC to contemplate?). Ultimately it didn't work out with the timing -- welcome to the uncertainty of football -- and the decision IMHO was easy, it was TV. So now BB can use one of his first or one of 2 second round draft picks to get a QB, let him study under Brady in 2018, maybe 2019 or whatever, and then the kid takes over. Anyone believe TB's drop off will be so bad he won't still be able to be better than most QBs? And if he gets a flat that is why you have a Brian Hoyer to fill in gaps. Exactly why is this so unthinkable by most? Is it because Jimmy was so certain to be the next Tom Brady? LOL, anyone, ANYONE, who sits here and says Jimmy is a sure thing hasn't been watching football and especially QBs. The 2000-2017 highway is littered with the wrecks of QBs who looked lights out year 1 or 2 or even 3.