The premise is not complicated... they're not getting to any of those Super Bowls without Brady. Literally the entire remaining roster was interchangeable from 2001 to 2019... Brady was the only player constant. He's that much of a difference maker. We're seeing it year one in Tampa Bay (as well as year one away from New England).
It worked with Brady for nearly 20 years with a few exceptions when the rosters were particularly underwhelming (2006, 2013, 2015, 2019... and three of those seasons - especially 2015 - could have ended better if not for obvious mistakes by Belichick). The defense declined from 2019 to 2020 but they still finished 7th in points allowed whereas the offense declined significantly (from 7th to 27th in points scored) which was mainly attributable to a significant drop-off in quarterback play.
The lack of young talent is obviously correlated with the poor drafts... every draft back through 2014 has been arguably subpar or worse.
IBWT is cultism.
Yes, Brady way more often than not comes through in the big moments, hence the 6 rings, 6 game-winning drives, and 4 MVP's. He's not perfect but that goes without saying unless you're a total ignoramus.
I agree, there's a large contingent of media members, and just generally followers of the NFL, who have been waiting to dance allover Belichick's grave. And he mostly has himself to blame for that. You can't act like a complete jackass with the media for 20 years and not expect there to be ramifications for how you're unrelentingly presenting yourself.
Brady reportedly wanted out as soon as after SB 51 and I don't blame him one bit for that (considering Belichick screwed him of another ring and MVP #5). However, prior to the start of the 2018 season he was agreeable to making a commitment to the team but instead they offered him an incentive laden contract (coming off an MVP season no less). The following offseason it was clear the team was only going in one year at a time so Brady finally told them to f*ck off.
Skipping the OTA's is overblown nonsense. "No effort to gel with the rookies" is garbage too. Harry missed half of the season with injuries and beyond that he sucks. Meyers' target percentage was essentially the same for 2019 and 2020.
Regarding the other attempts to bolster the WR's... they unnecessarily cut Brown, they whiffed on the draft pick, and they traded for a bum. So no, that's not good enough.
Dude, he's been playing through injuries his entire career. He did in his very first Super Bowl appearance, he did it last season, and I'm sure he's doing the same right now. You can say the same about a lot of quarterbacks. Philip Rivers went into an AFC title game knowing he had a torn ACL.
Yes, Brady's tough, and not all quarterbacks are, but for the most part the better ones have to be tough. Mahomes is going to play this weekend coming off a concussion that probably should have him missing a couple of weeks at least. It's the AFCCG so he has to play (and there's no way he's not getting cleared).
The Patriots participate in this thing called the NFL draft? Ever heard of it? The roster is dearth of young talent because of accumulating sh*tty drafts by Belichick.
They won 16 division titles in a row with Brady as their starting quarterback... were they "built to win now" in each of those seasons?
They appeared in 13 out of a possible 18 conference championship games with Brady as their starting quarterback... were they "built to win now" in each of those seasons?
They appeared in 9 out of a possible 18 Super Bowls with Brady as their starting quarterback... were they "built to win now" in each of those seasons?
You get the point. Or not. Whatever.
They had a 10-year Super Bowl title draught because the defenses choked against Eli Manning (who will make the HOF solely on his two SB victories against NE).
They should have won 5 Super Bowls in a row (2014 - 2018)... Belichick choked up the 2015 season and sabotaged SB 51. But never mind that, just continue with the cap and win now smokescreens.
The cap argument is bullsh*t by the way. They were $18.5 million under the cap for 2020. They're projected to be $55 million under the cap for 2021. They could have structured a deal for Brady that had him for those two seasons at least. $6-plus million would have shifted to 2021 had Brady been signed for 2020. If you discount the money they saved from the opt-outs (which I know you'll do) then they could have gotten creative by dumping other players to keep Brady. For example, they could have cut the McCourty's and I believe saved about $12 million. I know everyone's panties will be in a bunch over the notion of cutting the McCourty's but their secondary was deep enough to withstand it and the addition of Brady to the offense would have flipped their record by 5 wins (in my opinion). So minus the McCourty's $ (bringing 2021 under the cap by $66 million), Brady gets $25 million in 2020 and $38 million in 2021 (which could have been lightened with another restructure... considering Brady legitimately looks like he can play to age 45).