I don't remember McGinest being considered a bust and I don't consider pro bowl selections a true measure of a player. Plenty of high caliber players get snubbed.
If you go back and look at the top defenses that won Super Bowls, they all had several players at the tops of their positions.
Look at the teams that won it after the Patriots. Tampa Bay had Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, Ronde Barber, John Lynch, Simeon Rice & Shelton Quarles. 6 starters made the Pro Bowl.
The Patriots had only Ty Law and Lawyer Milloy.
The Steelers had Troy Polamalu, Joey Porter, Casey Hampton, Aaron Smith, James Farrior.
Even the pass happy Colts had Freeney, Robert Mathis, Bob Sanders, Antoine Bethea, Cato June.
I definitely agree with you that the Pro Bowl/All-Pro doesn't determine who is a top player, but I'm sure there were top players on these teams who were not recognized. as well.
And the whole point was that the Patriots defensive players were not well regarded UNTIL Belichick came along. I never said these weren't top players. I can just recall that Bruschi, for instance, was not considered a top player under Pete Carroll. In fact, he transformed under Belichick. But the same goes for many of these guys. Like Vrabel. Not a top player in Pittsburgh. Willie's career was heavily criticized. Suddenly Belichick comes along, and with only one bonafide star recognized by anyone (Ty Law) they shut down the greatest show on turf.
It's also hard to say that the players just grew or evolved as a natural sign of their progression. Law, McGinest and Bruschi had already played for the Patriots for many years.