How Belichick lost his place in posterity

[Huckleberry1]

"But in paying tribute to his colleague after Brady and another Rehbein find, receiver David Patten, destroyed the Indianapolis Colts that October, Belichick made it clear that **** was "the guy that's most responsible" for Brady being a Patriot."

Thank you, **** Rehbein. RIP

Great of Belichick to give Rehbein credit, but as you have all made clear a million times Belichick is responsible for the decisions on draft picks. And you have never shied away from blaming every bad one on him. .

 

[Ian]

BB's downfall started with the worst draft pick in Patriots history, N'Keal Harry. This was the pick that drove Tom Brady out of town and I can hardly blame him. Tom wanted someone to throw to and it must have irked him that the Patriots passed on so many other great WRs to draft a guy that gave great interviews. But then BB kept making boneheaded moves and I am pretty sure that even a QB lke Brady could not have salvaged last season.

That was a massive whiff. If ever there was a need to hit a home-run on a wideout, that needed to be the year given where there depth chart was. I agree - that killed them and I mentioned it earlier. That and the fact Antonio Brown turned out to be a head case with too much baggage. That group was 2006-esque as Edelman's body and mangled fingers had him dropping passes, even despite the numbers he put up that year. Sort of a miracle he even did what he did that season given what was going on around him.

 

[Patriot Missile]

That first part is just not accurate. There's plenty of data that shows the O carrying or exceeding its own weight during the 1st dynasty. It's a myth that the D carried Brady during the 1st half of the dynasty.

The Defense and offense worked hand and hand.

01 Patriots
16-13 over Raiders offense pulls weight

24-17 over Steelers. a blocked kick returned for a td and a punt return for a td. Yeah, we needed the defense/special teams group for that one. Offense pulls weight

20-17 over Rams. A interception return for a td. Forced fumbles, Again defense is important. Offense pulls weight.

03 Patriots

17-14 over Titans. Shut down Co Mvp. Offense pulls weight

24-14 over Colts. 4 interceptions, 4 sacks and a safety by the defense. 5 fgs from AV. Offense pulls weight.

32-29 over Carolina. Barn burner. Brady arrives and puts himself in elite category.

04 Patriots

20-3 over Colts. Shuts down the 49 td thrower. Asante drops interception in end zone that lost shutout. Go figure. Offense pulled its weight.

41-27 over Steelers. Obviously offense is clicking and defense is doing what it can to avenge the Halloween loss.

24-21 over Eagles. Great game offense did what was needed, defense forced turnovers. And Andy Reid and clock management wins the day.

2001 Defense 5th in points allowed
2003 Defense 1st in points allowed
2004 Defense 3rd in point allowed

2001 Offense 5th in scoring
2003 Offense 12th in scoring
2004 Offense 4th in scoring

At the end it doesn’t matter because it was the perfect storm. I didn’t even get into the plus minus because it didn’t bode well for the rest of the league. Tbh though, I never saw the offense exceeding it’s own weight. First half was primarily defense. But it’s mute because Brady was always able to score more points than the other team when needed depending on the circumstances. That’s why it was a dynasty. A combination of players and coaches doing the job.

 

[Ian]

The Defense and offense worked hand and hand.

01 Patriots
16-13 over Raiders offense pulls weight

24-17 over Steelers. a blocked kick returned for a td and a punt return for a td. Yeah, we needed the defense/special teams group for that one. Offense pulls weight

20-17 over Rams. A interception return for a td. Forced fumbles, Again defense is important. Offense pulls weight.

03 Patriots

17-14 over Titans. Shut down Co Mvp. Offense pulls weight

24-14 over Colts. 4 interceptions, 4 sacks and a safety by the defense. 5 fgs from AV. Offense pulls weight.

32-29 over Carolina. Barn burner. Brady arrives and puts himself in elite category.

04 Patriots

20-3 over Colts. Shuts down the 49 td thrower. Asante drops interception in end zone that lost shutout. Go figure. Offense pulled its weight.

41-27 over Steelers. Obviously offense is clicking and defense is doing what it can to avenge the Halloween loss.

24-21 over Eagles. Great game offense did what was needed, defense forced turnovers. And Andy Reid and clock management wins the day.

2001 Defense 5th in points allowed
2003 Defense 1st in points allowed
2004 Defense 3rd in point allowed

2001 Offense 5th in scoring
2003 Offense 12th in scoring
2004 Offense 4th in scoring

At the end it doesn’t matter because it was the perfect storm. I didn’t even get into the plus minus because it didn’t bode well for the rest of the league. Tbh though, I never saw the offense exceeding it’s own weight. First half was primarily defense. But it’s mute because Brady was always able to score more points than the other team when needed depending on the circumstances. That’s why it was a dynasty. A combination of players and coaches doing the job.

 

[Tunescribe]

That was a massive whiff. If ever there was a need to hit a home-run on a wideout, that needed to be the year given where there depth chart was. I agree - that killed them and I mentioned it earlier. That and the fact Antonio Brown turned out to be a head case with too much baggage.

Giving Tom the weapons he needed to succeed that year failed, but not for lack of trying. I mean, look at this list. If Antonio Brown could've stuck and even just one of the others rose to the occasion, things could have been entirely different.

Grading Patriots' wide receivers from 2019 season

In 2019, the Patriots passing game was held under a magnifying glass for the entire season. Pundits questioned whether or not they'd ever reach their full potential while fans pined for the days when they were going full throttle. Week 1 against the Steelers…

patriotswire.usatoday.com

 

[Ian]

Giving Tom the weapons he needed to succeed that year failed, but not for lack of trying. I mean, look at this list. If Antonio Brown could've stuck and even just one of the others rose to the occasion, things could have been entirely different.

Grading Patriots' wide receivers from 2019 season

In 2019, the Patriots passing game was held under a magnifying glass for the entire season. Pundits questioned whether or not they'd ever reach their full potential while fans pined for the days when they were going full throttle. Week 1 against the Steelers…

patriotswire.usatoday.com

Of all the years they needed a rookie phenom, that was the year. Just sucks - you see so many other teams do it and save for Malcolm Mitchell and Deion Branch (and Julian Edelman, which was a late-round guy and was like a lottery ticket almost four years later), I can't think of too many guys drafted early who stepped in right away and played at a high level.

I just can't get over how many guys they got wrong, and I'm really hoping this new regime ends up with better results.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

That was a massive whiff. If ever there was a need to hit a home-run on a wideout, that needed to be the year given where there depth chart was. I agree - that killed them and I mentioned it earlier. That and the fact Antonio Brown turned out to be a head case with too much baggage. That group was 2006-esque as Edelman's body and mangled fingers had him dropping passes, even despite the numbers he put up that year. Sort of a miracle he even did what he did that season given what was going on around him.

To me, missing on that pick was the end of the BB/TB12 partnership. If N'Keal lived up to his draft position, Brady would have finished his career in NE.

 

[Ian]

To me, missing on that pick was the end of the BB/TB12 partnership. If N'Keal lived up to his draft position, Brady would have finished his career in NE.

Absolutely agree. Imagine if he suddenly had a J'Marr Chase or a Justin Jefferson, it would have been the start of another run and he definitely wouldn't have wanted to leave. Probably would have been thrilled, especially at that point in his career where having someone like that would have changed everything here. Albeit, the contract thing would have remained a frustration that would have needed to be figured out.

 

[Real fan 02]

Horsefeathers. How do you account for the Matt Cassel year? No Brady and BB did very well

It's an absolutely crime we didn't make the post season that year. Meanwhile the NFC had 7-9 teams make the playoffs. Just ridiculous. Ultimately with all due respect the 32nd ranked offense is what let to a parting of ways... I'm talking about so bad offensively players on D said whenever they got a 3 and out they never took off thier helmets because they knew they would be right back out.

 

[Real fan 02]

To me, missing on that pick was the end of the BB/TB12 partnership. If N'Keal lived up to his draft position, Brady would have finished his career in NE.

Agreed. I've also mentioned had AB worked out for us I believe we get back to another superbowl in 2019.

 

[Real fan 02]

Absolutely agree. Imagine if he suddenly had a J'Marr Chase or a Justin Jefferson, it would have been the start of another run and he definitely wouldn't have wanted to leave. Probably would have been thrilled, especially at that point in his career where having someone like that would have changed everything here. Albeit, the contract thing would have remained a frustration that would have needed to be figured out.

Don't forget we had AB for hot minute. He showed instant connections with TB12 in the only game as a patriot. What could have been. AB remains on the team I'm confident we get back to the superbowl.

 

[Ian]

It's an absolutely crime we didn't make the post season that year. Meanwhile the NFC had 7-9 teams make the playoffs. Just ridiculous. Ultimately with all due respect the 32nd ranked offense is what let to a parting of ways... I'm talking about so bad offensively players on D said whenever they got a 3 and out they never took off thier helmets because they knew they would be right back out.

Everyone was outraged we didn’t make the playoffs that year (literally everyone in here was mad about going 11-5 and not making it). Suddenly, we have people treating that season like it was meaningless and a terrible year. It’s bizarre.

 

[signbabybrady]

It's an absolutely crime we didn't make the post season that year. Meanwhile the NFC had 7-9 teams make the playoffs. Just ridiculous. Ultimately with all due respect the 32nd ranked offense is what let to a parting of ways... I'm talking about so bad offensively players on D said whenever they got a 3 and out they never took off thier helmets because they knew they would be right back out.

I've said it a few times first tie breaker should go to defending champs. Just for entertainment sake. The playoffs would be more fun with the defending champs instead of a team that didn't earn it outright.

 

[Real fan 02]

Everyone who was outraged we didn’t make the playoffs that year (literally everyone in here was mad about going 11-5 and not making it). Suddenly, we have people treating that season like it was meaningless and a terrible year. It’s bizarre.

It's very bizarre. Cassell got better as the season went on. He took full advantage of the weapons he had in moss and Welker.. I think randy still put up over 1000 yards that season? It was by all means a great year. Loosing TB12, after a perfect regular season. Had we made the playoffs I think there would be teams that didn't want to see us.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Don't forget we had AB for hot minute. He showed instant connections with TB12 in the only game as a patriot. What could have been. AB remains on the team I'm confident we get back to the superbowl.

Hindsight but is anyone surprised? Bat **** crazy, only reason he even ended up with the Pats was for his antics before he got here. Like many I thought the team could get him on the winning side but he was a horse of a different color for sure.

 

[Ian]

It's very bizarre. Cassell got better as the season went on. He took full advantage of the weapons he had in moss and Welker.. I think randy still put up over 1000 yards that season? It was by all means a great year. Loosing TB12, after a perfect regular season. Had we made the playoffs I think there would be teams that didn't want to see us.

I was absolutely disappointed that we didn’t get to see how they would have fared in the playoffs. He actually admitted the same thing in a recent interview. They started coming together at the right time and just got hosed…very frustrating.

 

[Real fan 02]

I've said it a few times first tie breaker should go to defending champs. Just for entertainment sake. The playoffs would be more fun with the defending champs instead of a team that didn't earn it outright.

Your absolutely correct. It should go to the defending Champs. I mean we went undefeated that season before. AFC Champions. I agree 100%

 

[Real fan 02]

Hindsight but is anyone surprised? Bat **** crazy, only reason he even ended up with the Pats was for his antics before he got here. Like many I thought the team could get him on the winning side but he was a horse of a different color for sure.

Yes, he really started to go haywire after he left us. I really and truly believe AB is suffering from mental illness caused by CTE..

 

[Patriot Missile]

I was absolutely disappointed that we didn’t get to see how they would have fared in the playoffs. He actually admitted the same thing in a recent interview. They started coming together at the right time and just got hosed…very frustrating.

I know it’s happened a few times in history but how crazy is not making the playoffs at 11-5?

 

[Ian]

I know it’s happened a few times in history but how crazy is not making the playoffs at 11-5?

100% agree. I feel like we’ve seen it happen with 10 win teams. That’s the only one I remember ever seeing where an 11 win team didn’t get in. Just absolutely insane that it happened.