Belichick Has My Vote As League's Best GM

[ChessToCheckers]

Alright. I'll admit it right up front. I'm a Bill Belichick apologist. You probably figured that out from my screen name.

It is natural that whenever a high draft pick or high money free agent is brought onto the team, the expectations are high. When one of these is a bust like Easley, many on this board are quick to criticize Belichick. I have no problem with that at all. That passion for the Game and Team is why I enjoy this board so much.

That said, I think Bill Belichick is far and away the best GM in the league and I'm damn glad we have him and his player personnel staff.

My reasoning is simple. Winning in the NFL isn't easy. At a minimum it requires winning teams. Sustaining winning teams year after year within a highly competitive environment is difficult. In the NFL, this is nigh impossible because the rules are designed for parity. I think it's fair to say that "You are what your record says you are."

It has been said that Bill Belichick, the GM, "doesn't rebuild; he reloads!" Belichick has been the general manager of Patriots for 16 years. During that period, no team is comparable to the Pats by any measure: winning percentage, division titles, conference championships, Super Bowls.

Let's face it. The other 31 despise us.

Wouldn't we all love to see operation up close, to be in the inner circle during the draft, during the practices, in the meeting rooms? What are the untold stories?

Until Belichick retires and his books come out, we're not going to know. But we can guess how he does it.

He focuses on depth. He covets large numbers of draft picks. He maximizes compensatory picks. His personnel team truly understands the Cap. He personally scouts prospects. He willingly takes risks. Some work ; some do not. It goes with the territory. He's not a fortune teller, but he's done the homework. When the 31 go one way, the Pats go the other. He foreshadows changes and adjusts. He innovates. He's fearless. He jettisons some of our favorite players just at the "right time." The Pats are consistently tough during contract negotiations.

AND HE IS OURS ... He gets my vote as the League's Best GM.

Your thoughts?

 

[IcyPatriot]

Linda ???????????

Who knew ?

 

[IllegalContact]

dude's awesome

 

[jimnance]

I think the crowd at TD Garden last night answered that question when BB was shown on the Jumbotron. The ONLY gm or head coach/ manager in Boston sports history in his class is Auerbach.

 

[Froob]

I think the crowd at TD Garden last night answered that question when BB was shown on the Jumbotron. The ONLY gm or head coach/ manager in Boston sports history in his class is Auerbach.

Amazing thing about Auerbach is, he was not only GM and head coach but, he was also in charge of marketing the games as well. Phil Jackson has nothing on him. Never had to build any of his teams nor develop them.

 

[Gronk]

I think the crowd at TD Garden last night answered that question when BB was shown on the Jumbotron. The ONLY gm or head coach/ manager in Boston sports history in his class is Auerbach.

Yeah but did that crowd know how bad he'd ****ed up with the Easley pick when they were cheering him?

 

[jimnance]

Amazing thing about Auerbach is, he was not only GM and head coach but, he was also in charge of marketing the games as well. Phil Jackson has nothing on him. Never had to build any of his teams nor develop them.

Not to mention Red was also the head janitor- nobody was better at ensuring opponents' locker room was nice and toasty.

 

[jimnance]

Yeah but did that crowd know how bad he'd ****ed up with the Easley pick when they were cheering him?

Gotta assume you're being sarcastic

 

[Froob]

Not to mention Red was also the head janitor- nobody was better at ensuring opponents' locker room was nice and toasty.

I wonder if he actually did that or not. He claims it didn't happen and that he would be accused of it and would answer questions about it in a way that made people think he was doing it to screw with teams. Not that I would expect him to admit to doing it lol.

 

[jimnance]

I wonder if he actually did that or not. He claims it didn't happen and that he would be accused of it and would answer questions about it in a way that made people think he was doing it to screw with teams. Not that I would expect him to admit to doing it lol.

Whether he did it or not is almost irrelevant. Fact is, he got in opponents heads- so they got paranoid about everything. Hell, I remember games where opposing coach had refs get on a step ladder with a level to make sure rims were not tilted! Same thing obviously with BB. Its a tribute to both Red and Bb's greatness.

 

[AtomicDawg]

You're not the only one who thinks BB is a pretty damn good GM....

NFL's Best GMs 2016 - Rotoworld.com

A zigger in a group of zaggers, and a futurist who doesn’t look at this trophy case. Belichick is the greatest of all time because of the games he’s won in the fall and winter, but it’s the work he does in the spring and summer that sets the table.

This is the 3rd time in 3 straight seasons Rotoworld has done this. FWIW.

 

[Jercules]

Well, count me among the few who took issue with you calling yourself a Belichick "apologist".... apologize for what? Do you go on the hockey forums and "apologize" for Wayne Gretzky?

Just a point. Of course you're right. Of course a mistake or two will happen: People don't realize that taking a chance on a late 1st round DT with knee issues, and an early 2nd round TE with back problems is essentially the same proposition... if one has to come with the other, I'll still take it!

 

[n1997y]

Not just league's best GM. Best ever. Coach and GM. Lambeau and Halas and Landry and Lombardi have nothing on him. That's pretty stellar company. Canton should be planning to build a whole new wing. But no rush, let's keep him around for another decade or so.

 

[rookBoston]

What I admire most about BB is his willingness to do the unpopular thing based on his conviction that it's right for the team.

Cutting Milloy, trading Bledsoe within the Division, drafting Mankins (OG in the first?!), then trading Mankins, drafting Seymour, then trading Seymour, trading down in the 1st instead of drafting Cordarelle Patterson (position of need!), only to take a lightly regarded LB from a winless So Miss team named Jamie Collins... and so many more examples

BB got variously criticized and crucified in the media and by fans for making moves that, in retrospect, were utterly brilliant and entirely contrary to consensus wisdom.

Willing to pay Revis, but then to not overpay Revis. Could the entire Revis opportunity have been handled any better, even with the benefit of hindsight? Finding Welker, landing Corey Dillon, finding Malcom Butler, landing Randy Moss, finding Ninkovich and Vrabel, drafting Brady despite having a Franchise QB, and then spending a roster spot to carry a 4th QB just to keep him safe.

Guy just knows football, how to build a team, how to manage assets and mitigate risk. Utterly brilliant.