Comparing salary cap era teams to non salary cap era teams is not a valid comparison. Pre salary cap era teams were open to stacking their teams with capability that modern era teams simply cannot do. A modern era team may have a one year wonder of being stacked/deep -- maybe two years at most -- but to maintain a 49ers type depth over a number of years is all but impossible.
Because some of these notable teams were pre salary cap era deep, their ability to maintain an elite level of play was something simply not available to the modern era/the Patriots. In the BB-TB era we have seen injuries derail what was otherwise the Patriots in overdrive to the SB (not that it couldn't happen to pre salary cap era but it was less likely). And it is this fact that makes, arguably, the pre salary cap era teams the "better" teams on paper as well as makes the comparisons invalid.
There was the NFL before and there is the NFL now. The Patriots are the greatest "now" team from the standpoint of wins, from the standpoint of being just two plays away from being the 'now' quasi-owners of the SB(6), from the standpoint of the hole they have had to play from (always picking near last, picks taken away, their team always are post season worn for the following season), and because the 'now' NFL is specifically designed to make a team like the Patriots difficult to happen.
Enjoy it while it lasts (while TB and BB are still capable of being elite at their respective levels) because it is extremely unlikely to be repeated by any 'now' NFL team.
Important points; and yes, you can't strangle a guy and say "take less money to stay here!"
You got your Bradys and Bruschis, and you got your Milloys and Welkers, whatever.
For anybody who's listening, I will point out that de-emphasizing intelligence and shrewdness is a mistake. A lot of teams of the past were limited simply by their own budget, including the Celtics, who barely got by each year but still paid Russ (slightly) more than Wilt. And the rest of the players complained loudly about it, but that was a reflection of the soon-to-change system.
A team that has people who make smart, substantive, practical and thoughtful personnel and strategic decisions is going to have a huge advantage and more success on the field than most others, who quite frankly, don't. Been that way for generations before the salary cap.
Specifically in this case, a team like the Broncos who openly, brazenly cheat on the cap, get slapped on the wrist and supported by the league, will continue to enjoy a clear competitive advantage over a team like the Patriots, who have not broken any rules-unless you concur with the commissioner's decision that their camera was in the "wrong location"-yet have lost draft picks including two first-rounders, lots of money, and playing time.
