Put yourself in BB's position. Cleveland is a pain to deal with, they reneged on deals and failed to send in paperwork on others. there is a risk they screw up the trade (negating the deal and league office won;t help) and Jimmy leaves as free agent, netting the Pats a late third (maybe if there is no offsetting signings). They might have hedged on picks and been a risk to back out at the last minute. Compare that to SF ( like Arizona w Chandler Jones). It was a stealthy deal that went off without a hitch...Value of pick was less but deal went smoothly....
Looking at it in the macro, I can see SF being more than willing to deal with the Pats again ( obviously). In a league where the reputation was " if you are making a deal with the Pats you're going to get screwed", this shows the opposite can be true...
Belichick did what was best for the Patriots, it just also happened to be what was best for Jimmy G.....
Finally this is revisionism on the part of Sashi to make himself look good for future employers.......I don't believe they ever offered it beyond feelers,,,,This is an organization that just put together the WORST two year stretch in NFL history, worse than the expansion TB Bucs ( they were 2-26)..........Browns were 1-31 and we are supposed to beleive they wanted Jimmy G.. Had he gone 0-5 and not 5-0 and Sashi would have been saying he was glad they never made an offer for JAG.......
rant over...