Yeah, yeah, the cupboards are bare. The shooting stars have been few and far between. It seems like there is always a talent deficit....
The most successful GM in the history of the NFL is Bill Belichick. Full stop. He has predicated his roster building philosophy, as a good GM does, around the philosophies and approach of the Head Coach.
He ALWAYS has the best bottom quarter of the roster in the NFL. He sees the value in not being top heavy, with exceptions. But also, he knows his coach. He wants players that can be coached up, who can fill multiple or specialized roles. That provides him with an advantage that money cannot buy, but an advantage he knows he has as a GM because his coach is so good.
Writing this season off as Brady vs. Belichick is absurd. Bill is hobbled by the restrictions on this season. Brady has skill players around him and is still Brady. Damn right I am rooting for him in the NFC.
2-3 years from now, assuming some semblance of normality, does anyone want to bet that the Pats won't be better under Bill? Tom May sniff a SB this year or next. I would put some good money down that Bill will win another with the Pats.
I will watch both with interest, but this SEEMS like a lost year for your New England Patriots. There is no way they will be cellar dwellers other than this weird, personnel robbing, coach inhibiting year. And it is not because Bill cannot draft the WR position, although an acknowledged repeated strikeout. It is because Bill was unable to be Bill this year. Although in saying "We'll do what's best for our football team." for the 1000th time, but this time meaning he is closing the facility to protect his players, he is in some very real sense Bill being oft understood and underestimated Bill.
Oh, and the answer is "both". John AND Paul.
The most successful GM in the history of the NFL is Bill Belichick. Full stop. He has predicated his roster building philosophy, as a good GM does, around the philosophies and approach of the Head Coach.
He ALWAYS has the best bottom quarter of the roster in the NFL. He sees the value in not being top heavy, with exceptions. But also, he knows his coach. He wants players that can be coached up, who can fill multiple or specialized roles. That provides him with an advantage that money cannot buy, but an advantage he knows he has as a GM because his coach is so good.
Writing this season off as Brady vs. Belichick is absurd. Bill is hobbled by the restrictions on this season. Brady has skill players around him and is still Brady. Damn right I am rooting for him in the NFC.
2-3 years from now, assuming some semblance of normality, does anyone want to bet that the Pats won't be better under Bill? Tom May sniff a SB this year or next. I would put some good money down that Bill will win another with the Pats.
I will watch both with interest, but this SEEMS like a lost year for your New England Patriots. There is no way they will be cellar dwellers other than this weird, personnel robbing, coach inhibiting year. And it is not because Bill cannot draft the WR position, although an acknowledged repeated strikeout. It is because Bill was unable to be Bill this year. Although in saying "We'll do what's best for our football team." for the 1000th time, but this time meaning he is closing the facility to protect his players, he is in some very real sense Bill being oft understood and underestimated Bill.
Oh, and the answer is "both". John AND Paul.