For Bill it was early, that 2001 team had no business being in the playoffs never mind the Super Bowl. I would argue it remains the greatest coaching job in NFL history. Just getting a bunch of no name guys to buy in and play tough, physical, blue collar lunch pail football. So many things had to go right and the margin for error was practically zero and yet they delivered “it’s good, it’s good! The patriots are champions, the patriots are Super Bowl champions! the best team in the national football league”. Still gives me goosebumps everytime I hear that iconic call.
Brady was later, for a long time I undervalued how clutch he is. I thought he was just a cog in the machine thru 2004 and was just asked to not make mistakes and deliver 3-4 big throws a game. 2006 was when I started going yeah this guy is more then just top 5 of his era. 2007 cemented it for me that given the pieces and the opportunities other QBs *cough* manning *cough* were being given to be the centerpiece and driver of the offense Brady was even better then them. After that it was just a question of how much better and at this point with 10 trips to the SB and 7 rings it’s clear he has all but lapped the competition with anyone who says he is not the GOAT needing their rectum examined for headupitis.
Thing that bothers me in all the Bill versus Brady talk and comparisons is it can’t be one versus the other. No way in hell Brady becomes Brady without those early defenses and the coaching he got in New England. No way in hell does BB get 6 rings without Brady going psycho Tom in all those key gotta have it moments. They were the perfect storm, Ying to Yang, and something that will never again happen in our lifetimes. I’m just happy I got to witness it all And impressed they kept it together for 20 years. I don’t blame either of them for the split as it felt like at the time, for the first time, they had understandable different objectives. Brady knew he only had a year or two left and needed a team around him. He didn’t have the time to have a down year to reset the cap. BB had good reason to question if the 42 year old, injured, lack of play makers, lack of fire Brady was the new norm? It’s easy to say what would Brady being doing with the weapons we have now, he’s way better then Mac, without keeping in mind the only reason they got those weapons was the reset year that was supposed to be cancelled for Covid.
I’m a patriot fan first and foremost and while it ended up not working out so far I support the decision they made. With the information they had, it made sense to do what they did. I will root for every player wearing a flying Elvis to be an All Pro and win every match up. I am also in awe of Tom Brady, he has brought me so much joy, given me so many heart attacks, and is an amazing human being I use as a teaching moment for my kids. As long as he isn’t going against the Patriots i wish him to do well. Not sure why those two positions have to be separate and controversial.