Dear Pats Nation,
Before I start, I wish to stress that any point out of Tom Brady is on no account a slight of him, his legacy or my admiration for him as an individual or participant. This actually has nothing to do with Tom Brady. It’s about Bill Belichick.
Sad that I even must preface it this manner, however that’s what it’s come to these days. It appears one can’t converse glowingly of Coach Bill Belichick anymore with out being handled like a Cowboys fan at an Eagles recreation — or worse. It’s no shock that hysterical sports activities media pundits are rejoicing over Coach Belichick’s obvious “fall from grace.” They’ve been ready to bop on his soccer grave for twenty years. What is stunning, nevertheless, is what number of Pats followers have subscribed to the Belichick slander.
Did we get so used to profitable that we’re punishing Bill Belichick for our personal unrealistic expectations?
Did we get so used to profitable that we forgot how straightforward it was to lose?
Did we get so spoiled by all that profitable, that we’ve develop into unaware of how a lot we sound like a type of obnoxious and entitled fan bases that “only other teams have?”
While I can’t change the best way the sports activities media sorts take into consideration Belichick, I can attraction to the best fan base in all of sports activities. To attempt to attain these in Pats Nation who’ve gone from ignoring the noise, to embracing the noise. Gone from believing in Bill, to belittling Bill. To interact with those that have develop into precisely like that which they’ve traditionally presupposed to detest — the Patriots-hating speaking heads, who’ve sought to decrease us followers and our beloved Patriots Dynasty for the final 20 years.
So, Pats followers, it’s time to confront some exhausting truths, and unpack a number of the many biting criticisms of Bill Belichick. Hopefully by doing so, we might be able to deliver some perspective, gratitude and respect again for our as soon as beloved coach.
“Tom Brady was more responsible for The Pats Dynasty than Belichick.”
Does any affordable human being on the planet actually imagine that Brady, or Belichick, gained six rings with out Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, Matt Light, Vince Wilfork, Corey Dillon, Devin McCourty, Stephon Gilmore, Julian Edelman or essentially the most clutch kicker in historical past, Adam Vinatieri?
Ironically, Belichick and Brady always remember to acknowledge their teammates, their assistants, their trainers, their staffs or that gentleman who indicators the checks, owns the crew and made all of this potential — Mr. Robert Kraft.
Sincerely, if we’re going to credit score one individual for being the largest purpose for the Patriots dynasty — shouldn’t Mr. Kraft at the least be thought of in that dialog?
I digress.
“Belichick never won a Super Bowl without Brady.”
No coach has ever had a dynasty with out an all-time nice QB. So why is that this criticism solely reserved for Coach Belichick? He’s both being held to a better commonplace — or it is a severe double commonplace. After all, did Chuck Noll have a dynasty with out Terry Bradshaw? No. Did Bill Walsh with out Joe Montana? No. How come we by no means hear “Bill Walsh never won a ring without Montana?” Did Jimmy Johnson with out Troy Aikman? Not even shut.
How about Andy Reid — the sports activities media’s new darling of a head coach? The man that lots of the so-called consultants now seek advice from because the GOAT. Surely Andy has constructed a dynasty with out an all-time nice QB, since that’s the new standards for outlining a coach’s legacy. Did Andy win in Philly with out Donovan McNabb? He by no means even gained a Super Bowl with Donovan McNabb, by no means thoughts with out him. Did Andy win a Super Bowl in KC, with out Patrick Mahomes? No. In reality, if reminiscence serves me, he by no means even obtained to a Super Bowl with Mahomes till after Belichick and Brady’s remaining recreation collectively.
“Belichick never won, with the Pats, without Brady.”
At what level does Belichick get kudos for the pivotal function he performed in Brady’s profession, as an alternative of being bashed due to the pivotal function that Brady performed in his?
Belichick drafted Brady. He stored Brady on the roster as a fourth QB (remarkable), as a rookie. He began Brady when Bledsoe obtained harm. He began Brady when Bledsoe obtained wholesome. He even began Brady within the Super Bowl, after Bledsoe led the Pats to an AFC Championship recreation victory over the Steelers. He did all of this, regardless of a variety of Pats gamers (and a majority of Pats Nation) wanting Belichick to start out Drew Bledsoe within the Super Bowl in opposition to the Rams. Belichick often is the one and solely coach (and probably the one individual not named Tom Brady) that really believed in Brady as an NFL beginning QB. Coach Belichick entrusted his crew, his job and his teaching profession, to a lanky child that no one else would even use a draft choose on.
Tom Brady acknowledged this, himself, in his ESPN Docu-Series — “Man In The Arena.”
“Belichick never won without Brady” — The Prequel.
It at all times amazes me how many individuals don’t recall Belichick’s Browns beating our Patriots, and Coach Bill Parcells, within the playoffs again within the ’94-’95 season. The 12 months earlier than Art Modell introduced that the Browns have been leaving Cleveland and transferring to Baltimore. Fans turned on the crew, the crew fell aside on the seams and Coach Belichick was subsequently fired. If you’ll recall, many within the native media didn’t need Coach Belichick to return to the Pats as a result of they thought of him such a dreadful coach in Cleveland. Many extra thought Mr. Kraft was insane to commerce a primary spherical choose for Belichick. How ironic that lots of those self same media sorts are actually perpetuating the rumors that the Pats would possibly get a first-rounder in trade for Belichick.
“Brady won without Belichick.”
If you actually love and help Tom Brady, then his seventh ring ought to have been a joyful expertise for you. Even if it wasn’t in New England. Instead, it has develop into a part of the explanation that so many Pats followers have turned on the man whose protection was very a lot a part of the Pats profitable the opposite six rings in Brady’s assortment. I used to be so glad that Tom Brady obtained that ring. For him, for his legacy and for all of us in Pats Nation. He actually saved all of us from ever having to listen to the outlandish “Mahomes, Manning or Rodgers is the GOAT,” silliness once more.
“Belichick can’t draft.”
For some unusual purpose, we Pats followers actually suppose we all know soccer higher than Belichick. Sure, he has made us scratch our heads extra instances than we must always with a few of his picks. But we certain do focus an terrible lot on the misses, whereas ignoring the various instances he’s hit the jackpot together with his draft picks and undrafted free brokers. When he drafted Sony Michel, I keep in mind asking my TV “why the heck are we drafting a running back in the first round?!” Then got here the playoffs in Sony’s rookie season. He helped lead a ground-and-pound offensive assault to a Super Bowl win, speeding for 100 yards per recreation and scoring 6 TDs — a playoff report. Three within the first spherical in opposition to the Chargers. Two extra in opposition to the Chiefs and the one landing within the Super Bowl.
“Belichick can’t draft wide receivers.”
I might finish this debate by asking “have you ever heard of Julian Edelman?” But, to be truthful, this level is just not so merely settled. Although I’d argue that drafting Deion Branch and David Givens in the identical draft, was completely sensible. They helped the Pats win two extra Super Bowls.
The misses have harm, however the guys that he has hit on have helped us win the one factor that issues in New England — Super Bowl Championships. I’d additionally argue that drafting the best tight finish in historical past (Rob Gronkowski, within the second spherical, when few different GMs in soccer would contact him after his school accidents), deserves some acknowledgment on this debate.
“Belichick didn’t give Brady any weapons.”
This often is the most widespread mistruth of all the Belichick criticisms. I imply, did all of us overlook the Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth period? Here’s the one drawback with these groups — they gained ZERO Super Bowl titles. ZERO. The interval when the Patriots had the best array of weapons, and Brady put up his gaudiest numbers, is similar interval when the Pats grew to become what they’d at all times defeated — a juggernaut offense with all the weapons that couldn’t win the tight video games within the put up season. In reality, we grew to become an terrible lot like Peyton Manning’s Colts groups of the early 2000’s. We at all times laughed at these Colts groups. Because, regardless of the weaponry, they might by no means outsmart a Bill Belichick protection.
Let’s not overlook 2018-19, both. The Pats signed Antonio Brown, had the league’s high protection and the consultants mentioned “The Pats are gonna go undefeated,” after beginning 8-0. Then they misplaced AB and Josh Gordon, they misplaced to the run-heavy Titans within the playoffs and those self same consultants complained that “Belichick never gave Brady any weapons.” Talk about revisionist historical past.
Now go inform Kevin Faulk, Troy Brown, Shane Vereen, James White, LeGarrette Blount, Gronk, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola that they weren’t weapons.
“He doesn’t pay his players.”
You don’t commit $60 million to Aqib Talib, and screw up your cap flexibility, when you may merely signal Darrelle Revis and win one other Super Bowl, as an alternative.
“He benched Malcolm Butler and cost us a Super Bowl.”
I do know many individuals nonetheless maintain a grudge in opposition to Coach for by no means explaining why he didn’t play Malcolm in that recreation — though they’d most likely by no means settle for it if he gave them one. Ironically, Malcolm Butler isn’t holding a grudge in opposition to him. To be trustworthy, I’d say that not having Dont’a Hightower value us that Super Bowl, extra so than not having Malcolm Butler.
We additionally had what any Pats fan needs in any recreation, Tom Brady with the ball in his palms with an opportunity to win on the finish of regulation.
Unless Butler was gonna block for Brady, and forestall that strip fumble, his absence didn’t value us that recreation.
“Belichick drove Brady away.”
Just think about this one level earlier than persevering with to hate Coach for the heartbreaking choice to maneuver on from Tom Brady. Even if he was 100% flawed concerning the choice. If Brady profitable with Tampa proves that Belichick was flawed about transferring on from him — doesn’t Jimmy G main the Niners to a Super Bowl show that Belichick was proper about him? Just think about it.
“Belichick ruined Mac Jones.”
To recommend that the best coach of all time “ruined” a one-year school participant — a participant that the majority consultants thought was solely going to be common at greatest — is totally insane. You’d must have believed that Mac Jones was on the trail to greatness. So how come I by no means heard a single soul declare that Mac was going to be something near nice? Even after his first rate rookie season. Look, I actually like Mac. I nonetheless have excessive hopes for him (although it’ll doubtless be elsewhere). But if I’m going to guage Mac vs Belichick on their monitor information, I’m sorry, I’m taking the man who oversaw Tom Brady’s improvement.
As for the Matt Patricia debacle, I’d go so far as to argue that a number of present QBs on this league might’ve contended for a hoop with final season’s Patriots roster and training workers. Give me Justin Herbert with Belichick, final 12 months’s coaches, weapons, defensive unit and Nick Folk — and we’d have been contenders. I’d have wagered so much on it. If you’re being trustworthy with your self, you would need to.
Look, like most of you, I’ve been a Pats fan because the 70’s. I do know that this season actually does suck. I do know this season could not even be as unhealthy as final season. But I additionally know this — the Patriots have misplaced each beginning cornerback on the roster to damage. They misplaced the most effective go rusher within the NFL. Despite every thing, the crew hasn’t give up. They maintain enjoying exhausting and Belichick deserves credit score for that, not criticism.
At the tip of the day, I definitely respect no matter choice Mr. Kraft makes about Coach’s future. He is the person who risked all of it for Belichick. He is as a lot liable for “The Patriot Way,” as anybody. If he decides that Coach is being changed, it won’t change my opinion of him nor my love for the crew. Nor will it change my opinion of how poorly so many followers in Pats Nation have handled Bill Belichick. He deserves higher. He will not be our coach subsequent season, however he deserves our respect — endlessly.
Remember followers, the best QB to ever play the sport solely comes round as soon as in a lifetime. The similar will be mentioned for the best coach of all time. Be cautious what you would like for.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”