Tag Archives: Tom Brady

How the ‘Patriot Way’ Handles the NFL Draft

All eyes are fixated on top prospects as the 2018 NFL Draft draws closer by the day. Big names like Saquon Barkley and Baker Mayfield headline almost every mock draft. A sea of cameras trail the NFL’s next most promising players. From now until April 26th, all that the media can do is sit and wait to see where college football’s brightest stars will land. From here on in they can only add to the hype and hysteria that surrounds NFL front offices.

The media in the past has brought forth stars like Carson Wentz into the light. Yet, they have done their fair share of over-hyping players. Teams like the Browns have fallen prey to such deception in the past. Though top prospects are always slated to stardom by the media, no one knows how things will play out. Because of this promising prospects can turn a team sour as easily as they can improve them.

A Good Magician Never Reveals Their Secrets

Since the dawn of the NFL, we have seen teams’ success waver over time The 1970s Steelers ruled the league with an iron fist, as well as the Cowboys in the 1990s. Since then, those teams have been remnants of their old selves. We’ve seen flashes of their former prosperity, but they have never fully returned to it.

In comes the 21st century Patriots. Since 2000 New England has made the Super Bowl eight times, more times than they have missed the playoffs (three). The only remaining figures from their Super Bowl run in 2001 are Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, and Tom Brady. So comes the question that is lodged in the brains of fans, media members, and even front office executives: how the hell have the Patriots been elite for so long? The answer is simple, but at the same time it is not. The “Patriot Way” is what makes this team so special.

Like the 31 other teams in the league, the Patriots build for the future through the draft. The words “Patriots” and “rebuilding” have not been in the same sentence for quite some time. They have never needed to undergo a full rebuild that we see so often in the league. They haven’t needed to wipe the slate clean and start anew like the Browns have needed to do so many times in the past decade. Instead of starting completely over the Patriots slowly upgrade themselves with young prospects. All these microscopic changes over time fail to turn any heads because every team does the same. This whole process is not anything new, it’s the way that the Patriots execute it that makes it work. They bring prospects in to be the future, as any team.

Courtesy of SB Nation.

The Patriot Way

But why is it that New England’s prospects are different from anyone else’s? If anything, shouldn’t they be not as good due to the Patriots consistently having low draft picks due to their success? On paper that is true, but New England has a divergent way of bringing rookies up into the league.

Coach Bill Belichick hates the noise that the media emanates. Especially when they try to act like they know football. He refuses to buy into the hype for most top prospects. He does not look at prospects for their talent, but instead how they can help the Patriots. The bottom line is that football is a team sport, and though Tom Brady is talented he cannot win on his own. Thus, the Patriots’ mantra is “do your job”. Flashiness and highlights will only get you noticed by scouts. But, Bill Belichick is willing to pass up on anyone that cannot put their team ahead of themselves.

While the cameras surround prospects slated to be first round pick, Belichick takes the road less traveled. He scouts players that are overlooked by everyone else. Why? Because they are willing to give their all to play football. That kind of fire is what is wanted in New England. Lower draft picks will fight for their career, no matter what it takes. Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, and Elandon Roberts are a few examples of players taken on the back end of the draft. They fought tooth and nail to even be drafted, and that discipline and determination helped them become the starters that they are today.

That same principle goes for those who go undrafted. A whopping eighteen Patriots appearing in the Super Bowl back in February went undrafted. The most famous of them all is Malcolm Butler, who set a precedent around the league to not underestimate undrafted rookies. Every player starts their career the same way. Whether it is a DI or DIII school, players all must play at the collegiate level before going pro.

Courtesy of NBC Sports.

One Man’s Trash

The New England Patriots are successful because they know what it takes to win. Sometimes a team-first attitude is more important than talent. The Patriots bring in players who are widely disregarded and convert them into key role players. All these players share one common thing: they want to prove that they can play. With determination like that anything is possible. The “Patriot Way” is not a saying, it’s a mindset. Former Patriot Kevin Faulk learned about this approach during his career in New England. In an article for The Player’s Tribune, he writes,

“The Patriot Way ain’t about nothing but winning, man. That’s it. See, Coach Belichick is the kind of guy who doesn’t care what you do on your own time. He wants you to know football and he wants you to come to work every day and do your job to the best of your ability. Anything else, he doesn’t really care.”

It might be wise to watch the undrafted pool in April, because Bill Belichick could find himself a new shiny player to electrify his team with.

Follow Mike Clement on Twitter: @MClementMedia.

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

Don’t Forget Hanley Ramirez

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J.D. Martinez is finally a Boston Red Sox and it’s all anyone can talk about. It’s an earned celebration; the Red Sox needed a power hitter and Martinez is a true star with the bat. While he will certainly help the 2018 Red Sox get some power, don’t forget Hanley Ramirez and the impact he can have.

Ramirez arrived two days early to spring training, fully healthy and down 15 pounds. He credited Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s “TB12 Method” for his change in offseason workouts, and this news should make all Red Sox fans ecstatic.

Don’t Forget Hanley Ramirez

Hanley’s tenure in Boston has been a mixed bag, to say the least. He was terrible in his first season with the Red Sox, before transforming into one of the better power bats on the team in 2016. 2017 was a down year for him due to a nagging shoulder injury that sapped away his swing.

Overall, there have been two down years and one great year in Hanley’s three seasons with the Red Sox. However, so far there’s always been one consistent theme in determining the success of Hanley’s season. When he comes into spring training too muscular, he has a bad year.

2015 – The Muscular Hanley

2015 showed that success in the weight room doesn’t necessarily translate to the field

Image credit: WEEI

Hanley came over to the Red Sox on a massive four-year, 88 million dollar deal, and immediately wanted to show his worth. The big acquisition spent all offseason lifting, and came into camp looking unnaturally ripped. Simple logic would dictate that big muscles equals big power, but that’s not always the case.

So much of what goes into being a power hitter comes from the form of your swing instead of the muscles on your body. Hanley spent so much time adding muscle onto his already jacked body that he lost his form. Hanley had a long, looping swing all season that clearly threw off his timing and never let him hit the ball clean. Sure, when he made contact the ball went far, but he was rarely making solid contact. Hanley finished that season with just 19 home runs, 10 of which came in April, and was considered one of the biggest free agent busts in Red Sox history.

2016 – Slimmed down Hanley

Hanley entered 2016 spring training with a different philosophy. Instead of getting as jacked as possible, swinging for the fences and assuming home runs would follow, he got smarter at the plate. He spent more time in the offseason working on having a compact swing, making solid contact, and knowing that he’d knock a few out regardless.

While this strategy led to his size being smaller, his numbers got bigger. Hanley’s swing, when it’s right, is so good that he’ll get his power number regardless of what he’s bench pressing. Hanley worked on getting his swing right, and the work paid dividends.

Hanley finished his 2016 season hitting .286 with 30 home runs and 111 runs batted in. This was the Hanley the Red Sox thought they were getting when they first signed him, and his production was a big part in the 2016 Red Sox having one of the best offenses in all of baseball.

2017 – Muscular Hanley Again

Coming into 2017, Hanley tried to add more muscle again. Maybe he thought the results would be better now that he had controlled his swing the year earlier. Maybe he knew that his bat would become more important than ever with David Ortiz out of the lineup.

Regardless of why he did it, the plan didn’t work out. It’s hard to discern how much of Hanley’s poor season was due to his year-long shoulder injury, but the obsessive lifting probably didn’t help anything. Ramirez looked slow and uncomfortable with the bat all season, and his looping swing returned from 2015. He still managed to hit 23 home runs, but his RBI’s dropped to just 62 and his batting average fell to .242.

2018 – Pliable Hanley

Let’s see if pliability can help another Boston athlete in 2018

Image credit: Getty Images

Building muscle is great if you need to add power to your game, but Hanley doesn’t. His swing along gives him enough natural power to fill a hole in the middle part of the lineup. Hanley’s best course of off-season action is to get his body ready to handle the grind of a 162-game season.

By the looks of things, that’s just what he’s done. Hanley hasn’t been lifting as much this off-season, as evidenced by his 15-pound weight loss. In its place, Hanley has focused on resistance band training to improve his pliability and to keep his muscles loose.

This strategy has allowed Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to continue to thrive at age 40. While a 162-game season bring different challenges than a 16-game football season, it’s hard to imagine a designated hitter taking the same beating as an NFL quarterback.

2016 has shown that Hanley doesn’t need to be freakishly musclebound in order to hit for power. He’s a strong guy regardless, and when he keeps his swing compact it’s one of the better swings in the game. In both 2015 and 2017, he spent his off-season trying to build up muscles. Both seasons ended with poor production and shoulder issues. So far, Hanley’s 2018 is mirroring 2016, and that’s a great sign for what might follow this season.

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

The History of the New England Patriots by Jersey Number #11-#12

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Number Eleven

Before we talk about the three super popular Patriots that wore #11, it behooves me to mention Joe Kapp. Kapp played just one season in Boston, but it must have seemed like the twilight zone for him. Why? You all remember when the 2016 Patriots traded poor Jamie Collins to the winless Cleveland Browns, right? Joe Kapp went from a 12-1 record with the 1969 NFC champion Vikings to a 1-9 mark with the 1970 Patriots. He took such a beating, it was his last season in the NFL.

Tony Eason was selected with the 15th pick of the historic 1983 NFL draft. He was a rockstar with Illinois, but never panned out the way that his counterparts Elway, Kelly and Marino did. Eason was not a poor quarterback; he actually was pretty good in stretches as he compiled a 28-21 mark with the Pats.

In the 1985 AFC championship game, Eason went 10 for 12 with three short touchdown passes. In the Super Bowl, the Bears annihilated him. He went zero for six and was sacked three times. He bounced back to have his best season in the pros in 1986. Unfortunately, a return trip to the Super Bowl was not in the cards as a bad trend was established for New England. Denver beat them in the playoffs in the Mile High city, 22-17.

Eason was limited to a role player the remainder of his career with veteran Steve Grogan and enigmatic Doug Flutie outperforming him.

Drew Bledsoe and a New Era

After Eason and Grogan left, the Patriots were flat-out awful. That all changed when they took Drew Bledsoe with the first pick of the 1993 draft. Bledsoe was one of the best college football players of all-time at Washington State. His arrival along with Coach Bill Parcells and Robert Kraft as owner one season later gave the Pats immediate credibility. They even won the division following the ’94 season in large part to the brilliance of Bledsoe.

In 1996, Bledsoe was excellent teaming up with Terry Glenn, Ben Coates, Keith Byars and the fantastic Curtis Martin to run away with the AFC East. They dominated Pittsburgh and held off Jacksonville for their second ever Super Bowl appearance. Bledsoe played fairly well in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXI against the Packers, but struggled the rest of the way. He was sacked, intercepted and intimidated throughout the night. However, he would get a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in his final season with the team, 2001.

The only problem for Bledsoe was he playing time was limited during the championship season due to his injury and Tom Brady’s remarkably swift ascension. Bledsoe did have a moment in the sun when Brady was knocked out of the AFC championship game at Pittsburgh. Bledsoe was workmanlike in helping New England outlast the Steelers, 24-17. His second quarter TD pass looked identical to Brady’s second quarter TD pass in the Super Bowl.

Bledsoe moved on to Buffalo and Dallas thereafter where he had a few good seasons. His lack of mobility caught up with him at the tail end of his career. Dallas coach Parcells opted for the younger, more athletic Tony Romo. Unwilling to be relegated to a backup position, Bledsoe retired before the 2007 season.

College QB Makes His Mark

Julian Edelman is one of the most popular and exciting players ever to wear a Patriots uniform. No doubt his friendship with Brady has been a motivating factor for the former college quarterback. He was drafted in 2009 and made the roster thanks in large part due to his electrifying abilities in the return game. He played a bit of everything in his first three seasons including kick returner, receiver and defensive back. Edelman’s career has been a case of what could have been as several of his seasons have been affected by injury. When Edelman is in the lineup, the Patriots already potent offense is even better.

Edelman’s two most recent Super Bowl appearances were the stuff of legends. He played a key role in the Super Bowl XLIX victory over Seattle by notching tough third down receptions and the go-ahead touchdown. In Super Bowl LI, he struggled for the most part, but came up with perhaps the most amazing reception in Patriots history grabbing a deflected ball in triple coverage about one inch from the turf. He added a big catch in the overtime period. His preseason injury in 2017 was perhaps the low point of the season for Patriots fans. He is exactly the kind of player that is easy to root for.

Number Twelve

How about two quarterbacks that have worn #12 for the Patriots!? Before we get to the greatest player in franchise history and probably the greatest quarterback in the history of professional football, let’s mention a journeyman backup named Matt Cavanaugh. He played his first five seasons behind Grogan from 1978-1982 before getting traded to San Francisco. Cavanaugh won the Super Bowl as a backup for the 1984 49ers and 1990 Giants as well as an offensive coordinator for the 2000 Ravens, 2005 Steelers and 2008 Steelers. So, that makes five Super Bowl rings for a Patriots quarterback wearing number 12.

Tom Terrific

Another Patriots quarterback that has won five Super Bowls wearing the #12 is the incomparable Tom Brady. As a Bills fan, there are simply not enough superlatives I can shower on Brady. First, he has whipped Buffalo for seventeen years. Second, he is not just an outstanding player, but an outstanding person and a superb ambassador for the NFL. Everybody knows about his stats, accomplishments and championships. What stands out for me is the love he has for his family. His appreciation for his parents, wife, sisters and children is to be admired. I am the same age as Tom, but I look up to him.

The other thing that stands out to me about Brady are his defeats. I am thinking about six games that he lost that proved his greatness. The Super Bowl losses to the Giants and Eagles were literally not over until the final whistle blew. In Super Bowl XLII, Brady was down, but not out. He led his team to the go-ahead score with 2:35 remaining. Even when New England once again fell behind, Brady made two amazing “Hail Mary” attempts for Randy Moss that fell incomplete. In the Super Bowl XLVI loss, Brady was not at his best. Yet, he still threw a Super Bowl-record 17 consecutive completions and was a few drops away from victory.

In Super Bowl LII, Brady was marvelous. Had he not been strip-sacked, we would have definitely been acknowledging his Super Bowl performance as the greatest quarterbacked game in football history. He was truly fantastic in the second half especially on chunk plays to Amendola, Gronk and Hogan.

Championship Game Losses Add to Legacy

The other three losses were championship game losses to the legend, Peyton Manning. Sometimes, people push Manning’s greatness under the rug due to his many playoff failures, but to me, he was the second best ever. In the 2006 AFC championship game, Brady was surrounded by castoffs and has-beens and went toe to toe with Manning on the road. Peyton pulled it out in the end, but Brady was phenomenal in defeat. In the 2013 AFC championship game, Denver completely overwhelmed the Patriots defense. Yet, Tom battled to the end notching two fourth quarter touchdowns in a hopeless situation. He showed the heart of a champion when the odds were stacked against him.

Of all the losses in Brady’s magnificent career, the one that goes down in history for me as his best would have been the 2015 AFC championship game. He really struggled in the first half at Denver as the Pats fell behind. The Broncos defense was simply awesome in 2015. Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Demarcus Ware, Chris Harris, etc. teed off on Brady. He seemed to get walloped every other play. He never gave up, though. In the fourth quarter, New England dominated Denver but could not come all the way back in a gutty 20-18 loss due to a missed two point conversion.

GOAT

I only mention these losses because we all know about the wins. His final drive against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI would give any football fan goose bumps. His pass to David Givens in Super Bowl XXXIX against the Eagles is the greatest short yardage pass I have ever seen. The incredible performances against Seattle in 2014 and Jacksonville in 2017 and their top-ranked defenses demonstrated that he gets better with age. And, finally, his signature win against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI in a season that started on the suspended list was according to Kraft, “unequivocally, the sweetest of them all.” We will do the history of the Patriots by jersey number till we get to #99, but we will not write about any better player or person than #12, Tom terrific.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Tom Brady’s Successor 2018 Version

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Has there been any team with a more unprecedented run of success at the quarterback position? With the exception of a torn ACL that wiped out Tom Brady’s 2008 season, the fans have seen star level play from the signal callers for nearly two decades. Is there another NFL city that can boast that? And who will be the Brady successor that New England fans look to for the next decades of passing excellence?

Indy?

Indianapolis? Peyton Manning provided MVP level play from 1998-2010 he accrued numerous awards and accolades, went to the Super Bowl twice and came away victorious once. In the end he lost the entire 2012 season due to a neck injury hit the free agent market. Denver would benefit for a few more mostly up seasons before he retired in 2015. Still, just 12 seasons for the fans of Indiana.

Big Easy?

How about New Orleans? With a free agent signing in 2006 of the short, shoulder-injured passer out of the storied football school of Purdue, the Saints got the best value in the NFL. But again just 12 seasons, one Super Bowl appearance and win and prolific passing statistics do not make a legend.

The Winner is…

To put it into perspective the New England Patriots have seen seven Super Bowl appearances and five rings. This is such a run that has no equal in the history of the NFL. Sadly, like all good things, there is an end in sight. Despite all the pliability that a 40 year old can muster, Brady will reach a day that he chooses a less physical line of work. A 300 pound lineman laying on top of you can get a bit old quick. So we must look to finding a replacement for that day. Welcome to the 2018 version of this pursuit.

Draft History

Since the 2000 draft with the 199th pick the Patriots have selected eight quarterback prospects from the college ranks. Some like Matt Cassel and Ryan Mallet have last several years as the backup to TB12 before moving on to other opportunities in their careers. Some were seventh round picks or undrafted gems like Brian Hoyer. The top 100 picks in the NFL draft is the preferred hunting grounds for Bill Belichick’s QB search. Lately as the market has been shifting and unexpected events like the Deflategate suspension have happened they have been picking higher and more frequently than normal. This year will be no exception. This year we can safely say, that regardless of free agency the Patriots will select a quarterback in the draft.

What’s Coming

In the coming weeks we will profile likely Patriots QBs that could be selected in the 2018 draft in March. We will look at playing styles, testing results, background information and why we think they have traits that will make them a new Patriot. The writers at BostonSportsExtra.com look forward to the debates and speculations that these will likely entail. We eagerly await all of the new Patriots that will try to help the 2018 team get that sixth ring for Brady. And just maybe get to be the next guy for when Brady hangs them up and rides off into the sunset.

Winning More Super Bowls Than Brady?

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In an appearance on Good Morning Football, Deshaun Watson had said he wanted to win more Super Bowls than Tom Brady. “I always put my mentality with being the best, and Tom Brady is the best right now, so whatever I have to do to get to that level at age 40, that’s what I’m going to do”. He certainly has flashed the potential to do so, throwing for 1699 yards and 19 touchdowns in seven games, but can he develop into a quarterback better than Brady and win more Super Bowls?

Reasons He Can

One of Deshaun Watson’s major strengths is his mobility. He resembles Russell Wilson with his ability to extend plays out of the pocket with his arm or with his feet. An example of this was his 49-yard rushing touchdown against the Bengals in Week 2. On this play, the Bengals rushed four and were playing a deep zone on 3rd and 15. Carlos Dunlap provided pressure which caused Deshaun Watson to tuck it and run. He used his speed to pass the Bengals linebackers and, with great awareness, took advantage of the secondary playing far back to use blocks downfield to get in the end zone.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

He also has an amazing ability to move the ball downfield and using the pocket to his advantage, showing little hints of Brady in him. In the Texans’ Week 8 shootout with Seattle, Watson had edge defenders closing on him quick, so he stepped up in the pocket which allowed those defenders to be blocked. He then dropped a beautiful deep bomb to a wide-open Will Fuller for a 59-yard touchdown.

Watson has great speed, pocket presence, a big, accurate arm, and the ability to move the ball downfield. He gave the Texans offense a spark which they desperately needed. It is a shame that he got injured because the Texans’ season could have turned out differently.

Reasons He Can’t

However, there are some concerns about this Clemson product. Watson has shown the ability to make tight accurate throws to his receivers, but his throws are risky. He often throws to his receivers surrounded by coverage. This resulted in many big plays, but was also the cause of his interceptions. He needs to enhance his ability to go through his reads and try to always find the open man instead of just his favorite targets. Tom Brady does have his go-to receivers, but he creates mismatches and opportunities for them to get open, unlike Watson.

Another concern for Watson was his ACL tear. Looking at the Tom vs. Time videos, we can learn that pliability in muscles can lead to a longer career. How else can Tom Brady play at an MVP level at 40, while his longtime rival Peyton Manning looked like a shell of himself at 39? The ACL tear could have hampered the pliability of Watson’s muscles and therefore reducing the length of his career – not good when he wants to win five Super Bowls.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The last concern is not about Watson himself, but his team. The Texans need to upgrade their offensive line and protect Watson. It will give him the time to make plays and move down the field. They should also revamp their secondary. For Watson to be successful, he needs a defense that he can rely on to stop the opposing offense from scoring points. This was evident in the losses against Kansas City and Seattle.

Conclusion

Thus, Watson does have the talent to be a star in the NFL. However, I do not believe that he will win as many Super Bowls as Brady. His skills still need to be honed and his injury can impact the rest of his career. There are too many factors working against Watson and the Texans’ ability to win games including the emergence of several young quarterbacks on other teams. Watson can be great, but he won’t surpass the greatest.

New England’s Defensive State Ahead of the 2018 Off-Season

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In team sports, you often hear, “You win as a team and you lose as a team”. Rarely will you find a coach or staff that believes otherwise. Bill Belichick and his staff do not sway away from this mentality.

With that being said, it may not always be true.

The New England defense allowed over 538 yards on the grandest stage of them all. Philadelphia was an astounding 10-16 on third down conversions, 2-2 on fourth down conversions, and didn’t allow a sack.

This is not to take away from a brilliant performance from the Super Bowl MVP, Nick Foles, but the Patriots defense was non-existent Sunday night.

Aside from Stephon Gilmore, who was virtually lock-down, the Patriots’ secondary got scorched. Jordan Richards looked lost on numerous occasions. One of those included a key third down where he let up a 55-yard play to put the Eagles in scoring position. Eric Rowe allowed over 80-yards in coverage as well as a touchdown while serving as New England’s second corner… We won’t get into that.

If you haven’t figured out how to say goodbye to Malcolm Butler yet, I suggest reading this article.

The defensive-front couldn’t sustain consistent pressure on Nick Foles. Foles wasn’t pressured on play action, three step drops, five step drops, and RPO’s. In other words: HE WAS NEVER PRESSURED.

A combined effort highlighted by LeGarrette Blount and Jay Ajayi rushed for over 160-yards, a touchdown, and six first downs. Blount and Ajayi both gashed the Patriots with carries of over 25-yards.

The Patriots offense, however, was amazing.

Tom Brady, for the second straight Super Bowl, threw for over 500-yards. He tossed three touchdown passes and zero interceptions. All after one of his best targets, Brandin Cooks, left the game due to a head injury early on.

Not counting the 34-second drive to end the first half, Tom Brady led the Patriots on four straight drives of over seventy-five yards or more… each resulting in touchdowns. This strand ended with a beautiful strip-sack by Brandon Graham late in the fourth quarter.

CONCLUSION

After reviewing these points, while it may be a team effort, the defense lost New England the Super Bowl.

While there certainly are a few question marks on offense for New England, there is much more to be happy about. Among the uncertainties are Nate Solder, Danny Amendola, and Dion Lewis’ expiring contracts.

While Gronkowski has had his share of injuries, I am calling his bluff on potential retirement. Next season, health providing, the Patriots offense will have Cooks, Gronkowski, Edelman, and Hogan all at once. Also we can’t forget about the return of Malcolm Mitchell. I am not concerned about the offense.

The defense, however, will require much change.

Cornerback

During the Super Bowl, fans got to see a sneak peek of New England’s secondary without Malcolm Butler and no additions. Newsflash: IT WAS ATROCIOUS.

Outside of miscommunication against the Chiefs and Panthers, and poor performances against the Bills once, and the Steelers, Stephon Gilmore was great this season. It now seems clear to all why New England gave him ‘lock-down cornerback’ money.

PFF gave Stephon Gilmore an 89.1 grade for the season, ranking him the 8th best cornerback in the league.

According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, through the entire playoffs, Stephon Gilmore allowed 4-15 completed passes for 55-yards, with 6 pass breakups.

The New England Patriots have their clear-cut #1 cornerback for the future.

Devin McCourty is still playing great ball for New England, and position-mate Duron Harmon has been key as well.

For this last season, both Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon were ranked top-10 out of all free-safeties by Bleacher Report.

Patrick Chung, strong-safety, will also likely be keeping his starting job in New England next season. One could argue that Chung deserved Pro-Bowl honors this year. Chung’s ability to defend tight ends and play at the line of scrimmage makes him vital in New England.

CORNERBACK HELP FROM WITHIN

Cyrus Jones, former second round pick, looks to return from a torn ACL and compete for a job next season. Jones was far from a fan favorite a season ago after muffing multiple punts. The guy damn-near got booed out of Foxborough. Players like Edelman coming to his defense and touting his work ethic shouldn’t go unnoticed. How Bill views Cyrus’ potential could sway the Patriots’ search for a nickel cornerback.

While it may be hard to envision this right now, I would not be all that surprised to see Eric Rowe starting across from Gilmore next season. Most of Rowe’s 2017-2018 season was lost to injuries. Last season, as well as when he was healthy towards the end of this regular season, he looked like the guy to fill Butler’s shoes. There is no denying that Rowe started the Super Bowl on the wrong foot, but he is a good player. Whether he is #2 cornerback material is up to Bill.

The obvious need in this secondary is at the #2 cornerback position. Whether the improvements come from in-house, or not, remains to be seen.

While improvements at the cornerback position will be vital going forward, if the front seven continues to struggle at getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the talent level in the secondary won’t matter a bit.

Pass Rush

Looking back, the eight-sack performance against the Tennessee Titans seems to be nothing more than an anomaly. The Patriots’ group of pass-rushers are very young, headlined by the leader of the group, Trey Flowers, and his sidekick, Deatrich Wise. Both having played their college ball at Arkansas, seem to be the head of the pack going forward for New England.

Trey Flowers proved that it is possible to have a good season as a pass rusher with low sack numbers, totaling at 6.5. With that being said, he led the team in that category, which is not close to the number you want your leading sack artist to have.

Things didn’t go as planned with the edge rushers for New England this season. Rob Ninkovich retired shortly before the season started, leaving a hole in leadership and skill level.

Also last off-season, the Patriots acquired former Super Bowl hero, Kony Ealy, from the Panthers. Needless to say, his time in Foxborough was short-lived.

Going into this offseason, there are improvements to be made with the pass rush, some may argue that it is the biggest area of need for New England.

I would expect New England to use one of their three picks in the first two rounds of the draft on pass rush. Whether that be defensive-end, or a 3-4 pass rush linebacker. This unit as a whole has struggled enough to where I wouldn’t be surprised if New England spent a decent penny in free agency to sure it up.

PASS RUSH HELP FROM WITHIN

Also what should be noted is the Patriots’ first draft choice last year, Derek Rivers, missed all of this season with a torn ACL.

Derek Rivers, a pass rush specialist in college, stands at 6-foot-4, 245-pounds. In four college seasons, Rivers compiled a total of 37.5-sacks. Having been the team’s first selection in the draft, expect Rivers to be some much needed help from within.

An obvious addition to multiple phases of the front-seven, is the return of Donta Hightower. Donta is without a doubt one of the NFL’s best all-around linebackers. His ability to play in coverage, manage the defense, and rush the passer was surely missed this season.

The everlasting issue with Hightower is his inability to play a full season. The key with Hightower is to not rely on him so heavily early in the season to give him his rest. Honestly, just hope his injuries come early rather than late, and not season-ending. With hopeful thinking, having Donta Hightower back for the entirety of next season will greatly impact the pass rush.

Linebackers

Continuing on with Dont’a Hightower: His impact on the linebacker core is unmatched. Dont’a takes pressure off of his teammates and does a great job at preventing any confusion. Having Dont’a back would be huge, but relying on his return is not something I recommend.

The Patriots made a great addition when bringing in Marquise Flowers, and the trade for Kyle Van Noy has been a complete success. That said, even with the Pro-Bowl caliber Hightower back, the linebacker position lacks depth. Specifically, they lack athletes at the linebacker position.

Too often, Patrick Chung has to take on a larger role than you would like him to because he is constantly moving down into the box in aid of the unathletic linebackers.

I don’t mean to tug on strings here, but the Patriots are in desperate need of a ‘Jamie Collins’ like linebacker. Someone with the speed to pick up wide receivers over the middle and can keep up with running-backs. The undersized linebacker who moves like a safety is exactly what you should expect the Patriots to be looking for from their first pick, to their last.

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE

Other than maybe the safety position, interior defensive line may be the most solid group on defense. Led by the young defensive tackle out of Texas, Malcom Brown, this group can usually hold its own against most lines.

Again, the return of a healthy Donta Hightower, even though he doesn’t play defensive line, will help this unit immensely. Donta’s ability to line up over the center and coordinate the young defensive linemen like Malcom Brown, Ricky Jean-Francois, and Adam Butler will help their growth. Another key kog in this unity is veteran, Lawrence Guy. Guy came in as a free agent from Baltimore and contributed a large amount over the second half of the season.

Once vital big-man, Alan Branch, was a healthy scratch for the entire playoffs thanks to the emergence of Jean-Francois and the steady play of Guy. I wouldn’t be all that surprised to see him become a cap-casualty.

The most action I expect from this group would be the Patriots picking up Malcom Brown’s fifth-year option. The young guys will continue to grow and improve here.

Whether it be at the #2 or #3 cornerback positions, pass rush, linebacker position… or all of the above: This defense needs to get better. A lot better.

Tom Brady Deserved the MVP Award

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On Saturday the Regular Season Most Valuable Player award was handed out. While there were a few players running, the award went to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. People will say that Brady’s late season skid should have made him unworthy of bringing home this year’s MVP. However, he’s easily been the best player in the league this season, and Tom Brady deserved the MVP.

Tom Brady Deserved the MVP Award

Tom Brady had another season for the ages

Image credit: USA Today

September

After an ugly Week One performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, Brady went on an absolute tear. The 40-year old threw for 1,399 yards, 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions over the first month of the season. All of those marks were league bests, despite the fact Brady didn’t throw a touchdown in Week One.

It’s how Brady was doing it that made it more impressive. He lost his best receiver, Julian Edelman, for the season and his defense was horrible in the first month. If Brady wasn’t perfect every single week, the Patriots wouldn’t stand a chance.

Brady was right in the thick of the MVP discussion. At the time, his biggest competitors were the Chiefs Alex Smith and Kareem Hunt. Kansas City was undefeated, and both players were in the midst of incredible runs.

October – November

Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz was the biggest challenger for the MVP

Image credit: Philly.com

Kansas City went through a rough patch, losing six of seven. Smith and Hunt were no longer MVP candidates, while Brady was playing as good as ever. Enter Carson Wentz. The Philadelphia Eagles second-year quarterback had made great strides, and was playing like one of the best in the league.

Through November, the two were pretty evenly matched. Brady was slowing towards the end of November due to an Achilles injury, while Wentz was keeping his usual pace. With one month left, Wentz had the edge in team record and touchdown passes, while Brady had the lead in yards and points per game. It looked like the award would be granted to whoever had the strongest finish to the season.

Early December

Wentz tore his ACL against the Los Angeles Rams, ending his season and his odds at the MVP. Brady was fighting an Achilles injury while playing five of six games on the road. His stats slowed, but there was still no quarterback who was close to Brady. So, the next touted MVP candidate was the Pittsburgh Steelers Antonio Brown.

Brown was in the midst of an incredible season of his own. He was playing above his normal lofty standards and was the main reason the Steelers were able to win so many of their close games. Brown was a worthy candidate, but it takes a lot for a receiver to match the productivity and value of a quarterback. Brady would need to continue his skid and Brown would need to play his best for him to pull off the upset.

Instead, he got injured. Brown suffered a calf injury against the Patriots in Week 14, ending his season and any chance he had at the MVP hardware. Once more, Brady seemed like the only candidate left to win the MVP.

Late December

Rams running back Todd Gurley has the second highest odds of winning MVP

Image credit: Los Angeles Daily News

Following a Week 15 game where he single-handedly ran the Seattle Seahawks out of the playoffs, Rams running back Todd Gurley became the latest MVP candidate. Gurley had a great season, but prior to the injuries to Brown and Wentz, nobody was calling him MVP. That’s because Gurley didn’t earn it.

Historically, running backs only win the award when they have historical seasons and/or have to overcome an otherwise terrible offense. Gurley didn’t do either. Don’t get me wrong, running for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns is impressive, but not historic. Then-Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount put up similar numbers in 2016, yet he (rightfully) wasn’t receiving and MVP attention.

Throughout the entire NFL season, the MVP debate was Tom Brady versus somebody else. Whether it was Smith, Hunt, Wentz, Brown, or Gurley, Brady was always the player the rest were running against. While his production slowed in the final month, Tom Brady was the best player in the NFL from start to finish. Don’t overthink this one, Tom Brady deserved the MVP award.

Cover image courtesy of SI.com.

Win or Lose, Tom Brady is the GOAT

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It was Week 6 of the 1983 season. My family’s Sunday tradition was to eat Grandma’s homemade pizza and watch football in her South Buffalo home. On this particular Sunday, the Buffalo Bills were playing at Miami to take on the Dolphins. The Bills had not won in Miami in my lifetime. However, the Dolphins were struggling offensively early that season, so they made a switch to a rookie quarterback on this day.

We had a good feeling about this game. The Bills bolted out to a 14-0 first quarter lead. We were smiling, giggling, eating, relishing the moment that our Bills would snap their streak of futility in Miami’s Orange Bowl. Then, something happened that made me even as a child stand up and pay closer attention. The Miami player wore number 13. The way he played quarterback completely mesmerized me. His name was Dan Marino and I had the privilege to watch him play in person 10 times. He was the greatest pure passer I have ever seen.

The Other Quarterback GOATs

I was 14 years old watching the 1989-90 San Francisco 49ers rake the turf with their opponents during their postseason run. The 49ers were going to kill the Broncos in the Super Bowl. I recall it was a freezing January day in Western New York, so we were homebound for the three-hour pregame show. We were not Broncos fans. Nevertheless, we hoped they would give San Francisco a game. They didn’t.

The 49ers put on a show for the ages. Their quarterback wore number 16 and in this, his fourth Super Bowl appearance, he pitched a perfect game. His name was Joe Montana. He was an assassin on the field. Montana always played with poise and threw gorgeous spirals into tight windows. He trusted his receivers implicitly. Whenever the 49ers were on national television, it was must watch. He was the most clutch player I have ever seen.

GOATs of the Past and Present

Peyton Manning was another player I witnessed at his best. He was the greatest regular season quarterback in NFL history and it is not even close. Teams that he played for won 75 percent of their contests. I rarely found myself rooting for the teams he played for, but I respected him so much for his intelligence and leadership.

Aaron Rodgers makes the impossible seem possible. I remember watching him on a Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas in 2007 when he came in for Brett Favre and thinking that he was “pretty good.” It only took him a few years to win the Super Bowl. Rodgers combines great athleticism with an uncanny football mind. His teams are never out of a game and his throws are sometimes majestic and other times magical. Rodgers is the best player in the NFL today.

GOAT Wide Receiver

Jerry Rice posted numbers as a wide receiver so gaudy and incredible that 34-year old Larry Fitzgerald would have to record seven more 1,000-yard seasons to break the record for most receiving yards. Rice was the best wide receiver of the 1980s, the best wide receiver of the 1990s and made the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl at 40 years old in 2002. He was the best non-QB in NFL history. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to watch him play a few times in Buffalo.

The Non-Football GOATs

The first time I realized that Michael Jordan was other-worldly occurred in a playoff game against my beloved 1986 Boston Celtics. The Celtics were obviously the far better team, but Jordan was so amazing, he single-handedly forced overtime and double-overtime. He won six titles. I did not get to see him play until he was past his prime, but it was a great joy to be at that game nonetheless. He was the greatest competitor in sports history.

Wayne Gretzky was above and beyond the finest hockey player to grace the ice. He had speed and maneuverability like Bobby Orr. He had a sneaky hard slap shot like Mark Messier. His passes put Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson onto leaderboards for goals annually. Additionally, he was a leader, a gentleman and an ambassador. That is why in hockey circles, he is known as “The Great One.” He was the greatest athlete in the history of team sports.

I don’t observe individual sports with the regularity with which I enjoy team sports. I understand Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Tiger Woods have gone through eras of invincibility and I respect their accomplishments as well.

The Evolution of a GOAT

On Sunday, we will witness an athlete that will forever be discussed in the same breath as those mentioned above. The first time I saw him play was during the 2001 season. I recorded a game on my VCR between the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers. My beloved Bills were having a dreadful season with the two-headed quarterbacking monster of Rob Johnson and Alex Van Pelt at the helm, so I enjoyed watching other teams play as much as possible. The young Pats’ quarterback played a fine game and led his team to a comeback win. The performance hardly stuck with me.

A few weeks later, I watched this young man play in person at Rich Stadium for the first time. He did nothing special. In fact, the play I remember most from this game was how the quarterback impressively popped right up after a vicious hit delivered by Buffalo’s Nate Clements. The Patriots won the game. Nothing stood out to me about this player even as he continued to help his team win games leading to a surprise playoff spot. In the playoffs, he benefited from a controversial, obscure rule. In the AFC championship game, he was knocked out of the game.

Tom Terrific is Born

He was back to play in the Super Bowl and he was average through three-plus quarters. The Patriots took a 17-3 lead as they converted three turnovers into the 17 points. Their opponents, the St. Louis Rams, tied the game 17-17 with less than 2 minutes to play. This is when I first noticed Tom Brady.

The last drive of the 2002 Super Bowl can give any football fan goose bumps. Brady’s poise on that platform at that age is almost incomprehensible. He pulled it off launching the most compelling and polarizing career in the history of team sports.

His story has been told countless times, so I need not get into the nuances of winning this game or losing that one. Inevitably, due to his consistent success, people want to debate his place among the greats of all-time. The fact that people need to explain to us why Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and even Aaron Rodgers are better than Brady teaches us that even they believe he is one of the best of all-time or we would not have to rehash his resume annually as his records get loftier. Otherwise, why would they bring it up days before Brady is to play in yet another championship game?

Can Somebody Really be Called the GOAT?

I don’t believe in saying that somebody is the greatest of all-time. There is simply no way of knowing, so it is futile to argue such things. For example, how would one know if Michael Jordan is better than Tom Brady? That is like asking to choose a favorite entertainer between Tom Hanks and Justin Timberlake. Hanks is a better actor while Timberlake is the better singer and dancer. By the way, Jordan won his titles between the ages of 27 and 35 while Brady has done it between the ages of 24 and 39 when athletes are said to be too young or too old to peak.

Others bring up Jerry Rice. How might we decide who is a better football player between Tom Brady and Jerry Rice? Well, who is the better musician between Lenny Kravitz and Lars Ulrich? Kravitz is a better guitar player while Ulrich is a better drummer.

The comparison that I hear the most has to do with Joe Montana. Who is the GOAT: Joe Montana or Tom Brady? Well, who is the more attractive female between Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie? To each his own! I will say this about the Montana-Brady debate. We have a lot of revisionist history when it comes to the great Joe Montana’s career.

Is Joe Montana the GOAT?

Montana was very good in 1981, but not great. The 49ers were the best team in the NFC because of their phenomenal defensive backfield and they won the NFC championship game due to the excellence of Bill Walsh’s coaching as they overcame six turnovers. The 1982 49ers were poor virtually from start to finish and missed the playoffs. One year later, the Pro Bowler Montana was solid in defeat in the 1983 NFC championship game.

In 1984, Montana was spectacular. He played tremendously in the Super Bowl against a terrible Dolphins defense. However, Montana was terrible in three consecutive seasons in the playoffs. Following the 1985 and 1986 seasons, Bill Belichick’s Giants defeated the 49ers 17-3 and 49-3. In the 1987 playoffs, the 49ers got embarrassed at home by the Minnesota Vikings in a game that got so out of hand, Montana was benched in favor of Steve Young. These losses occurred while Bill Walsh was the coach and Jerry Rice was a wide receiver.

Montana’s Transcendent Seasons

Montana bounced back to have a very good season in 1988. He played great in the NFC championship game against Mike Ditka’s Bears at Soldier Field as the Niners won 28-3. He also played very well against an average Bengals defense in the 1989 Super Bowl until the fourth quarter. In that final frame, Montana’s unflappability was put on display like nothing we had ever seen up to that point in the history of the big game. Most of the first 22 Super Bowls were lousy ball games. Yet, the 1989 version featured one of the great fourth quarters of all-time as Montana and Rice possessed excellence of execution in the tensest of moments. In the end, Montana hit John Taylor with a sublime pass with just 34 seconds to play to give San Francisco their third Super Bowl championship.

That momentum carried through the 1989 and 1990 seasons. This is the Montana that “Joe Cool” lovers will most frequently boast of. He was phenomenal during those two campaigns. As mentioned above, he was flawless in his dismantling of Wade Phillips’ Broncos defense in the 1990 Super Bowl. He likely could have won another Super Bowl and a “three-peat” had Coach Belichick’s Giants not crushed him with such ferocity that he did not become a starting quarterback again until 1993 with the Kansas City Chiefs.

A Painful Conclusion

In his two seasons with the Chiefs, Montana maintained his trademark poise in leading Kansas City to the playoffs. I was an eyewitness in Buffalo when he was knocked senseless in the AFC championship game by Bruce Smith and again in 1994 when the Bills destroyed the Chiefs 44-10 at Rich Stadium. The mojo was gone and the 38-year old retired following that season beaten and bruised.

Thus, as you can see with this brief recap, there is no doubt that Montana was a tremendous player and perhaps if he played in today’s era of protecting the quarterback, he may have survived to do greater things. He may well be the greatest ever to do it in the Super Bowl, but unless one simply despises Brady, a concession has to be made that Brady’s career is the stronger of the two.

Tom Brady Brings out Extreme Passion

What makes Brady unique is he is not universally beloved and there are millions of people who make the claim that he isn’t even that good. On the other and, I’ve yet to meet a smart sportsperson rationalize that Montana, Jordan, or Gretzky weren’t that good. However, there are people standing in line in an effort to discredit Brady. Some of these folks are giants in our industry.

Especially because I am from Buffalo, I witness people who loathe Brady as a player. Who can blame a fanbase that is 2-29 against this man in meaningful Patriots’ games? Yet, one would be hard-pressed to find a Bills fan say, “I hate Tom Brady, but he is an excellent football player” as if acknowledging such might indict the fan of actually liking Brady. Some fans plainly know Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers do not have the same playoff success. Yet, they will blabber about Brady is successful because of “fill in the blanks.”

Brady supporters can be equally annoying. In their eyes, we must all now admit he is the GOAT or we are foolish. Bring up a time when he failed such as in the fourth quarter of the 2012 Super Bowl and you will hear a montage of, “Gronk was hurt, Welker dropped the ball, etc.” Talk about how he struggles throwing the ball deep as evidenced by his terrible output at Miami two months ago and prepare to be pelted with verbal snow balls. The point is Brady supporters have become so used to having to defend his greatness that even rational criticism based on film study and analysis gets met with outrage unless, of course, they do it themselves.

Tom is the GOAT

Brady could have won the two Super Bowls against the New York Giants as easily as he could have lost against the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons. In the end, those inches don’t matter. It’s about the yards traveled to be in those kinds of positions season after season from the age of 24 through the age of 40. Also, keep in mind that this thing is a work in progress. The Patriots can come right back in 2018 and do this again. Who do you think in the AFC East might be better than New England next year?

You want statistics. He’s got those. You prefer to measure individuals on the greatness barometer based on championships, he’s your man. Perhaps you just use the eye test or a player’s longevity. Maybe you look at one’s ability to make others around him better or work ethic or composure or whatever. One player stands above the rest in the history of sports and that is Tom Brady. That is why he is the GOAT.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Can Tom Brady Pass Michael Jordan Sunday?

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Tom Brady or Michael Jordan?

It’s no question Tom Brady is already the greatest quarterback of all time. Tom Brady is going for his sixth Super Bowl win on Sunday. With a sixth Super Bowl win he will have had as many championships as Michael Jordan. The Patriots’ 18 year dynasty is unheard of and will never happen again. Michael Jordan won all of his titles before the age of 40. Tom Brady is still playing at a high level at 40. With a win on Sunday Tom Brady will pass Michael Jordan as the greatest athlete of all time.

What is a Bigger Dynasty?

Tom Brady came into this league as an underdog in 2000. That first Super Bowl win against the Rams ended their dynasty and began one for New England. The AFC Championship wins against the Colts in the early 2000s marked the end of their regime. Jordan won all his championships from 1991 to 1998. Tom Brady has won three out of four championships from 2001-2004 and has a chance to do it again with 2014-2017. The 18 year run this team is on is way more impressive than the seven year run the Chicago Bulls were on.

Tom Brady Has a Chance to Add to His Legacy Sunday

Tom Brady has a chance to stamp his legacy Sunday as the greatest athlete of all time. This may be the worst Patriots team that has been in the Super Bowl. The defense has struggled and the offense is different without Julian Edelman. Michael Jordan was fourth in career points. Brady is tied for third in career passing touchdowns. Brady was the 199th pick in the NFL Draft while Michael Jordan was drafted third in the NBA Draft. Comparing different sports is hard, but right now Brady is in talks with Jordan as the greatest team athlete of all time. He really has the opportunity to seal that deal Sunday.

New England’s Changing Talent

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The New England Patriots are once again in the midst of an incredible stretch of success. They’ve won two of the previously three Super Bowls, and are looking to make it three of four next Sunday. Historically, there is a core group of players responsible for this level of success. The 1970’s Steelers boasted an endless group of Hall of Famers on both sides of the ball. The 1990’s Cowboys had the trio of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin.

Even the Patriots teams of 2001-2004 had Tom Brady and Troy Brown on offense to compliment Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, and Willie McGinest on defense in each Super Bowl. This iteration of the Patriots dynasty lacks that core group. There’s been an astonishing change in each Patriots team, which makes the success that more impressive. Different players keep coming through New England’s revolving door of talent, yet the success doesn’t stop.

New England’s Changing Talent

The Patriots Best Weapons Have Struggled to Stay on the Field – Image credit NBC Boston

The Offensive Core

In theory, the Patriots offense would run through quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Julian Edelman, and tight end Rob Gronkowski. When all three are on the field together, they’re practically unstoppable. The problem is keeping all three on the field. Brady is an ironman, but injuries have plagued both Edelman and Gronkowski over the years.

The trio was able to stay healthy for the entirety of the 2014 season, and unsurprisingly it led to the Patriots finally getting the elusive fourth ring. Since then, keeping both on the field has been a challenge. Gronkowski only played in eight games in the 2016 season and missed the entire postseason. Nonetheless, the Patriots still went on to win the Super Bowl without the big tight end.

2017 could post the biggest challenge of them all. Edelman tore his ACL in the preseason, ending his season before it began. Gronkowski suffered a concussion in the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He seems likely to play in the Super Bowl, but it’s not certain yet. Obviously, Brady is the most important piece of the core, but the fact that the Patriots could win three Super Bowls with that trio only playing in one is nothing short of amazing.

The Defensive Core

New England Has Had to Look to Several Different Players for Big Plays – Image Credit USA Today

Offensively, the Patriots have struggled to keep the core on the field together. Defensively, the Patriots have constantly rotated the heart of their defense. In 2014, the defense was led by the ferocious linebacker duo of Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins, to go along with defensive linemen Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich. The secondary was held down by safety Devin McCourty and cornerback Darelle Revis.

Two years later, only Hightower, Ninkovich and McCourty remained from that defense. Collins was replaced by Kyle Van Noy, Revis was replaced by Malcolm Butler (who had a pretty big impact against Seattle), and Jones was replaced by Trey Flowers. All three replacements were able to adequately fill the shoes of their predecessors, and helped New England get ring number five.

Once more, 2017 could be even more of a challenge. Ninkovich retired in the offseason and Hightower went down in week seven. With these losses, Devin McCourty is likely to be the only major star to have played significant snaps in all three Super Bowls.

Offensive Role Players Stepping Up

Receiver Danny Amendola Makes the Biggest Plays at the Biggest Moments – Image Credit Getty Images

With all of this turnover, how are the Patriots able to remain so successful? Having Bill Belichick as coach and Brady as quarterback obviously help, but they can’t do it alone. Each season, they have depended on their depth to step up. Each season, it’s been a different supporting cast stepping up.

In order to field this much success with that much star turnover, logic would dictate that the group of reserves would stay consistent. Logic would be wrong. Offensively, the only players outside of Brady to have seen all three Super Bowls are receiver Danny Amendola and left tackle Nate Solder.

The only running back left from the 2014 squad is James White, who wasn’t even active for Super Bowl 49. LeGarrette Blount and Shane Vereen starred against the Seahawks, while White stole the spotlight against Atlanta. This year, the backfield is likely to be headed by Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead.

Amendola has consistently served as Brady’s security blanket in the playoffs, but the pass catching depth around him has been constantly changing. Brandon LaFell was the guy in 2014 before Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell took over the outside roles in 2016. With Gronkowski sidelined, Martellus Bennett became the primary tight end in 2016. This year, the outside receivers are likely to be Hogan and Brandin Cooks. If Gronkowski can’t go, Dwayne Allen will become the top tight end on the depth chart.

Over the three Super Bowls, Brady is likely to lean on five separate running backs, six receivers, and possibly three tight ends. That averages out to a completely new starting cast every single season. No offense should be able to function at this level of efficiency with this much turnover. In spite of that, somehow the Patriots manage.

Defensive Role Players Stepping Up

The defense has gone through even more turnover. Hightower is the last player left in the front seven from the 2014 Super Bowl squad, and he’s missed the majority of the season. New England has completely redone its defensive front in four years, and still managed to put together a Super Bowl caliber unit.

The secondary has had relative consistency, but there’s still been moving parts. The safety trio of McCourty, Patrick Chung, and Duron Harmon have been a part of all three units. Butler’s been in all three Super Bowls, starting two. The opposite cornerback spot has constantly rotated. In 2014, it was Brandon Browner. In 2016, it was Logan Ryan. With Ryan’s free agent departure, Stephon Gilmore was signed to fill the role.

Success isn’t supposed to happen like this. Teams aren’t supposed to consistently dominate in the face of constant change. This ability to succeed in the face of a consistently different cast of players truly highlights what makes Brady and Belichick so special. It doesn’t matter who they put out there, as long as that duo is around, the Patriots will always be the team to beat.

Cover image courtesy of The Denver Post.