Why do so many try and fail to figure out Bill Belichick? You would think after 11 years it would be easy if you have followed him and his career. The marriage began between Bill (I wear my cut off hoody even in the summer time) and the Patriots in 2000. With Donald Kraft stepping aside and giving Bill the opportunity to pretty much run all operations and eventually becoming General Manager for the team. The first year was an uneventful 5-11 season; only to be followed by a combined record of 125 wins and 35 loses over the next ten seasons. That’s a .735 win average, not too shabby by any means if you ask me. Donald Kraft and The New England Patriots never dreamed what was going to happen over that course of time from 2000 to the present, with three Super Bowls and one of the most successful organizations in the history of the league has sprouted out of a state in the far northeast, in a little town call Foxboro, Mass. Anything short of a Super Bowls is a failure in Bill Belichick’s mind and anyone that is part of this organization. The way I see it is the KISS system (Keep It Simple Stupid). Let’s look at some of the past situations.
1. Corey Dillon. The Cincinnati Bangles had seen enough and were willing to cut their loses with the talented yet disgruntle running back Corey Dillon. In 2003, following Corey’s injury, and a dismal season of only 541 yards rushing, along with his outburst against the owner of the Cincinnati Bangles “We will never win with the Browns as the owners of the Bangles.” That got him a ticket one way out of Cincinnati to the Patriots in 2004 for a second round pick in the up and coming draft. Why would the Patriots bring into their organization a troubled player and disrupt a team that is so well finely tuned. The second guess committee had begun their crusade. In his first year with 1635 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns, Dillon was instrumental in the Patriots winning their third Super Bowl, so much for the second guess committee.
2.The Randy Moss saga, when Randy came to the Patriots in 2007, he had a chance to relive what he had lost when he was at the tail end of his over stay tenure with the Minnesota Vikings 1998-2004. Being traded to one of the worst teams in the NFL, march of 2005 the Oakland Raiders, sending him into a downward spiral right in the toilet of his career. His lack of interest and his desire and passion for the game have escaped him. Making Randy once more, in less than two years, to be a casualty more than an asset to his team.
The sun shined once more as he is traded for a third round draft pick in 2007 to the New England Patriots with the owner Donald Kraft showing confidence and a coach Bill Belicheck’s guidance that run an organization every team in the league wants to model themselves after. Belicheck also realizing the strengths which has flowed over to the locker room of leaders with positive motivating habits to keep their eyes on the prize. Randy was told. “Your past is your past; we all have one goal and one goal only. If you listen you will succeed.” He became part of a program that helped him achieve and set personal records. He once again reestablished himself as one of the most feared and deadliest receivers in the league. The combination of Moss and Brady had the entire NFL in awe.
Then his past reared its ugly head. In 2010 Randy reverted back to his old self that destroyer him only four years earlier. Crying to the press “I don’t feel wanted anymore” Down playing and not showing his intensity anymore, the patriots had no choice but to depart with him mid-season, sending shockwaves throughout the league. Only to once again prove everyone wrong on what were Bill and the Patriots doing? How is it that in every ones opinion, Randy, the best receiver was sent packing, there was no hope for them at this point?
Randy failed to keep his eye on the prize and found out that his services were no longer needed. Welcome back to Minnesota, have a nice life.
3. The 2008 draft the patriots pick Jerod Mayo. He becomes defensive rookie of the year and is now one of the leaders on the team that everyone looks for guidance. In 2009, Patrick Chung first round draft picks, who is a started and was in my opinion a Pro bowler. In 2010 Devin McCourty the number one pick. Here comes the second guess committee, you think by now they would have learned. He set a rookie record with 7 picks and made the Pro bowl. The rebuilding of greatness just keeps on growing.
4. Now they bring in Alvin Haynesworth from Washington, Chad Ochocinco from Cincinnati. Here comes the second guess committee once again making noises. Are they going to be a project, sure they are? But what makes the difference is they have both already bought into the Belichick theory. Keep your eyes on the prize. (KISS) If anybody can bring the best out of a player, I’d put my money on Bill. Listen you say what you want, but Bill Belichick and the Patriots will find away. If not there’s the door.
The list of players Samuelson, Malloy, Maroney, Thomas, Seymour and now Meriweather. Released. Hey second guess committee, they just did not fit the program anymore. Welker, Woodhead, Carter, Ellis were brought in and will keep the committee busy. The players don’t always pan out but who really does it better than Bill Belichick, the mastermind. One of my dreams is to sit down with Bill and play a game of chess. I better have my A game or don’t bother showing up. The 2011 season is only days away, let’s stop second guessing the man holding the reins. I think he’s proved himself by now.