Is Belichik's ego out of control?

[B_Ambuehl]

I get the feeling the last few years the man has taken his opinion of his own ability too far and it really shows in the playoffs against good teams. New England has been pounded and dominated the last 2 years against less than stellar opposition.

when you look at the Belichik approach to teambuilding it's obvious he wants 3 things:

1. He doesn't want to pay anybody

2. He doesn't want to deal with distractions

3. He'd rather win with overachievers who won't question anything than talented players who might be apt to open their mouths.

Take this years draft and personnel moves. He likely knew Moss's days were numbered but he still passed on every available upper tier receiving threat. Can you tell me New England's offense couldn't use a Dez Bryant? I believe his receivers had 1 catch yesterday. Also look at his outside pass rushers. In the last 2 years New England has passed on countless quality pass rushers in the draft, in favor of lugs like Jermaine Cunningham. They didn't have a single sack on the QB yesterday and that's inexcusable considering the quantity of draft picks they've had the last few years.

Belchik seems to forget he was able to win superbowls because he had playmakers like Corey Dillon, Richard Seymour, and Rodney Harrison - 3 of the better players and 3 of the more explosive personalities in the league.

Playing with a team full of choirboys next to a hall of fame QB might get you into the playoffs consistently, but to win you need playmakers.

[ThaVirus]

Are you making the argument that he purposely passes on talented players just to prove that he can win with scrubs?

[saphojunkie]

God I'm so happy we have divorced ourselves from the Patriot Way. Now ****ing cut Cassel and end this fiasco for good.

[nicksdad]

yes he is arrogant BUT one of the reasons for the downturn are our boy pioli's HORRIBLE 2006-2008 drafts. as of 2005 the Pats were on top but were aging out, particularly on defense. scotty's useless drafts , at a time when replacements were needed , are a big reason why they have not won in years! add in his 2009 KC draft and you can see pure genius, can't you? the Pats drafts since pioli left have been MUCH better but still haven't closed the chest wound of pioli's last drafts.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by B_Ambuehl

The point is the Pats should easily win the super bowl every yr if Belichik weren't hung up on himself and "The Patriot Way" Go back thru the last 5 yrs drafts and look at who hes picked and who he hasn't. Look at all the talent he's passed over. He's not that dumb, but he does think he's god. The basic theme that was evident even 3 yrs ago is that Belichik thinks he can win with slapdicks. He wants to win with slapdicks, which makes him look like the man.

But slapdicks generally don't get it done against good talent.

Jim Caldwell did everything he could to give the Pats the game yesterday, but the talent difference between NE and Baltimore was too great.

NE has 2 first rounders and a 2nd rounder at LB

1st rounder at DE
1st round DT/NT

1st and 2nd round CB and safety


Baltimore's best MLB is a undrafted MLBer
their best safety was Bernie Pollard
their CBs are ****ing Cary Williams and Corey Graham, they benched their first round CB in Jimmy Smith to special teams and nickel duty.

....

[tony77]

Yes, He knows hes nothing when brady retires.

[suzzer99]

Belichik punted 3 times from inside the Ravens' 40. Those decisions probably cost his team more win equity than anything else he or his players did during that game. Naturally not one pundit has even mentioned it because it doesn't fit their canned storylines.

[B_Ambuehl]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Are you making the argument that he purposely passes on talented players just to prove that he can win with scrubs?

Yes that's exactly right. Talent is not the most important thing to Belichik, doing it his way is. Name another team that won't draft a player just because they're represented by a certain agent? Most of the roster is comprised of either slapdicks or come via recommendations from his good ol' boy network (Urban Meyer at Florida for example). In the last 5 yrs the Pats have gone into EVERY draft with an average of at least 5 picks in the first 3 rounds. You could take the biggest idiot draftnick on this forum and give them 5 picks in the first 3 rounds over a 5 yr span of time and they'd have a hard time not having a better roster than what the myth of Belichik has put together in the same time span.

[O.city]

The NE defense is loaded with early draft picks. It's not full of slapdicks.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by O.city

The NE defense is loaded with early draft picks. It's not full of slapdicks.

They gave up 5.7 yards per play this season, good for 24th in the league. They're below average, and not even close to elite. Belichick has done a very poor job of finding top end talent and playmakers the last several years.

Brady can't cover every wart.

[B_Ambuehl]

Originally Posted by O.city

The NE defense is loaded with early draft picks. It's not full of slapdicks.

The last truly impact defender the Pats drafted was Mayo back in '08. With ~25 round 1-3 picks since '08 the pats haven't drafted another true impact defender since. They have a ton of mediocre guys like Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes from Belichiks good ol boy network but their best player (Wilfork) was drafted back in '04.

Everyone here loves to talk about the Chiefs '08 draft. Imagine going into every single draft with that number of good picks. That's pretty much the opportunity Belichik has every year and what he has to show for it is guys like Rob Ninkovich and Steve Gregory playing major roles.

Over that same time span he's hit on 2 offensive skill players in Gronkowski and Hernandez. Not a single above average receiver. Not a single above average running back.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by GoWalrus

They gave up 5.7 yards per play this season, good for 24th in the league. They're below average, and not even close to elite. Belichick has done a very poor job of finding top end talent and playmakers the last several years.

Brady can't cover every wart.

Didn't say it was good. Just saying that they've spend alot of top draftpicks on it.


I'd take one of their ILB's if they wanna get rid of one. Hightower would be fine.

[BlackHelicopters]

Hard to think of anyone on the Patriots a team would want other than Brady, Gronk, and maybe Hernandez. Lack of talent, pure and simple.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by B_Ambuehl

The last truly impact defender the Pats drafted was Mayo back in '08. With ~25 round 1-3 picks since '08 the pats haven't drafted another true impact defender since. They have a ton of mediocre guys like Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes from Belichiks good ol boy network but their best player (Wilfork) was drafted back in '04.

Everyone here loves to talk about the Chiefs '08 draft. Imagine going into every single draft with that number of good picks. That's pretty much the opportunity Belichik has every year and what he has to show for it is guys like Rob Ninkovich and Steve Gregory playing major roles.

Over that same time span he's hit on 2 offensive skill players in Gronkowski and Hernandez. Not a single above average receiver. Not a single above average running back.

Hightower, Solder, Ridley/Vereen, Gronk, Hernandez, McCourty. Chandler Jones has upside. Added Talib off waivers. The team is a solid team all the way around. Of course their success post-Brady will be dependent on how good his replacement is, but that's sadly the new NFL. Every coach is going to be a product of the QB. Again, it will depend on how stubborn Bellichick is on applying the Parcells way to finding late round QB steals.

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by GoWalrus

It has nothing to do with that.

They flat got beat by a better, more talented team.

+1,000

oh yeah, Gronk is like glass. Hernadez is proving to be sub-par without him.

However, every team has a glass player - the key - it is better not to pay them a lot of money when their rookie contract expires.

[O.city]

Someone tweeted it last night and I'm not sure if it's on here or not, but it said the 9ers and Ravens play football like it was played pre Goddell rule monster shit.


I agree with that too.