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To the Patriots Free Agency Whiners

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Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski celebrate a touchdown.

Why doesn’t every team win 12 games every year?

Another year of Patriots free agency, another year of the sad sack Patriots free agency whiners about their approach. You’d think after nine years of blogging about the team and being on social media so much that I’d be used to it. Or maybe that after 15 years of Patriots domination the whiners would be silenced a bit, but on they go, undeterred because the Pats didn’t go out and spend on a big name.

Here’s the misconception about free agency — it’s actually a benefit not to have to spend a billion dollars on a player who has never done anything for your team, without any guarantee that they will ever do anything for your team. We see it year in and year out. The shitty teams that can’t draft or can’t win enough to maintain any kind of stability have to go out and find talent, because they believe talent wins games. Or at the very least, they need to win games and win them quickly to keep their jobs.

I think the Patriots have proven that yes, you certainly need talent in some spots, especially quarterback, but teams win games, not talent. Look at the Colts last year. Talented quarterback. They go out and surround him with a spending spree of free agents and what happens? A couple injuries here and there, the new guys never click and everything else just falls apart, including that talented quarterback.

So while teams are out spending a ton of dough on guys who had one or two good (not even great) years for other teams under other circumstances, teams like the Patriots can focus their resources on the things that do win games — BUILDING A TEAM.

Patriots Free Agency Whiners Forget it’s About 1-53

Health is as big a factor in a Super Bowl winning season as just about anything else. The 2014 Patriots only had one significant injury loss — Jerod Mayo. The 2015 Broncos were largely healthy as well, except for the number father time did on Peyton Manning and his neck/arm/etc. What happens when that guy you’re paying $20 million a year gets hurt? Or has a bad year? The next man up is certainly making less than he should be, and is likely an after thought in the team-building equation.

Can that guy step in and do the job that Rob Ninkovich has done since coming over as a free agent afterthought in 2009? Or that Patrick Chung has done since his return as a free agent afterthought? Or Jabar Gaffney? Or Danny Woodhead? Or Mike Vrabel? Or Roman Phifer? Or Antowain Smith? Yes, the list goes on and on and the same people who could’ve cared less about those acquisitions at the time could care less about the same under-the-radar signings that are happening now.

How quickly Patriots free agency whiners forget Mike Vrabel was one of the best Patriots under-the-radar acquisitions.Players like those are why the Patriots can have an injury-riddled season like 2013 or 2015 and still not only win the division, but host a playoff game and go to the AFC Championship. Because they are a strong and deep team filled with 53 guys who all buy in, who all want it and who are all ready to step in and “do their job”.

It’s not a handful of highly-paid top end guys who are magically still playing their balls off even though their net worth is approaching $100 million, while surrounded by underpaid but over-performing and unbreakable back ups and role players.

I think a lot of spoiled Patriots fans lose sight of how special this run is. How hard it is to consistently win in the salary cap era. Not to mention when you’re doing it without almost ever having a draft pick in the top half of the first round, where all the special rookie talent is usually snapped up.

Some might want to put it all on Belichick and Brady, as if you could put 21 morons out there and they’d somehow figure out a way to pull out 12-win season after 12-win season. But that’s not the case.

And it goes back to Scott Pioli’s quote, “We’re building a team, not collecting talent.”

Or from Belichick himself, “This is a football team. It’s not a bunch of guys in the same jersey running around out there. This is a football team. And for 60 minutes you’re gonna have to deal with all of us and it’s gonna be a long night.”

Free agency really is for losers if you think you’re going to buy your way to year in and year out Super Bowl contention. Internal player development, drafting well and rounding out your depth with solid and under appreciated free agents is for winners.

Which Hoodie Should Bill Belichick Wear in the AFC Championship?

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As you’re all probably aware by now, I track Bill Belichick’s game day attire and in recent years as it’s come to light, I believe more and more that somehow I have a direct line to whoever chooses his wardrobe.

Last week was another prime example when I said BB should wear the “Hot Jacket” that he was 9-1 in despite it likely being winter conditions that might require something warmer. Yet there was BB on Sunday, wearing that Hot Jacket and moving to 10-1 in it.

It was similar in both SB46 and SB49 when my pregame picks magically ended up on BB. Let’s see if we can keep that streak going this weekend.

Things are a little more complicated this week because Belichick actually wore that same Hot Jacket the last time the Pats were in Denver for the AFC Championship and they lost. Still, Belichick is now 16-6 in the Hot Jacket, making it his second-most-worn gameday attire only to the famous Gray Reebok Hoodie with the sleeves cut off (he was 31-9 in that).

Here’s a quick look back at what BB has worn in AFC Championships:

BB hasn’t worn gray at all this season and that’s probably for the best since he’s 3-2 in that color. He’s 3-1 in Blue and with temps expected in the 30s/40s it’s likely going to need a hoodie or some layers under the Hot Jacket.

If he goes with a blue hoodie he’s worn three different ones this season:

  • 2015 Nike Hoodie: 1-1, Win over Giants, loss in Denver.
  • 2014 Nike Hoodie: 1-1, Win over Bills, loss to Eagles
  • 2013 Nike Crewneck: 1-1, Win over Tenn, Loss to Jets

Each one has it’s own issues, but all things considered there was only one truly epic, legacy win this season and that came against the Giants. That leads me to pick the 2015 Blue Nike Hoodie.

Yes, they lost in Denver with him in that one, but we also finally got the Eli Manning monkey off our back with it as well. 2015 has been impossible to define outside of its injuries. But wins over the Giants, Chiefs and then pulling this one out over the Peyton/Broncos would truly define this 2015 team. Thus the 2015 hoodie makes the most sense.

The Hot Jacket is still a reasonable second choice, but the weather is likely not going to make that the most comfortable selection. And if he must go with a Blue Winter Jacket, so be it, he’s 1-0 in those, but let’s just hope he keeps the 2015 Hoodie underneath.

So let’s all cross our fingers he’s wearing this hoodie below!

Legacy AFC Championship Game for Belichick/Brady

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During the Patriots long and storied dynasty run since winning the Super Bowl in 2001, there have been plenty of rivals to rise and fall. 

Peyton Manning and the Colts were first. The Baltimore Ravens were second, and now it’s the Denver Broncos. Part of that is Peyton Manning’s years, but even before Manning the Pats have always struggled against the Broncos in Denver.

Two seasons (2005 and 2013) have ended in Denver for Brady and Belichick. 2005 was their first-ever playoff loss together. Finally beating the Broncos in Denver would complete that circle.

The 2015 Peyton Broncos in Denver embody almost everything that has ever stopped Brady and Belichick from getting to the Super Bowl.

Along with their first win over the Giants since 2007′s 16-0 game and a win over the Chiefs, avenging the 2014 beatdown on MNF, the Pats are now poised to write the final chapter in three career trouble spots.

The Most Injured NFL Teams Since the 2009 Season – Man Games Lost

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The Most Injured NFL Teams Since the 2009 Season – Man Games Lost

This one goes out to all the people who have been complaining for the better part of the last decade about how Belichick manages the Patriots roster. You know the ones. Those who cry because the Pats don’t break the bank on the top of their roster on veteran players who may or may not fit into what they do. No, their focus has long been having a strong 1-53 and that’s why regardless of the injuries that are bound to happen every season the Patriots remain in contention. 

It’s a joke when you look at other teams who have had far less injuries yet still can’t figure out how to consistently win games.

The philosophy is pretty simple – spend money on the front seven and offensive line. Of course you have to pay your quarterback too, but wide receivers, cornerbacks, and running backs (really the second level of high profile football positions) are really just plug and play as long as you have the guys to block and the guys to get after the opposing quarterbacks.

It’s really not that revolutionary, yet every time the Pats avoid a big name in free agency at one of these positions many are up in arms. This is the difference between winning the offseason and winning in the regular and post season.