It's actually interesting. Belichik may finally have outsmarted himself by trading a problem in the clubhouse in 2006 for TWO problems in the clubhouse (Meriweather and Moss) in 2007. Wouldn't that be an interesting twist?
The rumor that Moss is going for a ring rather than the money is a valid argument, although in his conference call he seemed more interested in parading himself and his abilities than winning a ring... I'm sure he equates them to be the same end, but that's just how he is. Randy Moss, one of the premiere ME-ME Players, just went to the premiere TEAM-Oriented organization. I'm sorry, but I am not sold yet. He's going make some great catches for them, and probably some maddening plays, but I'm holding out for Randy to be Randy.
I don't understand why people keep comparing the Patriots to the Yankees...These are two totally different sports. The Yankees can spend as much as they want the Patriots can't because of the CAPS. Don't compare baseball to football please.
It's not the spending that I was comparing. It's the switch from growing your own prospects to using mercenaries. Homegrown prospects are at the center of any team. The good ones are the core around which the team is formed and around which it's identity crystallizes. The people at the center of the Pats for their brilliant 4 year run from 2001 to 2004 were Tom Brady, Richard Seymour, Teddy Bruschi, Ty Law, Troy Brown, Mike Vrabel, Willie McGinest, Matt Light and Adam Viniateri. That was the Pat's identity and those were the guys at the core of the champions in 2001, 2003 and 2004. By 2005 the core was shifting a bit. You'd added Ty Warren and Dan Koppen and Asante Samuel to the mix but the Pats also went out and started buying premium free agents or trading for late-prime stars. They traded for Corey Dillon and bought Rosevelt Colvin and Rodney Harrison. Some of the big contributors to the Pat's "team" were going out the door as Ty Law and WillieMcGinest hit the road. Now in 2007 the core includes Vince Wilfork and Lawrence Maroney, both home-grown stars, but it also includes a bunch of new mercenaries in Adalius Thomas, Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth. Not surprisingly the Pats record the last two years hasn't been remotely as dominant as it was from 2001 to 2004. The "team" in New England may be as good on paper as what was there during the glory run but it isn't the same thing and adding a bunch of high-priced free agents isn't likely to help the Patriots any more than it helped the post 2001 Yankees. If you're going to argue that Belichik is great and he'll figure it out I'll just point out that in 2001 Torre was great and he was going to figure it out. I think the Pats will be a very strong team next season but I wouldn't bet on them winning the Super Bowl. They're not that strong a "team" any more.
"I don’t think it’s out of character," Pats player personnel boss Scott Pioli told a Boston radio station this week when asked about the Randy Moss deal. "We’ve been pretty consistent with what we’ve done over the seven years, going into the eighth year, that we’ve been here. What we’ve been pretty consistent about, and feel that this is as well, is doing things that we feel can improve our football team and help our football team win games, and doing it with players that we feel can and will fit into our environment, and with the players we already have here. So based on the research we did, we’re comfortable with Randy and who he is at this point of his career." Pioli went on to talk about first-round pick Brandon Meriweather. “We feel very comfortable with Brandon, and him as a person and as a player. We did spend -- not only myself and Bill -- but we have a number of scouts who went through there. Organizationally, we talked about all of his situations. We spent quite a bit of time with him as well personally in different environments and different situations." In pioli we trust.
That is just all PR. What is he suppose to say? "We see no problem with prospects that stomp people's heads into the ground on the field or shoot others when they get pissed off (oh, but it was legal...don't forget he shot him legally)"
Yeah but he's been going to plan B more and more often recently and plan B is not what got the Pats rings. Pointing at Corey Dillon as the reason for 2004 isn't going to work because they won in 2001 and 2003 with a lunchpail guy in Antowain Smith. I really think the Pats have gotten way ahead of themselves with the big signings in the last few years and are in danger of losing their way. As Sunday Jack pointed out in another thread they have now given incentive laden contracts to both Stallworth and Moss based on performance. How happy is Stallworth gonna be in training camp when he realizes he has little or no chance to make his marks? Maybe the young guy the Pats drafted in the 2nd round last year will just get frozen out and stew? Something has to give there and I see no good answers.
But teams are an evolving entity. What is good for a young group of no-names, is not the same for an established team. You don't just say we'll add this player but not player based on a philosophy of of what worked for one team, that it will work with another. What I keep seeing here, is a point that you have to stick to what once worked, and that an evolving thought process should be looked down upon. I don't know, but it seems like what we are doing is right for this team, but I don't know if it would have been right for the 36 team. Why do you have to stand still in one philosophy? Because it worked once? I think you adjust with the times, but keep your core ideals, which are hard working players, a team philosophy and the drive to win. If players don't stay on course, you get rid of them, like Gabriel. Hey if Moss doesn't work out, get rid of him. If there is one thing about Pioli and Belichick, it's that they are not afraid to make those hard choices.
Dillon, Colvin, and Harrison were part of the 2004 team, which was the most dominant of the SB years. So not sure what you're getting at there. Maybe you're trying to say we'll have similar results to that year. I can live with that Yes the Pats added some high profile guys, but the entire offensive and defensive line is homegrown as you put it. Including the secondary minus Harrison, but he is a or even THE core guy. Colvin has been here long enough to be considered core, and then there's Bru and Vrabel. So AD is the only either non-drafted or non-core on the starting defense. The only non-patriot draftees starting on offense are the receivers, but they give Brady a boner, so I'm cool with it.
Moss could be a problem (depending on whether his 'problems' stem from losing all the time or not) But Merriweather is not a troublemaker. His gun incident was blown way out of proportion. His gun was registered and he and his friend were attacked outside of their home with a gun and the police ruled it self defense. The stomping incident was poor judgement, but it was understandable considering that there was a bench clearing brawl on the field and everyone was fighting.
for once I'm siding with the Pats fans. Merriweather will be less of a risk than Moss in the locker room. His incident stems moreso from him being a high profile person in a high crime area. Not him going out on the town looking for cowboy shootouts. Merriweather is a baller, and someone I would love to have on the Jets. He hits like a LB and is all over the field. In fact if not for his so called "character issues" hed higher on peoples boards than Reggie Nelson. IMO I really dont like the fact the Pats jumped on Merriweather. But then again my friends brought this up and I replied. "its no problem weve had to deal with harrison there for a while". which worries me less as we continue to actually become a organization with a solid plan and no more hermy
Bill Syken's take, which is not unlike many in this thread: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/bill_syken/05/03/like.not/index.html
Blah blah blah. I'll give the summary: There's no guarantee they'll win it all. Sometimes signing big names work, sometimes it doesn't. What a genius. Plus he tried to compare it to what the Lakers did with Payton and Malone. They were over the hill has beens. Seemed to work pretty well for the Heat though. I don't necessarily disagree with the article, but I just can't believe he got paid to write that. There's been more intelligent posts in here.
