Quote:
Originally Posted by Mile High Mania
The Patriots rank 20th in wins from 1966 (merger) through 1999 (year prior to Belichick) and there were 31 teams in 1999.
They had never won a SB prior to 1999.
> they had 6 seasons with double digit wins from 1980-1999
> they had 7 playoff appearances in those 19 seasons
> they had a 6-7 playoff record
> 9 seasons over .500
> 7 seasons under .500
> 231 wins and 278 losses
That can rank as 'pretty good'... and Belichick had a losing record as a HC, having recently spurned the Jets (IIRC) for their HC job prior to going to NE.
They get all the credit for drafting Brady, even as late as they did... but he only started because Bledsoe got hurt.
So, I don't know that I would paint that situation as you did, but it's totally your opinion and there's nothing wrong with it. I just don't think the history supports it.
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I think it's possible Belichick becomes a footnote in history if Bledsoe doesn't get hurt.
Started out with a 5-11 season with the Pats, and in their first Super Bowl season, they had a really rough start before Bledsoe got hurt. I think while a Bledsoe was a better QB at the time overall, Brady was more risk-averse in that initial season, and that's what won them the necessary regular season games to get into the playoffs.
They probably would have put shit together eventually with Bledsoe, but who knows how long that would have taken. More than likely they don't go to the playoffs that year.
Would the team have had the patience to stick by him? A lot of what kept Belichick so successful was the winning momentum, because winning will solve most if not all of the misery that is the Patriot Way. Without those wins, does the team gel at all? Does Brady ever get a chance?