For my book Belichick is the best ever in any sport..
| November 29, 2019 02:08PM |
...Because he's done what he's done over a 20-year span in a salary cap era with practically no drop-off in contending for an NFL championship.
Casey Stengel in baseball, Scotty Bowman in hockey, Red Auerbach in basketball... they ruled their respective teams back when talent could and was stockpiled without any sort of salary cap. They weren't necessarily de facto CEOs, but for one example, in Stengel's case the Yankees could and did trade a handful of B-list reserves and minor-leaguers for a Roger Maris anytime they wanted to and therefore added 3-4 years to their dynasty. The Bowman-era Canadiens (Sam Pollock) and Red Wings could and did trade a couple of dozen used practice pucks for No. 1 draft choices to add 3-4 years to their own dynasties.
Belichick has had none of that in his corner in Foxborough. The only on-field constant he has had is obviously TB12. All other players have been moved around and let go and replenished and sometimes even brought back. (OL coach Dante Scarnecchia and the mysterious Ernie Adams IMO join Belichick and Brady on the Patriots' Mount Rushmore...although I don't know if anyone knows what Adams looks like or has ever been seen for that matter.
)
Casey Stengel in baseball, Scotty Bowman in hockey, Red Auerbach in basketball... they ruled their respective teams back when talent could and was stockpiled without any sort of salary cap. They weren't necessarily de facto CEOs, but for one example, in Stengel's case the Yankees could and did trade a handful of B-list reserves and minor-leaguers for a Roger Maris anytime they wanted to and therefore added 3-4 years to their dynasty. The Bowman-era Canadiens (Sam Pollock) and Red Wings could and did trade a couple of dozen used practice pucks for No. 1 draft choices to add 3-4 years to their own dynasties.
Belichick has had none of that in his corner in Foxborough. The only on-field constant he has had is obviously TB12. All other players have been moved around and let go and replenished and sometimes even brought back. (OL coach Dante Scarnecchia and the mysterious Ernie Adams IMO join Belichick and Brady on the Patriots' Mount Rushmore...although I don't know if anyone knows what Adams looks like or has ever been seen for that matter.
)
