Beyond QB, good teams learn how to win without star players

As much as I hate the Pats, how can you not admire the way they have built a team that can survive the loss of most any player, except perhaps at QB.

They have gone to the Superbowl without star WRs, without Gronk, without star D players.
They have gone to the Superbowl with rookie mid-round picks on the Oline.

It is critical not to fall so in love with a player (other than Q that you can't see how to continue to win without them. And if you are that relied on one player, then you are a very fragile team.

If a team drafts well, and becomes a perennial playoff team, they're going to lose good players every year. A team just can't afford to keep them all. Again a Pat's example: they traded their best young pass rusher (Chandler Jones) away for a 2nd round pick because they knew he'd cost too much too keep and they just didn't want to pay that much.

The Rams, I think, are facing a similar situation with Watkins. Problem is: he is NOT the Rams best, or even 2nd best, WR. But, paying him too much money could handcuff the Rams from keeping or acquiring other guys needed to keep the winning momentum going.

Tough decision.