Going All In

The NFL zigs and Bill Belichick zags. He plays the long game better than anyone else. He identifies market opportunities and seizes them. He recognizes trends and takes advantage of them. He innovates. Sustained success isn't supposed to be possible in the NFL of the 21st century and yet, Belichick and the Patriots have proven to be the exasperating exception to the rule. Write them off as cheaters at your own peril. Fail to learn from their example and consign yourself to the dustbin of NFL history.

Still, I can't help but wonder if the flurry of free agent signings and trades is just business as usual – perhaps with a nod to the theft of their 1st round pick – or if Belichick is loading up for 2016.

 

Belichick has to see the end game coming. For himself. For Tom Brady. What, maybe five years? Maybe not. This isn't 2010 where five more years was easy to imagine. There has to be a sense of urgency now – as well as a recognition of opportunity – and perhaps the motivation to avenge the injustice of Deflategate.

I took particular note of Belichick's acknowledgement of Brady as the GOAT. Not a terribly controversial position for those of us east of the Connecticut River but not exactly a Belichickian pronouncement. Sure, Belichick has said on more than one occasion there's no other quarterback he'd rather have but that always felt like he was talking about contemporaries like Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers or Ben Roethlisberger. We're used to Belichick talking about a player in terms like "good" and "worked hard" or "played well" and "had some good production" or "really competed hard out there."

Those are rave reviews from Belichick.

Greatest of all time?

Has Belichick ever said that about any player before? Lawrence Taylor? Jim Brown? Anyone? This can't just be a thumb in Roger Goodell's eye.

Something else is going on here.

Granted, not all the moves Belichick has made in free agency are likely to pay dividends but they look pretty good on paper. Even without the 1st round pick – even if they didn't have any draft picks – they'd still be the way-too-early favorites to represent the AFC in SB51. And they have 11 picks in the draft.

Anyway, enough prologue. Here are my Top 5 Reasons Bill Belichick is Going All In for Super Bowl 51…

#5 – The Return of the 2TE Offense

Gronk was effective with some guy I've already forgotten playing opposite him. Gronk with Martellus Bennett? Yes, please! Granting that unstoppable is a term that shouldn't be tossed around without serious thought, how are defenses going to stop Gronk and Bennett?!?!

If they do, won't that open up large green spaces for Julian Edelman to moonwalk, Dion Lewis to run wheel routes and Chris Hogan to get an early start on his inevitable folk hero status?

And if they can't stop Thing 1 and Thing 2? Fun. Total, chaotic, anarchic fun.

#4 – Dante "Pai Mei" Scarnecchia

Scarnecchia can't stop injuries from happening but he can make sure the backups are better prepared to step up when needed. He'll also help with the development of second year players Tre Jackson, Shaq Mason and David Andrews and if anyone can salvage Jonathan Cooper it's Scarnecchia. Expect a return to form for Nate Solder and improved play from Bryan Stork, Marcus Cannon and Cameron Fleming.

Tom Brady should have plenty of time to find Gronk or Bennett or Edelman or Lewis or Hogan or Amendola or… Yeah, I don't think Tom is going to need a seventh option but if he does, I think Scarnecchia's pupils will pass the test.

#3 – The Patriots Still Haven't Cut or Traded Danny Amendola

I don't get why the "Brady needs more weapons" crowd is so eager to kick Amendola to the curb, especially now that he and Brady seem to be simpatico. With the addition of Chris Hogan, Josh McDaniels can put Gronk, Jules, Amendola, Hogan and Dion Lewis on the field at the same time. With Tom Brady at QB identifying the mismatch.

Okay, I think Hogan is going to have "some good production" in the Patriots offense and if Belichick can upgrade from Amendola in a trade (or – long shot – with a draft pick) I'd be cool with that. But his familiarity with the offense and his ability to return punts is value add.

#2 – All Those Veterans Looking for a Super Bowl Ring

Super Bowl ring? Chris Long hasn't ever been in a playoff game. Actually, aside from Huey's kid, the veterans the Patriots have picked up this offseason aren't so old (aside from Long and Nate Washington) or playoff-starved as has been the case in the past. Shea McClellin (26 – the same age as Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins) really looks like more of a long-term investment. Still, with injury a harsh and inescapable reality in the NFL, having solid, battle-tested pros like Long, Washington, Terrance Knighton, Frank Kearse, Markus Kuhn, Donald Brown, E.J. Biggers, Clay Harbor and Ramon Humber are a necessity.

It's unlikely that all of those guys will make the Final 53 for the Patriots but it's almost a certainty that at some point this season, one of those guys is going need to make a play that wins a game for the Patriots.

#1 – The Patriots Go All In Every Year

Sure, Bill Belichick plays the long game but he also plays to win the championship every year.

2016 will be no different.

I took a look at the Patriots roster by age. Just 9 of the 79 currently active players are 30 and over. 23 of the 79 players on the active roster are aged 25 or 26. Those players are in their NFL primes; Dion Lewis, Logan Ryan, Bryan Stork, Ryan Allen, Brandon Bolden, Malcolm Butler, Jamie Collins, Jonathan Cooper, Rob Gronkowski, Dont'a Hightower, Shea McClellin and Jabaal Sheard are some notables aged 25 or 26.

Can you imagine what this season will look like if all of those players have career years?

And those second year players ready to make the leap?

Defensive linemen Malcolm Brown, Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom; defensive backs Brandon King, Justin Coleman, Jordan Richards and Darryl Roberts and offensive linemen Shaq Mason, David Andrews and Tre Jackson.

Maybe all those young guys can carry Tom Brady to one more Super Bowl this season.

I'm all in.