Bill Belichick remains the Patriots’ X-factor, as always
COMMENTARY
After 16 years of watching Patriots head coach Bill Belichick systematically torture the NFL, you’d think we’d have a better grasp on the methods of his madness.
But, unfortunately, we don’t.
Related Links
For instance, we’ll probably never get to the bottom of what happened last season in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins. Why, with a chance to clinch the top seed in the AFC, Belichick played Tom Brady but didn’t actually use Tom Brady. It doesn’t make sense, but that’s the point.
The foundation of the In Belichick We Trust philosophy that a vast majority of fans choose to live by is four basic principles:
- Belichick only cares about winning Super Bowls.
- Belichick knows more about winning Super Bowls than anyone in the NFL.
- Despite what he already knows, Belichick still works longer and harder and spends more time scheming and learning about winning Super Bowls than anyone in the league.
- Belichick is a human being who will inevitably make wrong decisions, and get unlucky with right ones; but without the benefit of hindsight there’s no one else in the league you want making those decisions.
In short, Bill Belichick is mortal, but more focused, capable and hungry than anyone he’s up against. He ignores the noise. He does his job. He doesn’t waste time with things that don’t matter. As a general rule, if you’re ever wondering whether a particular topic is worth your time, take a step back and ask: “Does Belichick cares about this? Is this even on his radar?”
For instance, the current drama with Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo. As kickoff in Arizona approaches, everyone is talking about this dynamic and all the ways it might poison the water in Foxboro.
Tom isn’t nice enough. He isn’t helpful enough. That big lighthouse mural might make Jimmy cry!
But we know what Belichick thinks about the quarterback saga by his reaction every time he’s asked about it. He doesn’t care. He thinks it’s stupid. Despite efforts to stir the pot, Belichick knows this isn’t an Aaron Rodgers or Steve Young situation. Garoppolo didn’t earn this playing time. He’s not nipping at Brady’s heels. The only thing that separates Garoppolo from the likes of Ryan Mallet or Kevin O’Connell is that Garoppolo happened to be here when Roger Goodell morphed into Vince McMahon. Sure, maybe Jimmy looks great this month. Maybe one day he’ll lead this franchise into the next frontier. But if Belichick really believed that, why use a third-round draft pick on Jacoby Brissett?
Again this is speculation. With Belichick sometimes all you can do is ask the rhetorical question. He rarely provides enough for anyone to make an educated guess about what he’s thinking, or what he’ll do next. The only consistency is anyone who assumes otherwise ends up looking silly. And Belichick loves making people look silly. We might not understand every method to this madness but misdirection is certainly part of it. There are few things he loves more than luring an opponent into a false sense of confidence and then pivoting on a dime and attacking with something that’s never been seen or even thought of before it crossed his inimitable mind. He’s the Michael Phelps of swimming in other people’s brains.
Or is he?
OR IS HE.
Some might say this situation plays right into Belichick’s ego. These first four games are a chance to prove he can win football games without Tom Brady. But it’s not an ego thing with Belichick. It’s a competitive thing. Give him the choice between Brady and Garoppolo and you know he’ll take Brady every time. But force to him take Jimmy and he won’t run and hide. He’ll try just as hard to dominate. In fact, he’ll probably try even harder because he knows he has to. Without Brady, he’ll have to be smarter and sharper and more clever and manipulative.
Or maybe not. Maybe he goes the other way. Maybe he looks at his top-notch defense and always reliable special teams and breaks out the rope-a-dope. Maybe he keeps everything slow and steady. He milks every second in the name of field position and ball possession and kills the opponents with precision and consistency.
More likely it’s a combination of both, but again we just don’t know.
Maybe he moves Julian Edelman back to QB?
Maybe Jamie Collins switches sides to replace Rob Gronkowski at tight end?
Maybe the Pats re-sign Hank Poteat?
All we know is that we don’t know, and when it comes to Bill Belichick that layer of unknown always contains something special.
It’s usually something we’ve never seen.
So for all the talk about Tommy and Jimmy and whether the 39-year-old GOAT should play nice with his 24-year-old seat filler, I’m far more interested in what’s up the cut-off sleeves of the 64-year-old on the sidelines.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com