Patriots' Brady Telling It Like It Is, Players Need to Listen to Belichick

In the first half of the new decade of the 2000s, the New England Patriots were the kings of the NFL.  With Bill Belichick captaining the ship and all-pro QB Tom Brady at the controls the Patriots won three of four Super Bowls from 2001- 2004.

In 2007 they rattled off 16 straight regular season wins, then added a pair of play-off wins, but were eventually upset in their quest for another Lombardi Trophy by the surging New York Giants as they finished the season 18-1.

The last two years have not been, as we have come to expect, very Patriot-like.  2008 brought a bit of history, albeit negative.  New England became the first 11-win team to not make the play-offs.  They sat at home as Miami won the automatic post-season bid as the AFC East champs, and the Pats were eliminated from a possible wild card berth by a confusing league formula which determines such things.  Last year New England posted another double-digit win season, 10-6 (going 8-0 at home, but just 2-6 on the road). Unfortunately, the home field comfort of Gillette Stadium ran out in the first round of the play-offs as the Baltimore Ravens jumped out to a 24-0 lead and never looked back on their way to a 33-14 victory.

Narrowly missing the play-offs two years ago, and then being bounced in the first round while playing in their own building last year, brings some interesting quotes from Brady.  In an article published on Sporting News’ , “The Trenches”, Brady is quoted as saying, "We've got to start listening more to coach Belichick," Brady told Sports Illustrated. "We've got young kids who are good players. We've got the best football coach of all time. He's got the answers. We as a team have to take the teaching and the coaching we're being given.

"Teams change in this league every year, and ours is no exception. Last year was pretty disappointing in a lot of ways, obviously. Losing to Baltimore the way we lost in the playoffs, losing leads late, losing on the road. Every year is so different, and the way we approach this year will be extremely important. We need to see the toughness. We need to see the commitment. Can we take the coaching?"

There is a lot to ponder when reviewing Brady’s quotes.  When the Pats were rolling along so merrily they had a great blend of veterans who set the proper example, as well as expectations, and they were at the top of their game.  The Pats also had young guys who would learn from these vets. New England also had a good amount of continuity in their coaching and front office staffs.  But, the great success of their organization spawned new opportunities for some of these staff members to leave for more responsibility elsewhere.  That’s natural.  They held the blue-print for New England’s success.  The veteran players who helped carry the Patriots through their hay-day began getting a little long in the tooth.  Some remained and were less productive than what they were before, while others were dealt for new acquisitions.

The nugget I mined when reading into Brady’s quotes is that this roster of players might be talented, but they may not be ready and willing to do what it takes. They may not have the intrinsic values, the make-up, that those ultimate winners had. It starts with belief and trust in the coaching staff and the offensive, defensive and special teams systems they have in place.  Even at the NFL level players need coaching; they need reminding and they need motivation.  They aren’t robots who can just go out and play at a high level play after play, game after game.  Just as soon as they think they know it all, have seen it all, and they stop listening to coaches, they run the risk of getting exposed and embarrassed.

There’s a lot that goes into winning.  Talent is one key ingredient.  Great character is another. As Brady pointed out, toughness and commitment are critical. In reading Brady’s quotes it sounds like the Pats of not so long ago, the ones who won Super Bowls three out of four straight years, and then went 18-1 in 2007, had the stuff of which winners were made.  It sounds like the most recent rosters may have the necessary physical talent, but it’s what is in their mind and in their heart that will determine their true fate.  Football is a complicated game.  Over the course of a 16-game regular season every player on the 53-man active roster has to be on the same page and pulling together in the same direction—as a lot of coaches often say, “…playing with one heartbeat.” Let’s see if Brady’s comments are taken to heart by teammates as they begin their preparation for the 2010 campaign and where it might lead by season’s end.