BB: The Man With One Less Hat
After the demoralizing end to the Patriots season, the decision-makers down in Foxboro need to sort out a few things.
Wait, make that the decision-maker.
Unfortunately, as the franchise has been stripped of its talented coordinators and personnel evaluators, it has left few in the building with any credibility to question the Czar's decisions.
It's the price of success, the cost of doing business when you're a dynasty. Other franchises try to latch onto the winning, look for a spigot from the pipeline of championships.
First Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel landed head coaching jobs after the third title. Then Josh McDaniels was offered his chance at running a franchise after the fireworks of '07 and '08. And the main talent evaluator at the top of the food-chain alongside the Czar, Scott Pioli, had his opportunity to put his own personal stamp on a team.
So who's left to challenge Bill Belichick when he wants to trade a 3rd and a 5th for Derrick Burgess? Who cautions him against going for it on 4th and 2 from his own 28? Who steps in and realizes, Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis are not the right fits? Who simply says, "No"?
Is fledgling play-caller Bill O'Brien going to even mumble anything under his breath in Indianapolis? Is Dean Pees, a DC who's established little if any identity in years on the job, going to question sitting Shawn Springs? Is youngster Nick Caserio going to wave the red flag when BB wants to spend lavishly on Adalius Thomas?
Bill Belichick is a Hall of Fame defensive coordinator and a Canton-bound head coach. But the man with a fistful of rings needs a few less hats.
