Rotoworld Names Patriots' Bill Belichick NFL's Best GM For Third Straight Year
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Here's a small reminder of just how good we have it in New England with Bill Belichick running the Patriots: premier fantasy sports site Rotoworld has named Belichick the NFL's best general manager for the third straight season.
In this constantly roiling, bubbling cauldron that is the Boston sports media complex, Belichick, fairly or unfairly, gets graded on a curve. With the amount of polarizing moves and difficult, forward-thinking decisions he has made in 16 years with the Patriots, some have backfired, but you can't argue with the end result. It can almost be therapeutic to take a step back and realize what people outside our little red, white & blue bubble see when they look at Belichick - and just how much worse it could be with someone else at the helm.
Rotoworld cited Belichick's under-the-radar value acquisitions like Chris Hogan and fearlessness in cutting players loose before they meet their real decline, like the Patriots did with the Chandler Jones trade. The article describes Belichick as "a zigger in a league full of zaggers, and a futurist who doesn't look at this trophy case."
Finishing just behind Belichick on the list are the Denver Broncos' John Elway at No. 2, Seattle's John Schneider at No. 3, Baltimore's Ozzy Newsome at No. 4, and - don't laugh - Marvin Lewis, Duke Tobin, and Mike Brown of the Cincinnati Bengals rounding out the top five.
Belichick may not be a perfect GM - the Patriots' surprise release of former first-round pick Dominique Easley bears that out - but next time you want to rip Belichick for trading out of the first round or shopping in the bargain bin, just remember: you could have Marvin Lewis.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
