Another victory for Bill
Belichick toys with league
Bill Belichick prevails once again. That phrase is getting a little bit redundant but still worth repeating in the wake of recent events.
The Patriots coach and chief decision-maker had the Dont’a Hightower free agency situation pegged from the outset. No franchise or transition tag was necessary. He let his defensive captain take a stroll on the open market and find his worth, knowing no crazy money would be offered. At least, not by any desirable teams. The Hoodie was right, of course.
Of all the in-house free agents on the Pats’ list, Belichick needed Hightower to remain. He was the top priority for the defending Super Bowl champions. There was no option in sight at linebacker who could provide all Hightower brings to the table.
Belichick figured no team would place as much value on Hightower, who’s able to rush off the edge, blitz from the inside, stuff the run and cover running backs and tight ends in the Patriots system. No one values that kind of versatility as much as the coach who has five Super Bowl rings since 2001.
So there was no panic. Belichick knew the market, and he knew Hightower, who has been a winner his whole life. The Jets? Really? They might have showered him with a great offer, along with birthday cupcakes, but Hightower probably would rather eat nails than go there. Losing wasn’t an option, and Belichick knew it.
So the Pats coach not only retained the most important free agent for his defense, he did it at a reasonable rate (four years, $43.5 million, $19 million guaranteed) while also adding some pieces around him.
Belichick has played all his cards right, from scoring cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Brandin Cooks to swapping out tight end Martellus Bennett for the younger, cheaper Dwayne Allen. Defensive end Kony Ealy might be a sleeper, too, and thrive in this system.
Belichick has given new meaning to not standing pat or sitting on your laurels after winning a Super Bowl. He’s been as aggressive, if not more, than he’s been in any offseason.
We’ll see what happens with Malcolm Butler, but even if the cornerback plays elsewhere next season, it’s tough to question the master strategist
Right now, Belichick is toying with everyone. It’s his house, his league, and everyone else is playing along for his amusement.
For opposing teams, as well as agents, it’s not a matter of if Belichick is going to beat you, it’s more a matter of by how much.
Just when you think he’s making a wrong turn, he comes out looking more brilliant than before. It happened when Wes Welker left. It also happened when Darrelle Revis signed with the Jets after helping the Pats win a Super Bowl.
As it turned out, Welker didn’t have much left in the tank when he signed his free agent deal with the Broncos. As for Revis, he got his money, his ring, and got fat and happy with the Jets. He was a far cry from the player he was in Foxboro.
So now Belichick is spinning the wheel and banking on Gilmore to play more like a top corner with better coaching and a better defense. He’s betting Cooks will make Tom Brady even more deadly and help him take the top off defenses. That could make the Patriots offense even more explosive. Will Cooks groan if he doesn’t see the ball every game? Well, that was one of the knocks on Bennett upon his arrival to Foxboro last year. Turns out he didn’t utter a peep en route to getting a ring.
In Bill they trust, and why not?
Cooks got enough of a whiff just by observing the master and his staff during joint practice sessions.
“From the way that they run things, the way that they coach their players, the way that they walked and talked, my impression was very high for that organization,” Cooks said. “You see why they are who they are. It’s just a dream come true and a blessing to be able to have this opportunity now to play for them.”
There’s Belichick, and then there’s the rest. It’s never been more apparent than this offseason.