» Is Everyone OK That the Patriots Haven’t Made a Splashy Move? Barstool Sports: Boston
Here’s Jerry Thornton, yet again being the voice of reason (or The Lorax who speaks for the wins), but sometimes I really wonder why some of my fellow Pats brethren are so enamored with every shiny object that flashes before their eyes. How many years of championship teams does Belichick have to put together before people stop freaking out that they don’t go after the big money free agents?
Look at the Super Bowl champions of the recent few years. There’s not a ‘big splash’ free agent on any of them, outside of maybe Drew Brees. The Giants, the Steelers, the Saints, and Packers were all built with a solid internal foundation while filling the cracks with free agents that fit.
It’s doesn’t get any simpler than the Pioli quote: “We’re building a team, not collecting talent”. I don’t know why it’s so hard for fans to wrap their brains around that one. Many would prefer to pay players for what they did on other teams rather than take care of our own free agents, and give hungry veterans prove-it contracts.
Every piece of talent that seems to fit a need becomes the object that we must have if we’re going to win another Super Bowl, yet little thought is given to the ramifications in the locker room, to the salary cap, and to the effect on the team’s quality depth from players one through fifty-three.
As always, sports are an outlet for people and everyone “enjoys” them in their own way. Far be it from me to demand positivity from everyone in the fan base, but if it gets to the point where they’re losing the forest for the trees it’s time to take a step back and realize it’s just business as usual in Foxboro, and no matter who we do or don’t add in March, we’re still the team to beat come September.