PatsPropaganda

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On Parcells and the Pats Hall of Fame

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There’s a fun debate going on within Patriots Nation right now as to whether or not Bill Parcells deserves to be elected to the Pats Hall of Fame.

While I believe Parcells certainly is a notable name in Patriots history and deserves consideration, I would not vote him in now, and maybe not ever.

I clearly remember when the Pats brought Parcells in after what was a gruesome start to the 90s. I saw quite a few of those games firsthand and the on-field product was embarrassing. So when Parcells came in and the logo changed over to the Flying Elvis, we were all reinvigorated. That excitement is not lost on me.

Parcells also drafted some key guys who would later win Super Bowls – Troy Brown, Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, Lawyer Milloy, Ted Johnson, Ty Law, and Adam Vinatieri.

Perhaps most importantly, Parcells introduced Robert Kraft to Bill Belichick when Belichick joined the team in 1996 as the secondary coach.

But we also cannot forget about the acrimonious end to Parcells’ career in New England, which really put a dark cloud over the Pats Super Bowl appearance in 1996. You could even say it was enough of a distraction that it hindered the Pats in the big game. And that he then went to the Jets and took Curtis Martin with him certainly isn’t playing in his favor either.

But when it was all said and done, here was Parcells’ records with the Patriots and the ranks of the offenses and defenses.

  • 1993: 5-11 22nd/11th (Missed Playoffs)
  • 1994: 10-6 8th/12th (Lost Wild Card Round)
  • 1995: 6-10 23rd/25th (Missed Playoffs)
  • 1996: 11-5 2nd/14th (Lost in Super Bowl)

When I think of who I want in the Patriots Hall of Fame, I want legendary Patriots. Guys who are synonymous with the team and made extended and lasting contributions both on the field and off it.

There’s no question the moment Parcells came to New England, the franchise was relevant again. Not because they were suddenly a good team, but because Parcells brought name recognition to the coaching staff after the Pats had toiled with guys like Dick MacPherson and Rod Rust.

But was the on-field production of Parcells’ teams Hall of Fame worthy? He did have the luxury of a first overall selected quarterback Drew Bledsoe which certainly gave him someone to build around. The cupboard wasn’t completely barren.

Parcells set the table for the Super Bowl runs in the early 2000s, but there was also three years of Pete Carroll in between. Carroll won 27 games in those three years. Parcells won 32 in four.

Parcells is a significant name in the history of the Patriots, but not a slam dunk Hall of Famer by my standards on the field or off it. Parcells’ quotability and personality would make him a favorite for any popularity poll, but it’s not about popularity, it’s about excellence for the New England Patriots.

Parcells’ excellence was either established before he arrived in New England or accomplished by a handful of players he drafted after he left. What he did while he was in Foxboro while solid, just doesn’t scream excellence to me, and the details of his departure only convince me more that he doesn’t deserve to be enshrined now, if ever.

It’s not even April and it’s already Pats against the world

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It’s been quite the anti-Pats week, as the investigation of Deflategate is about to carry on into a third month, the Jets lobbing their own tampering charge, and the NFL passing rules seemingly directly aimed at the Patriots while ignoring the team’s rule suggestions.

Yes, the Pats got their fourth Super Bowl just a little over two months ago and never has the anti-New England climate felt stronger, unless you count the immediate days following Spygate or Deflategate.

First, Deflategate. Most thought the investigation would wrap up by the March coaches meetings. Well those have come and passed and instead we now have Goodell saying there is no time frame on it. How can the NFL continue to botch the handling of each controversy worse and worse? Seems like they keep trying to overcorrect and the results are never better.

And how long does it take to investigate this? Seems like Belichick and the Pats put together a pretty good internal investigation of their own in the week immediately afterward. You’ve got a crack team assigned to this and it takes over two months?

Next comes the Jets’ reprisal tampering charge which is so Jets it hurts. Look, I think the whole tampering thing for the most part is pretty silly to begin with. I didn’t even see Woody Johnson’s original comments as some horrible transgression. However, his comments were clearly against the tampering rules, and anyone who doesn’t think the Pats wouldn’t try to go after them for it and potentially take draft picks from their divisional rival is asleep at the wheel.

If the Jets’ responding charge has any merit, just about the entire league is guilty of tampering this past week, when just about every coach answered questions about former players who had signed with new teams.

The funny thing is that they were probably hoping Belichick would say something about Revis, but instead he stonewalled everyone about everything. So they went after Kraft. Nice job, Jets, but you’re still probably going to be handing a pick to the Patriots.

Finally come the rule changes – having concussion spotters who can stop games (being called the “Edelman” rule) and the outlawing of the kind of substitutions that the Pats ran on the Ravens and Colts in the playoffs.

Of course, this isn’t the first time the league has changed the rules because of something the Patriots did. The first and best example was in 2003 when the Pats’ manhandling of the Colts’ receivers prompted the league to make the “no contact after five yards” a point of emphasis.

It’s laughable and really it doesn’t even matter. The Pats weren’t going to be using these kind of substitutions as a consistent part of their attack. They were novel ways to catch teams off guard and it helped save the Pats’ season.

As for the “spotters” I’m not sure what will be worse – players faking concussions to stop play just like they fake injuries, or when a player who thinks he’s fine gets yanked from the game in a key moment.

In conclusion, I really just love all this stuff stacking up against New England like this. We’re all used to being on top of the hill and everyone hating us and trying everything they can to knock us off.

This offseason only adds to that narrative and if Belichick’s demeanor at the coaches meetings is any indication, he’s as frustrated with the NFL as a whole as I am.

As this all continues to be dragged out, it should only serve as fuel for New England’s fire to repeat. It’s already them against the world and training camp is still four months away.

Pats Posits: Regrouping on the Free Agency Front

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The initial rush of free agency is over and yet, even more holes remain for the Patriots than when it started. Yes, they signed Jabaal Sheard, a slam dunk fit for them by all accounts. But significant questions remain at guard, running back and cornerback. Here are some thoughts on what the current rumors and what the Pats might do next.

– There were reports on Thursday that Eagles guard Evan Mathis could be available via trade, and then a later report said the Pats were “interested”. Who know what “interested” really means. If it means they made a call to see what the Eagles want for him, it’s one thing. If it means they’re ready to actively pursue him, it’s something else. Still, the fit makes sense and if they could get him and Connolly back, they’d be in good shape headed into the draft, where I’d still expect them to take a guard by the fourth round. Mathis would be similar to Brian Waters in 2011, who gave them one great year at the end of his career.

– The next shoe to drop could be at the running back position where Reggie Bush and CJ Spiller remain available. Even if it’s not one of those two guys, the Patriots will almost certainly make an addition at this spot. I don’t really have a favorite of the two, though Spiller is three years. Both have had their injury issues and would bring an element of risk.

– As for cornerback, I don’t know what the immediate answer is. There are still a couple names out there, but with new free agents getting released every day, maybe the Pats are waiting for something we can’t predict. 

Of course, that’s the optimistic approach, although Chimdi Chekwa, despite doing nothing of note in Oakland was once a pretty highly regarded cornerback taken in the 4th round.  Far from a lock he even makes the team, much less plays cornerback, but this is what the Pats do. Most of us felt the same way about Rob Ninkovich when he was signed.

Still, I know the thought of a Dennard-Arrington-Ryan-Butler starting secondary is scary at the moment. There will be changes.

– Terrence Knighton came off the market late Thursday, not that I really saw him as a target. Instead I think Red Bryant is more intriguing and a lower-risk signing. Of course the could also bring back Alan Branch as well. Still veteran options out there, but the core is likely going to be Chris Jones/Siliga/Easley and possibly a high-round pick. Randy Starks would be another guy who’d fit, or they could just bring back Wilfork.

– Just don’t see the need for any of these big name wide receivers like Dwayne Bowe or Stevie Johnson. Michael Crabtree would probably make the most sense to me.

– Still would love to see Scott Chandler come to New England. He’d be a perfect addition with Gronk and Wright, essentially upgrading Hooman both as a blocker and receiver. Not to mention he’s killed the Pats recently. BB always seems to go after guys like that. Anthony Fasano would be another good choice.